Boise, Idaho ? Welcome to the Big 12 regional, where either Oklahoma, Texas Tech or Colorado could become the league’s first team to reach the women’s Final Four.
Of course, Stanford would love to spoil the party. It could happen, too, if Nicole Powell continues her dazzling run though the NCAA tournament.
“All of those other teams have seen each other, but you get a different level of play in the tournament,” Stanford center Bethany Donaphin said Friday. “Things are a lot less predictable.”
The West bracket moves into the third round today when No. 3 seeded Colorado (23-9) plays No. 2 Stanford (32-2) and top-seeded Oklahoma (29-3) meets No. 4 Texas Tech (20-11).
It’s been a great season for the Big 12, which sent seven teams to the NCAA tournament and has five remaining in the round of 16. Top to bottom, the league was arguably the nation’s best in 2001-02.
“There were a number of times the top people struggled against the 10 through 12 teams,” Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. “There were quality games every night. It made everybody better.”
Time for the Big 12 to land some hardware to back it up. Despite filling the Top 25 every week and having nationally respected coaches at several schools, no Big 12 team has ever reached the Final Four.
Last season, the Big 12 had three teams that were seeded No. 2 in the tournament, but Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech lost in the third round.
“People nationally probably don’t think the Big 12 has arrived,” said Sharp, who won the 1993 NCAA title when Texas Tech played in the Southwest Conference, which merged with the Big Eight in 1996-97.
“To do that, we need to get someone to the Final Four or win a national championship in the next few years,” she said.
Boise, Idaho ? Welcome to the Big 12 regional, where either Oklahoma, Texas Tech or Colorado could become the league’s first team to reach the women’s Final Four.
Of course, Stanford would love to spoil the party. It could happen, too, if Nicole Powell continues her dazzling run though the NCAA tournament.
“All of those other teams have seen each other, but you get a different level of play in the tournament,” Stanford center Bethany Donaphin said Friday. “Things are a lot less predictable.”
The West bracket moves into the third round today when No. 3 seeded Colorado (23-9) plays No. 2 Stanford (32-2) and top-seeded Oklahoma (29-3) meets No. 4 Texas Tech (20-11).
It’s been a great season for the Big 12, which sent seven teams to the NCAA tournament and has five remaining in the round of 16. Top to bottom, the league was arguably the nation’s best in 2001-02.
“There were a number of times the top people struggled against the 10 through 12 teams,” Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. “There were quality games every night. It made everybody better.”
Time for the Big 12 to land some hardware to back it up. Despite filling the Top 25 every week and having nationally respected coaches at several schools, no Big 12 team has ever reached the Final Four.
Last season, the Big 12 had three teams that were seeded No. 2 in the tournament, but Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech lost in the third round.
“People nationally probably don’t think the Big 12 has arrived,” said Sharp, who won the 1993 NCAA title when Texas Tech played in the Southwest Conference, which merged with the Big Eight in 1996-97.
“To do that, we need to get someone to the Final Four or win a national championship in the next few years,” she said.
Boise, Idaho ? Welcome to the Big 12 regional, where either Oklahoma, Texas Tech or Colorado could become the league’s first team to reach the women’s Final Four.
Of course, Stanford would love to spoil the party. It could happen, too, if Nicole Powell continues her dazzling run though the NCAA tournament.
“All of those other teams have seen each other, but you get a different level of play in the tournament,” Stanford center Bethany Donaphin said Friday. “Things are a lot less predictable.”
The West bracket moves into the third round today when No. 3 seeded Colorado (23-9) plays No. 2 Stanford (32-2) and top-seeded Oklahoma (29-3) meets No. 4 Texas Tech (20-11).
It’s been a great season for the Big 12, which sent seven teams to the NCAA tournament and has five remaining in the round of 16. Top to bottom, the league was arguably the nation’s best in 2001-02.
“There were a number of times the top people struggled against the 10 through 12 teams,” Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. “There were quality games every night. It made everybody better.”
Time for the Big 12 to land some hardware to back it up. Despite filling the Top 25 every week and having nationally respected coaches at several schools, no Big 12 team has ever reached the Final Four.
Last season, the Big 12 had three teams that were seeded No. 2 in the tournament, but Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech lost in the third round.
“People nationally probably don’t think the Big 12 has arrived,” said Sharp, who won the 1993 NCAA title when Texas Tech played in the Southwest Conference, which merged with the Big Eight in 1996-97.
“To do that, we need to get someone to the Final Four or win a national championship in the next few years,” she said.
Boise, Idaho ? Welcome to the Big 12 regional, where either Oklahoma, Texas Tech or Colorado could become the league’s first team to reach the women’s Final Four.
Of course, Stanford would love to spoil the party. It could happen, too, if Nicole Powell continues her dazzling run though the NCAA tournament.
“All of those other teams have seen each other, but you get a different level of play in the tournament,” Stanford center Bethany Donaphin said Friday. “Things are a lot less predictable.”
The West bracket moves into the third round today when No. 3 seeded Colorado (23-9) plays No. 2 Stanford (32-2) and top-seeded Oklahoma (29-3) meets No. 4 Texas Tech (20-11).
It’s been a great season for the Big 12, which sent seven teams to the NCAA tournament and has five remaining in the round of 16. Top to bottom, the league was arguably the nation’s best in 2001-02.
“There were a number of times the top people struggled against the 10 through 12 teams,” Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. “There were quality games every night. It made everybody better.”
Time for the Big 12 to land some hardware to back it up. Despite filling the Top 25 every week and having nationally respected coaches at several schools, no Big 12 team has ever reached the Final Four.
Last season, the Big 12 had three teams that were seeded No. 2 in the tournament, but Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech lost in the third round.
“People nationally probably don’t think the Big 12 has arrived,” said Sharp, who won the 1993 NCAA title when Texas Tech played in the Southwest Conference, which merged with the Big Eight in 1996-97.
“To do that, we need to get someone to the Final Four or win a national championship in the next few years,” she said.
