No. 9 South Dakota State will take on host-school and top-seeded Virginia Tech in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday in Blacksburg, VA. The Hokies defeated No. 16 Chattanooga in the first round Friday, 58-33.
Georgia Amoore led the Hokies with 22 points, while Kayana Traylor and Elizabeth Kitley netted 12 points apiece. Kitley grabbed a double-double with 14 rebounds. Taylor Soule contributed 10 points.
Virginia Tech flew through its regular season and conference tournament, finishing 27-4 before NCAA Tournament play. Of its four losses, only one was to a non-tournament team (Clemson, 59-64, Clemson, SC). It also steamrolled Miami in the ACC Tournament after losing by 11 in the first meeting on the road. The other two losses were to teams atop the ACC standings (Notre Dame; Duke).
While it did not show in Friday’s matchup with Southern California, Jacks fans know that South Dakota State is a well-balanced (and well-coached) team. It also challenged itself again this season with a tough non-conference slate, getting good wins over Mississippi State, Louisville, and Kansas State. Good battles were put up against UCLA and Creighton. The Jacks did drop a couple of bad losses to Washington State and Montana State, but they have only looked better since then.
Both coaches commented on not letting the opponent get too comfortable and forcing uncomfortable situations. SDSU Head Coach Aaron Johnston also talked after yesterday’s win about what he saw in the Hokies, saying that it was similar to what he likes about his own team.
Virginia Tech is taller as far as players who see a lot of court, especially with Kitley in the middle (6-6). Kitley tends to distract a lot of teams which creates open space for the other four players on the court, but SDSU plays balanced defensively as well. In addition to not letting Kitley pull players too far away from the perimeter, SDSU needs to limit runs. Anything less than basket-for-basket could create issues. Virginia Tech is a tough place to play, and is set up a bit like Frost Arena with the student section above the basket. Cassell Coliseum will be full, but not blue and yellow.
Jackrabbit Nation would argue, however, that SDSU is built for this type of basketball. The consistently tough non-conference schedule paired with the hostile environment its own fans create as well as AJ’s coaching style allows the Jacks to stay calm and collected, and that may be what keeps them steady in what should be a battle in all aspects Sunday afternoon.
The Jacks take on the Hokies at 5 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. CST Sunday on ESPN2.