Michigan
Texas-LSU, USC-Michigan headline women’s college basketball games to watch

Kiki Rice reflects on being a female athlete and the growing popularity of women’s sports
Kiki Rice reflects on women’s sports as a whole, what it mean’s to be a female basketball player, and how she expects it to grow in the future.
Sports Seriously
It’s conference tournament time in women’s college basketball, which means it’s the last chance to impress the selection committee.
The No. 1 seeds are still up for grabs. As many as eight teams can claim those coveted spots.
The Big Ten can become the biggest beneficiary and could see 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament, which would break an all-time record. Meanwhile, in the ACC, a No. 1 seed is virtually Notre Dame’s to lose if it can win the conference tournament.
After the trophies are hoisted, teams will have a week to rest before the Women’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show on March 16.
Here are five games to watch this weekend, each a rematch of a regular-season meeting:
No. 2 USC vs. Michigan, Big Ten semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
JuJu Watkins, the front-runner for Player of the Year, continued her assault on the scoreboard, tallying 31 points and 10 rebounds as the Trojans held off Indiana in the conference quarterfinals. The Wolverines were impressive in their stomping of Maryland in their quarterfinal matchup.
Michigan is a different team than the one that lost by 20 to the Trojans in late December. To neutralize Watkins and keep the game close, Michigan must hit 3-point shots and get the Trojans in foul trouble.
No. 14 North Carolina vs. No. 8 North Carolina State, ACC semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2
The Wolfpack know what’s at stake. The tournament’s No. 1 seed also has a chance to break its way into a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if it can run the table this weekend.
North Carolina beat NC State 66-65 in Chapel Hill three weeks ago, handing State one of its two ACC losses. The Tar Heels’ balance on offense is enhanced with the return of Reniya Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, two of their four double-digit scorers, from injuries.
No. 5 South Carolina vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, SEC semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
The last time these two teams played, in Columbia on Jan. 19, Oklahoma found itself down 19 after one quarter and ended up losing by 41. The things that get the Sooners beat showed up in that game as they turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 32 South Carolina points.
South Carolina, looking for its third straight SEC tournament title, got by Vanderbilt, nearly blowing a 25-point halftime lead. Chloe Kitts had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the balanced Gamecocks also got 15 points from MiLaysia Fulwiley and 13 from Sania Feagin.
No. 7 TCU vs. No. 16 West Virginia, Big 12 semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Horned Frogs, the regular season conference champions, got a scare from Colorado in the quarterfinals, but Hailey Van Lith’s five 3-pointers and 24 points were enough to advance. Sedona Prince added 18 points.
TCU awaits the fourth-seeded Mountaineers, who dispatched Kansas State in their quarterfinal matchup.
In their first matchup, a 71-50 TCU victory, West Virginia couldn’t get anything going offensively and shot 31%. The Mountaineers were dominated in the paint and on the boards and their two leading scorers, JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison, combined to score only 24 points. They must put up big numbers this time to advance.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 9 LSU, SEC semifinals
Time/TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Tigers had lost two of three coming into the tournament but got right with a dominant win over Florida, while Texas and SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker needed every one of her 19 points and seven rebounds to squeak by Ole Miss.
The Longhorns are riding a 14-game winning streak and have probably locked up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens. LSU is not out of the running for one of those slots but would need some help. The Tigers need to beat the nation’s top team first to get any consideration.

Michigan
2 adults found dead at home in Michigan City, Indiana; juvenile in custody

A juvenile was in custody after two adults were found dead inside a home early Sunday in Michigan City, Indiana.
Police said, around 1:30 a.m., officers conducted a welfare check at a home in the 100 block of Schofield Court, and found two adults dead.
Investigators suspect they died from foul play, and a juvenile male was taken into custody.
Police said the deaths were under investigation on Sunday, and there were no known threats to public safety.
Michigan
Eastern Michigan taken down by Miami (Ohio) 44-30; Kim throws for 309 yards in loss

Eastern Michigan was beaten by Miami (Ohio) 44-30 in a high-scoring affair on Saturday. Quarterback Dequan Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more for the RedHawks.
Running back Jordan Brunson rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown in what was Miami’s fourth straight victory.
Miami took advantage of good field position in the second half with two touchdown drives to build a 35-14 lead. An Eli Blakey interception set up Miami at its own 38 and the RedHawks scored six plays later on Finn’s keeper. Miami’s next possession began at the 45-yard line after a 15-yard punt return.
After Eastern cut it to 37-22 with 9:07 to play, the RedHawks used nine consecutive rushing plays to take a three-score lead.
Finn was 13 of 22 for 159 yards passing, and he carried it 10 times for 58 yards. D’Shawntae Jones added 66 yards rushing and a score as Miami (4-3, 3-0 Mid-American Conference) totaled 295 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Noah Kim threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns for Eastern Michigan (2-6, 1-3), but he was intercepted two times. Harold Mack had six catches for 179 yards and two scores, and Nick Devereaux also had two touchdown grabs.
Michigan
Michigan State depth chart, injury report: A lot of unknowns for starters at Indiana
Three straight wins followed by three consecutive losses.
That’s how Michigan State started last season and is in the same spot again.
If the Spartans (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) are going to avoid their first four-game skid under second-year coach Jonathan Smith, it will require a massive upset at No. 3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Peacock) in Bloomington.
Injury report:
Out: OL Luka Vincic (season), LB Brady Pretzlaff (season), DB Andrew Brinson (season), DB Caleb Gash (season), EDGE Anelu Lafaele (season), OL Stanton Ramil, WR Alante Brown. Questionable: QB Aidan Chiles, DT Ben Roberts, DE Jalen Thompson, S Nikai Martinez, DB Ade Willie, DB NiJhay Burt, TE Michael Masunas, TE Brennan Parachek, TE Jayden Savoury, OL Kristian Phillips, LB Marcellius Pulliam, LS Kaden Schickel, K Tarik Ahmetbasic, RB Jace Clarizio.
There’s obviously a lot to unpack here that’s not good for the Spartans. It starts with Chiles, who was knocked out of last week’s 38-13 loss against UCLA after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit. Smith called him questionable and on Wednesday said the junior was limited but active in practice while CBS Sports reported Chiles is expected to be available. It’s a bit unclear what that means and Alessio Milivojevic will make his first career start if Chiles is sidelined.
Smith said there’s a chance Thompson, Martinez and Roberts – a late scratch last week – return against the Hoosiers. Masunas and Phillips are among the long list of those also questionable.
Projected depth chart:
Quarterback
Starter: Aidan Chiles
Backup: Alessio Milivojevic
Others of note: Leo Hannan, Ryland Jessee
If Chiles is actually able to go on Saturday, he will be trying to break out of a two-game funk against one of the best defenses in the nation. Milivojevic played solid in relief each of the last two weeks.
Running back
Starter: Makhi Frazier
Backup: Brandon Tullis
Others of note: Elijah Tau-Tolliver
The backfield depth chart hasn’t changed all season but the run game has been a disappointment and failed to even reach 90 yards on the ground in either of the last two games.
Fullback
Starter: Jay Coyne
Backup: Jaxon McCaig
Coyne played three snaps against the Bruins.
Wide receiver
Starters: Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray
Backups: Rodney Bullard, Evan Boyd
Others of note: Braylon Collier, Charles Taplin
Marsh showed up last week and had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 15 targets. The Spartans want to get him the ball as much as possible but also need to get the other top targets involved.
Tight end
Starter: Jack Velling
Backups: Kai Rios, Michael Masunas, Brennan Parachek
Others of note: Jayden Savoury
The Spartans could be very thin at tight end with three of the top five at the position (Masunas, Parachek and Savoury) all questionable and untested depth behind them.
Offensive line
Starters: LT Conner Moore, LG Gavin Broscious, C Matt Gulbin, RG Caleb Carter, RT Ashton Lepo
Backups: OT Rustin Young, OG Kristian Phillips
Others of note: C Cooper Terpstra, OT/C Rakeem Johnson
Phillips was using crutches and wearing a walking boot on the sideline late last week. That wasn’t an encouraging sign so it’s just a guess that he’s out on Saturday and the Spartans shuffle at guard with two experienced options in Broscious and Carter. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a change at tackle depending on which side they want to use Moore.
Defensive tackle
Starters: Alex VanSumeren, Ru’Quan Buckley
Backups: Ben Roberts, Grady Kelly, Jalen Satchell
Others of note: Mikeshun Beeler, Derrick Simmons
With Roberts out, Buckley played a season-high 45 snaps last week, according to Pro Football Focus. VanSumeren tied a career high with six tackles.
Defensive end
Starters: Isaac Smith, Kekai Burnett
Backups: Jalen Thompson, Quindarius Dunnigan, David Santiago
Others of note: Cam Williams, Tyler Gillison
Thompson’s absence last week led to Burnett making his first career start. Dunnigan and Williams combined for a sack.
Linebacker
Starters: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews, Darius Snow
Backups: Aisea Moa, Semaj Bridgeman
Others of note: Marcellius Pulliam, Sam Edwards
Hall continues leading the way while Matthews and Snow have a ton of experience.
Cornerback
Starters: Malcolm Bell, Joshua Eaton
Backups: Aydan West, Chance Rucker, Jeremiah Hughes
Others of note: Anthony Pinnace, NiJhay Burt
Michigan State shook up its starting corners by going with Rucker and true freshman West to open last week but that didn’t last. Bell, Eaton, West and Rucker make up the top four at the spot.
Safety/nickelback
Starters: Malik Spencer, Nikai Martinez, Ade Willie
Backups: Armorion Smith, Dontavius Nash, Devynn Cromwell
Others of note: Justin Denson, Tracy Revels, Khalil Majeed, Aveon Grose
Another group with more uncertainty. Spencer should be good while Armorion Smith is coming off a rough outing as a safety/nickel option.
Special teams
PK: Martin Connington
KO: Martin Connington
P: Ryan Eckley
LS: Jack Wills
KR: Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Chrishon McCray
PR: Omari Kelly
A week after special teams sunk Michigan State in a loss at Nebraska, the third phase of the game was mostly a non-factor. The Spartans will be challenged by an Indiana team with three blocked kicks, two blocked punts and two punt return touchdowns.
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