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

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


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It’s conference tournament time in women’s college basketball, which means it’s the last chance to impress the selection committee.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.



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Michigan

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

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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.

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Eastern Michigan taken down by Miami (Ohio) 44-30; Kim throws for 309 yards in loss

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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.

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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.



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Michigan State depth chart, injury report: A lot of unknowns for starters at Indiana

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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:

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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

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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

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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

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Starter: Jay Coyne

Backup: Jaxon McCaig

Coyne played three snaps against the Bruins.

Wide receiver

Starters: Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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KO: Martin Connington

P: Ryan Eckley

LS: Jack Wills

KR: Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Chrishon McCray

PR: Omari Kelly

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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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