Monday, March 19
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Georgia Still on Mind a Day LaterUpsets are part of the game, especially this time of year. But while you had to feel good for Missouri on Sunday, how could you not feel bad for Georgia, asks ESPN.com's Mechelle Voepel? When is it going to be Georgia's turn, coach Andy Landers' turn, to hold up the national championship trophy? Well, maybe that's what makes it so valuable. Nobody's guaranteed a turn, no matter how good a coach you are or how many great players you recruit or how much it seems like you deserve it. More ...
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| DO I HAVE TO WATCH?: Arkansas coach Gary Blair probably wanted to cover his eyes during the final 11 minutes of Lady Razorbacks' 75-54 loss to Duke on Monday. In that span, Arkansas scored just 10 points. | |
| QUESTION OF THE DAY | |
| How did Jackie Stiles score 32 against Rutgers' tough defense? | |
ESPN's Nell FortnerSouthwest Missouri State's Jackie Stiles was able to adjust to anything Rutgers threw at her. The Scarlet Knights went big on her with Linda Miles, and tried to go quick against her with guards. They tried everything they could and Jackie made the adjustment and was still able to create her shot, get it off and hit it. Also, when she drove the ball one-on-one, she was getting fouled hard, but still managed to finish her shot. The weight room is paying off for Jackie. She's so incredibly strong that she can finish against anyone. 
ESPN's Vera JonesHow is Jackie Stiles able to do what she does against any defense? No one has been able to stop her. She has been the leading scorer on her team in 30 of 31 games. She has scored in double figures in every game. She got knocked out with a concussion the other night and still had 13 points. She creates her own shots. She doesn't sit and wait for the play. She appreciates the history of and has a great passion for the game of basketball. People think she's just a really good outside shooter, but that isn't the case. She penetrates and does everything. She is the greatest scorer I've ever seen in women's basketball. | |
| 20 QUESTIONS | |
 If she could be any any super hero or cartoon character, Duke's Alana Beard would opt for Popeye. Why? Because he never loses. See who the Blue Devil freshman would take one-on-one, and the one item she'd pack for a trip to a deserted island. The 5-foot-11 freshman stood tall to ESPN.com's 20 Questions. | |
BIG 12 GOES BIG TIME.......................
Sunday was tough for the SEC as three teams were eliminated. Monday proved big time for the Big 12, however. Four of the league's seven teams that reached the NCAA Tournament help comprise the round of 16. That's right: Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Iowa Sate and Missouri combine for one-fourth of the Sweet 16.
HOW FAR WE'VE COME...................
Eleven years ago, the powers that be decided to drop women's basketball at Oklahoma. Of course, the program was quickly reinstated after a public outcry. Monday, Sooner fans showed that was good decision as OU earned a trip to the Sweet 16 in front of a school-record crowd of 11,050.
COMEBACK KID............................
Saturday, Ayana Walker mustered a season-low two points and left the floor crying when Leon Barmore took her out for good. Monday, Walker needed just 15 seconds to equal the opening-round output. The 6-foot-2 junior center finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
YES, UCONN..............................
After holding Long Island to just 29 points in the first round, Connecticut beat second-round foe Colorado State 89-44 Monday. Overall, the Huskies have beaten their first two opponents by a combined 117 points.
A DEVIL OF A TIME......................
Duke is the only school to send both its men's and women's basketball teams to the round of 16 this season. In 1999, both programs played in the NCAA title game, but went 0-for-2.
TCU spiced up life on Saturday. Missouri delivered the upset Sunday. But it was a mild Monday as the biggest "upsets" were two No. 5 seeds prevailing over fourth-seeded teams (SMS, Utah).
ESPN BRACKETS
Bracket fever has hit ESPN! We have our own Tournament Challenge group, and you can check it out. First, you'll need to log on to the Challenge main page with your entry, then check out the Featured Group Bristol University's Best to see how Nancy Lieberman-Cline, Beth Mowins and some ESPN.com staffers are doing. For now, Pam Ward leads the way. Of the 60,831 brackets, just 1,540 picked Missouri to reach the Sweet 16. Nearly 70 percent -- or 42,086 -- correctly picked Iowa State to meet Vanderbilt in the Midwest Regional semifinals. Incidentally, 23,308 picked the Cyclones to come away with the win.
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"She plays like this, we're going to knock her in the head again." -- SMS coach Cheryl Burnett, referring to Jackie Stiles' 32-point performance Monday, two days after Stiles suffered a minor concussion. |
Video spotlight: Monday's highlights
 Niele Ivey finds Ruth Riley for 2 of her 21 points. avi: 990 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 |  Georgia Schweitzer delivers the no-look pass. avi: 772 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 |  Diana Taurasi kicks the ball out to Sue Bird, who nails a 3. avi: 1253 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 |
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