Even if not explicitly stated, part of the job of the NCAA Tournament Select Committee is to create a TV show and place teams on passes that may force a must-see matchup at Madness in March.
That's why we might see Duke vs North Carolina in sweet 16. So Juju Watkins and USC are on the collision course to face Page Booker. uconn At Elite Eight. That's why Louisville was sent TCU'sub-regional.
Please remember that the committee also tried this last year. When former Louisville guard Haley Vanlis was playing since then. LSUthe Cardinals were sent to Baton Rouge. However, the second round matchup never happened as Louisville was upset in the first round in central Tennessee.
The committee's second, last – attempt to achieve this finally worked. Van Lis and her second-seeded horned frog will face No. 7 Louisville on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas.
So for the first time, Van Lis will face the team who helped him go to the Final Four as a sophomore in 2022.
However, Van Liss did not feed frenzily around the matchup.
“I understand the media, I understand the stories that are portrayed. It doesn't necessarily match where I am mentally and emotionally,” she said Saturday. “That's fine. It doesn't matter if people don't have the same perception as me. I'm in a really good place. I'm excited to play. This game is much bigger than me and it's something I've happened.”
She added: “TCU is looking to go to Sweet 16 for the first time. It's a story that's way bigger than the rest. I'm just excited to play. It's going to be great game time. I'll probably get a Prime Time slot. I love it.”
Certainly, TCU vs Louisville tip off on ESPN at 6pm Sunday, proving that it's a matchup worthy of mothership treatment.
At his third school three years later, Vanlis is undoubtedly the best season of his college career, a big reason why TCU is considered the final four contenders. She averages 17.7 points per game and a career-high 5.4 assists, but grabs 4.3 rebounds per game and earns 45.7% off the floor.
Wenatchee, Washington, 5-foot-9 guard won the Olympic Bronze medal in Team USA in 3×3 basketball this summer, but ranks seventh in national victory share. She is one of only five players in the country and the only player to play in the NCAA Tournament. They average at least 17.5 points, five assists and four rebounds per game. She led the way, and TCU won the Big 12 for the first time this season.
This is a bounceback season for Van Liss, who struggled to find a consistent role on the Star Rading LSU roster, which fell to Iowa State last season in the Elite 8. It can be argued that Van Liss was hanging out a bit dry by her coach in that defeat as he refused to make any real adjustments to protect Caitlyn Clark.
Van Liss averaged 11.6 points per game at LSU, filming his career low from the floor. At TCU, she turns out to be suitable for her skill set.
“When I chose TCU, I think I was really looking for a system that looked very similar to the one here. It's just a ton apart. Unique personnel opening the floor for me for me, where I can do my best,” Van Lis said. “But it's also a system that challenges me to open up a new part of my game, just like playing a bit of a new part of my game.”
Louisville has a young roster with eight true freshmen, but there are still a few players who played with Van Liss, including Olivia Cochran and Melissa Russell. Van Liss said she is still very close to Russell.
“One of my best friends still plays for Louisville, and if I get married, I'll probably be a bridesmaid at my wedding,” Van Liss said with a laugh. “We went to the Final Four, that's the change in life, and there are so many emotions out there.
Cochran still has a lot of respect and admiration for Van Lis, but knows he's not a former teammate or friend on Sunday.
“Haley was a great teammate. I wish her the best. But at the end of the day we survived and moved on. At the end of the day, this is basketball and it's competition. “Look? It's not bad blood. It's all love. I wish her the best.”
Louisville coach Jeff Waltz was willing to play alongside the hype being drummed for matchups.
He was asked what works so well with Van Lis and Sedona Prince on the same team. For the context here, Walz coached Prince on the Team's U-18 team, which won the Fiba Americas Championship in 2018.
Walz answered the question:
“I mean, what do you mean? They're both great players. What the heck is it? I mean, they didn't reinvent the game here,” Waltz said. “Like the two shitty players we made (not) that we're really good players.”
Walz's personality has permeated throughout Louisville's women's basketball program and has been around for the rest of her tenure as head coach. That's why they're always tough, whether they have eight freshmen or no newcomers. Their strength and discipline helped them make four Final Fours under the Walz watch.
On Sunday, his Cardinals attempt to punch the 13th ticket to the Sweet 16. TCU will play for their first chance to advance to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Van Lis is well aware that she and the horned frog are against it.
“Because we're in that program, we know they definitely have a tip on their shoulders. When I was there, we'd always had a tip about us. Perhaps why do I still play that way too,” Van Lis said. “So we'll have to come out and be fierce and match their strength. We'll see if we're doing that.”
