March is here and the madness has begun. However, in the state of Florida the madness is coming the ladies and not the men. Normally, for the men, you could count that Florida State, Florida, Miami, and Central Florida as teams in the NCAA Tournament around this time. This season only one of the Florida schools is projected to be in the Tournament.... Miami Hurricanes.
On the ladies' side, according to ESPN's Charlie Creme's Bracketology, there are five Florida schools projected to be in the Women's March Madness Tournament come Selection Sunday, March 13.
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Lady Bulls looking to return to the big dance after missing the last four year. The Lady Bulls before this four-year absence have been a staple of the Tournament, making it five out of six years from 2013-2018 with 2014 being the lone absence. Not currently ranked in the AP Poll however, the Lady Bulls are 21-7 on the season and 11-3 in the American Conference (currently 2nd in AAC) looked primed to return to the big dance. Currently on a three-game winning streak, the Lady Bulls will face the Houston Cougars tomorrow night in Tampa to close out the season before heading into American Tournament. USF are currently projected to be an 8th-seed according to Charlie Creme.
Miami Hurricanes
Finishing 17-11 on the season and seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 10-8 record are the Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have an ok resume with a couple of wins over ranked opponents, both being Georgia Tech (15th and 16th). A good ACC tournament run can help the Hurricanes be a lock for the Tournament but for now they are on bubble watch. Charlie Creme currently has Miami projected as an 11th-seed on the Last Four Byes Line.
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
A school that was once known as Dunk City back to 2013 for their men's basketball team but it is the women's basketball team that has been the consistent ones. Currently ranked 22nd in the AP Poll, the Eagles won the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title this season for the 11th time in 12 years. The Eagles own victories over LSU, Michigan St., and a sweep of Liberty. The women of Florida Gulf Coast will be making their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years. Before that the Eagles are looking for their nineth ASUN Tournament Title to further their dominance of the ASUN Conference. The Eagles are currently projected as an 9th-seed.
Florida Gators
The one of big surprises of the season in women's basketball has to be in Gainesville, Florida. That's the Florida Gators led by now, head coach Kelly Rae Finley when the interim tag was taking off today by the University. The Lady Gators under Finley's first year won 20 games for the first time since 2016. Their resume has big wins over 25th ranked Texas A&M on the road, 23rd ranked Kentucky on the road, and 11th ranked LSU at home in a five-game span. Currently ranked 23rd in the polls, the Gators are in good shape to make the Tournament for the first time since 2016. First Finley and her Gators are looking to the SEC Tournament as they finished fifth in the Conference with a 10-6 conference record and 20-9 overall record. Florida currently projected as an 6th-seed.
UCF Knights
The other big surprise will be in Orlando, Florida. That's right two of the big surprises in women's basketball reside in the state of Florida. This one however involves another school from the American Conference, the UCF Knights. The Knights are having their best season as an American Conference member. Winning the regular season title for the first time ever with a 13-1 conference record and 21-3 overall record. This is the Knight first regular season title since 2005 when they were in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Under head coach, Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, the Knights have won 20 games in five of the six years she has coached in Orlando with last season being the outlier with a 16-5 record. The Knights have one last home left against Tulsa tomorrow before the American Tournament. Creme has the UCF Knights projected as an 7th-seed currently.
For this year at the moment the state of Florida is about women's basketball as these ladies from these schools are all primed for the Tournament and some could make a deep Tournament run. Until next year fellas, but for now Go Ladies!!!