The 9-seed Hoosiers are set to take on the 8-seed Utes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
9-seed Indiana women’s basketball is set to take on 8-seed Utah in the first round of NCAA Tournament play at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina on Friday.
The Hoosiers and Utes have some strong similarities as programs. Both teams emphasize 3-point shooting in their offensive attacks and both are in a period of adjustment after losing a program defining frontcourt player.
For Indiana, that was Mackenzie Holmes. For Utah, that was Alissa Pili.
Here’s three things to know about these Utes.
Player to watch: Gianna Kneepkens – Guard
Simply put, Kneepkens is one of the very best players in the country and is going to be a handful on the defensive end of the court.
Kneepkens is averaging a blistering 19.2 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting an incredible 45% from deep. At 6’ tall, she has great size for the position as well.
It’ll be interesting to see how Indiana goes about trying to contain or limit Kneepkens. I’d expect Chloe Moore-McNeil to be on her defensively but don’t be surprised if Lexus Bargesser sees time guarding her off the bench with fresh legs.
Indiana has had to contain talented big, talented guards who shoot and handle the ball well (you know exactly who I mean), so it’s not as though they haven’t seen this type of player before. Regardless, she’s No. 1 on the scouting report.
Strong 3-point shooting
The Utes have three players seeing at least 20 minutes per game who are converting on over 40% of their attempts from long range:
Kneepkens, listed above, Kennay McQueen and Matyson Wilke. All three are backcourt players with size, both McQueen and Wilke are 5’10. Indiana should have the personnel and size to match between Moore-McNeil, Bargesser, Sydney Parrish and Yarden Garzon.
Indiana is going to have to limit that group’s attempts from long range while generating solid shots on the other end from Garzon, Parrish, Moore-McNeil and Shay Ciezki. Both teams are built for a shootout, obviously, but a cold streak from either team could be the deciding factor.
Performance this season
Utah finished with a 22-8 record and 4th in the Big 12. Notable wins include a 78-67 victory over Notre Dame and a 79-76 triumph over Princeton.
The Utes sustained a loss to Northwestern early in the season (Indiana played the Wildcats close in Evanston but came out on top) and had trouble competing with the top of the Big 12 with defeats against Kansas State, TCU, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
Still, it was more than enough to make the tournament. Utah is going to be a tough out, Indiana has to be ready.