For basketball fans, March is known as March Madness. The tournament bracket schedule was released March 16 and bracket play begins March 20.
This segment of Goat Talk will compare three talented players to professional players who impact the court. Let the madness begin.
First, we’ll start here in the bayou with LSU’s Aneesah Morrow. Anyone who watches LSU ball is no stranger to the beast she is on the court. Morrow averages 18.5 points and 13.6 rebounds.
She’s one of two players in NCAA history to have over 100 double-doubles and she was named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year awards. LSU sits at No. 10 in the AP poll but Morrow can get the Tigers a win against San Diego Saturday, March 22.
Morrow’s strength and defensive contribution remind me of no other than the Aces’ A’ja Wilson. Wilson recently retired her jersey at South Carolina and was named Naismith Player of the Year in the 2017-2018 season. In Las Vegas, Wilson is strong in the paint and can back it up.
She’s a three-time MVP, has two chips and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. And ESPN has predicted Morrow to join the league as the sixth overall pick in the draft.
Turning it over to men’s basketball, Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn is doing big things. Purdue is ranked twentieth in the AP poll. However, ranks don’t matter as much in March Madness because the tournament is designed to create these upsets. Kaufman-Renn is a lengthy, strong forward who averages 20 points from the paint.
It’s only right to put him next to Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen. Their playing styles are similar, which is patience and reliability in the paint. When their teammates pass them the ball, they know it’ll put points on the board.
Purdue will play High Point on Thursday, March 20.
This would not be “Goat Talk” without the real goats of women’s basketball. Lastly, UConn’s Paige Bueckers will make an impact during March Madness. Despite two injuries, she’s averaging 19 points and recently passed Diana Taurasi, taking on ninth place in UConn’s all-time scoring list. ESPN’s mock draft lists Bueckers as the first pick, so there’s no doubt she can give No. 7 UConn their twelfth chip.
Buecker’s playing style is similar to former WNBA player, Diana Taurasi, AKA The White Mamba. Taurasi doesn’t have this nickname for no reason. Taurasi was a 3-time champ at both UConn and in the league and a 6-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA.
UConn will take on Arkansas on Saturday, March 22.
