Vic Shaefer, Tara Vanderveer evaluate Texas, Stanford as top two seeds in Women's March Madness
Texas got the No. 1 seed over No. 2 Stanford in one region of Women’s March Madness. There was some thought that Stanford should’ve been the top seed.
However, coaches Vic Shaefer and Tara Vanderveer aren’t concerned with the hypotheticals at this point. Vanderveer also didn’t complain about being No. 2.
Heck, if the seeds hold, the Cardinal will get their shot at Texas.
“I don’t feel disappointed at all,” Vanderveer said on College Sports Radio on Sirius XM. “I feel you know, we’re excited to be in the tournament. We’re excited about our bracket. We know we have to play well. And the most important thing is not what you’re seeded, but how you play. So, you know, I’m looking at it as just a great opportunity for our team and our players.”
Stanford lost the Pac-12 title game to USC, 74-61, despite being the top seed in the bracket. Texas, which was the second seed in the Big 12 Tournament, beat No. 4 Iowa State in the finals, 70-53
“So happy for our players,” Shaefer said. “I mean, to know how hard they’ve worked, the adversity that they’ve fought through and faced throughout the season … We’ve had it and all these kids have done is just win. I mean, they won 30 games and just couldn’t be more happy for them.
“But it’s well earned y’all. Like I’ve been sitting here for a week ever since we finished the Big 12 tournament and I thought there’s just no way this team isn’t a one (seed).”
Now the argument is because Texas won the conference title and not Stanford, the Longhorns should be the No. 1 seed. Valid reasoning.
Stanford goes into NCAAs at 28-6 while Texas is 30-4. Sure, you can use ratings and NET and whatever other calculations to determine who should get the top seed.
But the point remains, they’re the two best teams in that portion of the bracket. One of Texas or Stanford could very well come out of the region and get to the Final Four.
But of course, that’s why they play the game. Heck, even former President Barack Obama picked some upsets in his bracket and actually has Texas getting bounce with Stanford getting to the Final Four.
It seems like everyone’s chasing South Carolina, Iowa or LSU this year, but let’s not forget about a potentially epic battle between Texas and Stanford along the way.