The Wisconsin women's basketball team, receiving its first NCAA tournament bid since 2002 and just seventh overall, were handsomely rewarded for their strong efforts all season with a seventh seed. The Badgers take on the No. 10 seed Vermont Catamounts Sunday at noon in South Bend, Ind.
Wisconsin, picked by some to finish as low as 10 in the Big Ten, proved even the most gracious pundits wrong, accumulating a 10-8 conference record, good enough for a share of third place in the Big Ten. The Badgers, led by Big Ten Coach of the Year Lisa Stone, finished the season 21-10 overall.
Wisconsin's scoring defense, ranked first in the Big Ten and 24th best in the nation, has carried the team all season. Plus the offensive poise and power of junior guard Alyssa Karel, who leads the team with 14.4 points per game, the on-court leadership and toughness of senior guard Rae Lin D'Alie, and spread scoring of the Badger's deep bench gives the team reason to be excited for a potential deep tournament run.
In fact, the team was given a pep talk courtesy of men's basketball head coach Bo Ryan prior to Wednesday's practice, a similar speech the women's soccer team received in the fall from Ryan before ultimately advancing to the Sweet 16.
Wisconsin matches up against one of its most formidable opponents of the season in Vermont. The Catamounts (3-3 America East, 26-6 overall) are making their second straight tournament appearance after winning the America East Conference Tournament Championship over Hartford.
Vermont is led by two senior guards, Courtnay Pilpaitis and May Kotsopoulos. Kotsopoulos is averaging 17.3 points per game, while Pilpaitis, 2010 America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, averaged 14.8 points per game and eight rebounds per game on the season.
The Catamounts have won 10 of their last 11 games and earned 15 votes in the most recent USA Today/ ESPN Top-25 poll (unofficially no. 27). The team averages 66.7 points per game, while allowing just 55.4. Vermont also poses a huge threat in 3-point shooting, converting over 35 percent from behind the arc. Strong outside shooting teams have proved problematic at times for the Badgers this season.
Additionally, five of Vermont's six losses came at the hands of teams ranked in the top-25 nationally, including top ranked Connecticut and fourth ranked Nebraska. Both of those teams earned number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The Catamounts also fell to No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 23 Hartford, twice.
Vermont and Wisconsin did play a common opponent this season. Both teams defeated N.C. State by five points.
Wisconsin, a team which wears the title ‘Team Unity' on the back of their practice jerseys, is a squad which demonstrates servanthood both on and off the court. These players expect a strong performance from themselves in the NCAA Tournament, and after playing their best basketball of the season in the Big Ten Tournament, there is no reason why this team's tough defense, deep bench and strong unity should produce anything but confidence.
""We've made some steady progress to get to this point,"" Stone said.
Sunday's contest will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
