TNT might know drama, but the NCAA Tournament is the best manufacturer of it. From upsets to rivalries, game winners to heartbreakers, everything we love and loathe about sports is wrapped up in this one big competition.
With that in mind, here are three March Madness matchups that I’d love to see:
UCLA-USC Part IV?
It’s sad that the Pac-12 is no more, but watching USC and UCLA battle it out for the Big Ten title was a blast this year. In three games, the Trojans got the better of the Bruins with two wins, including winning the Big Ten regular-season title in the final game of the regular season.
However, UCLA got some sweet revenge by defeating USC in the Big Ten Tournament, and because of this, the Bruins might have won the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
So, why end on a trilogy? How about we run it back in the Final Four with a spot in the title game on the line? Or, better yet, how about the championship game being USC vs. UCLA? Can you picture it?
JuJu Watkins against Lauren Betts. All the stars would be in attendance in Tampa ready to see the Southern Cal wunderkind win it all. Or, Betts and the Bruins would complete their storybook by winning the program’s first national title over their bitter rival. No matter who wins, it would be a wonderful way to end a strong year of women’s college basketball.
Will Paige Bueckers be a winner?
Speaking of never winning it all, enter Paige Bueckers. The UConn phenom has accomplished everything there is to do at the collegiate level except for winning the national title. Can she do it in her final year?
A matchup I’d love to see is Bueckers and company taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks. They are the defending champs, just won the SEC Tournament and beating them in March has proven to be difficult.
However, they have been beatable this season. Earlier this year, UConn dominated South Carolina 87-58, ending their 71-game home win streak. A rematch would definitely bring a motivated Gamecocks team to the court, while the Huskies are fully focused on earning that title that has eluded them since 2016. A second contest between these two titans could be the game of the year.
HVL against LSU
Sports provide a safe space to be as petty as one can be. And there is nothing more petty than hoping to get one over on your ex. Last year, Hailey Van Lith had a rough final game with LSU and transferred to TCU.
At the time, the move was perplexing to fans, but the Horned Frogs have had a great season, winning both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles. They also are ranked No. 6 in that nation, higher than LSU, which currently sits as at No. 10.
If the Frogs and Tigers meet at any point during the tournament, it will be a must-see event and create a perfect revenge story arc for HVL. Most fans will be pulling for her, but LSU is perfectly comfortable playing the villain and winning in that role.
With 68 teams participating in the Big Dance, these are just a few of the dream scenarios to pull for. When the bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday, there will be plenty of potential can’t-miss matchups. Hopefully, these games will happen, but regardless, bet on getting some memorable moments from the 2025 edition of the NCAA Tournament.
