Villanova faces South Dakota St. in return to NCAAs (Mar 14, 2018)
One team is a seasoned, tournament-tested team, while the other hasn't been to the Big Dance since 2013.
South Dakota State is approaching its first-round game as it should. Focus on the task at hand. Don't look ahead. Play one game at a time.
Villanova, on the other hand, is thrilled to finally get back to the NCAA Women's Tournament after a three-year hiatus.
The Summit League champion and No. 8 seed Jackrabbits (26-6) and the No. 9 seed Wildcats (22-8), an at-large team out of the Big East, meet in a first-round Spokane Region game Friday in South Bend, Ind.
"People say the 8-9 game is a death sentence in women's basketball," Villanova's longtime coach Harry Perretta told the Delaware County Time. "I see it as going to a wedding. You see your name, you go sit where they tell you to sit and that's it. They tell us who to play. We show up to play and that's the end of the story."
Don't be confused by the names on the front of the jersey. South Dakota State will be making its eighth NCAA appearance since becoming eligible 10 years ago. After missing out last season, the Jackrabbits are back in familiar territory.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats last got a taste of the NCAA Tournament in 2013, when they were bounced by Michigan in the first round.
Two years ago, the Jackrabbits beat Miami (Fla.) in the first round before losing a heartbreaker to Stanford, 66-65. They parlayed a difficult nonconference schedule with their Summit League title to build confidence heading into Friday's game.
"We're starting to get some respect," Macy Miller, the Summit League Player of the Year told the Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, S.D). "When we play those good teams and beat them it shows everyone what kind of program we are. We're getting the respect that we deserve."
Miller leads the Jackrabbits with 18.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Her running mate at guard, Madison Guebert, averages 14.8 points game. The 78.3 points the Jackrabbits average ranks 23rd in the nation.
The loss to Stanford, which prevented them from earning a berth in the Sweet 16 still haunts Guebert.
"Coming so close to beating Stanford two years ago, then last year not getting the opportunity to play (in the NCAA Tournament) -- both of those things have been fuel for us this year," Guebert said. "We know this team is capable of big things."
Big things are always expected of Villanova's men's team, but for the women, making the tournament is not a given.
"I'm so happy for the seniors," Perretta said. "We had some adversity. Four years ago, we had two starters hurt and we started 3-10. Three years ago, we had our best player (Caroline Coyer) hurt with three games to go and we just missed it.
"Last year, we were just too young and inexperienced. That run to the Final Four of the NIT really helped this team mature. This year it paid off because we won a lot of those games we lost last year."
Making the tournament is especially sweet for senior guards Alex Louin, who will be making her first appearance in the Big Dance.
"It's the perfect conclusion to a great career here," Louin said. "We hope to make the most of it."
Louin's 12.0 points per game leads the team, but three others average double figures. Louin is also the top rebounder at 6.9 per game. Mary Gedaka (11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds), the Big East Sixth Woman of the Year, provides some pop off the bench.
The winner of Friday's game gets a date with the region's No. 1 seed Notre Dame on Sunday. Looking ahead might be a challenge for both teams.
"Obviously it's there, and that'd be exciting," Guebert said of the potential to play the Irish. "But it's the NCAA Tournament. ... We know we have to play our best basketball or we'll be going home."
