The young UConn Huskies over-achieved to many this year, finishing the season at 23-1 and ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll. In the NCAA Tournament they'll have to "settle" for the second overall seed as they embark on another quest for a 12th national title and 13th consecutive Final Four appearance.
Of course, getting to the first weekend in April isn't always hard, but this year's path might be harder than ever for the one-seed. With challenging games in perhaps every round (besides the first), plus Geno Auriemma's absence for the opening weekend after a positive COVID-19 test, this test will be like few others in UConn's prior jaunts to the Final Four. Here is their path:
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Round of 64 (Sunday @ 8 ET) - High Point: Auriemma's absence likely won't be felt in this one. High Point is in its first NCAA Tournament at the Division I level after winning the Big South and will likely provide little resistance, which is the status quo for the Huskies in their first round matchups. Since losing in the first round in 1993 as a six-seed, UConn has won all but two of its opening games by at least 30 points: a 19-point jaunt over Brown in 1994, and a 23-point win over Brown in 2006.
Round of 32 (Tuesday) - Syracuse/South Dakota St: The Orange is powered by one of the best stories in college basketball in Tiana Mangakahia (11.6 PPG; nation-leading 7.5 APG), who missed all of last year while undergoing cancer treatment. Mangakahia, Kiara Lewis (14.3 PPG) and Kamilla Cardoso (13.7 PPG; 8.3 RPG) lead a Syracuse team that is 14-8 overall.
In what could be one of the best first-round games, 'Cuse will face South Dakota State, who bounced the Orange in the Round of 32 in 2019. The Jackrabbits are 24-3 overall, picking up non-conference wins over Iowa State, Gonzaga and Missouri State. A smothering defense (60.1 points allowed) and a do-it-all leader in junior Myah Selland (19.2 PPG; 6.8 RPG; 3.8 APG) makes for a dangerous mid-major.
Sweet 16 - Kentucky/Iowa: With respect to Central Michigan and Idaho State, the likely opponent in the Sweet 16 will be one of two teams led by superstars. The Wildcats boast two-time SEC Player of the Year Rhyne Howard, who leads the team in scoring (20.1), rebounding (7.8), assists (3.5) and three-point makes (49). The supporting cast isn't spectacular, but Howard is nearly impossible to guard.
And then there's Iowa, who has a walking bucket of its own, and it just might make Twitter explode. Caitlin Clark leads the country in scoring (26.7 PPG) and is second in assists (6.8). She'd sweep all national Freshman of the Year honors were it not for Paige Bueckers. The debate between Storrs and Iowa City has raged all year, and a meeting in the Sweet 16 would be its apex as the two super-freshmen could go head-to-head.
Elite 8 - Baylor/Tennessee: Again, another team could make a surprise run to the regional final - Michigan's Naz Hillmon is as dominant a big as there is in the country, Virginia Tech boasts a win over NC State (albeit without Elissa Cunane), Marquette is vastly under-appreciated as a 10-seed and don't count out 26-2 Florida Gulf Coast. Still, the overwhelming favorites in the bottom half of the bracket are the Lady Bears and Lady Vols.
Baylor has given UConn issues, winning meetings in each of the last two years by double-digits (this year's scheduled contest was wiped out by COVID-19). Kim Mulkey's crew, who won the last tournament in 2019, is its usual long self, led by 6-2 NaLyssa Smith (18.1 PPG; 9.1 RPG) as Baylor leads the nation in rebound margin (+19.1).
It makes for a potentially fascinating Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee, who is also long and treacherous to face inside. Senior Rennia Davis (17.2 PPG; 8.8 RPG) might be the best player to come through Knoxville since Candace Parker, and 6-1 Rae Burrell is a matchup nightmare with the ability to score inside and out (41 percent three-point shooter).
Of course, one of the games of the season saw the Huskies beat the Lady Vols in Knoxville, helped by a Bueckers late three after having a miserable shooting night and leaving briefly with an ankle injury.
If UConn were to make it to the Elite 8, it would take a big effort - literally - to make a 13th straight Final Four appearance.