Women's Tournament 2015: Schedule, Bracket Predictions for Friday's Subregionals

This is one of the most fascinating years for the NCAA women's tournament in a long time. Connecticut remains the overwhelming favorite to walk away with its third consecutive title, but there's depth at the top of the standings that should make for an interesting run to the Final Four. 

Of course, that's getting way ahead of things. Even though the Huskies don't seem likely to fall before making it to Tampa, weird things happen in March. Okay, that's just trying to find an upset where there may not be one, but it's nonetheless true. 

Here's a look at the schedule and predictions for Friday's first-round games, as well as some expectations for the entire tournament. 

Matchup	Start Time (ET)	Network	Prediction
No. 13 Albany vs. No. 4 Duke	12 p.m.	ESPN3	Duke
No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Northwestern	12 p.m.	ESPN3	Arkansas
No. 10 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Dayton	12 p.m.	ESPN3	Dayton
No. 11 Miami vs. No. 6 Washington	12 p.m.	ESPN3	Washington
No. 15 Northwestern State vs. No. 2 Baylor	2:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Baylor
No. 15 Tennessee State vs. No. 2 Kentucky	2:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Kentucky
No. 12 Tulane vs. No. 5 Mississippi State	2:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Mississippi State
No. 14 American vs. No. 3 Iowa	2:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Iowa
No. 16 Savannah State vs. No. 1 South Carolina	5 p.m.	ESPN3	South Carolina
No. 14 South Dakota State vs. No. 3 Oregon State	5 p.m.	ESPN3	Oregon State
No. 12 Western Kentucky vs. No. 5 Texas	5 p.m.	ESPN3	Texas
No. 9 DePaul vs. No. 8 Minnesota	5 p.m.	ESPN3	DePaul
No. 16 Montana vs. No. 1 Notre Dame	7:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Notre Dame
No. 11 Gonzaga vs. No. 6 George Washington	7:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Gonzaga
No. 13 Wichita State vs. No. 4 California	7:30 p.m.	ESPN3	California
No. 9 Nebraska vs. No. 8 Syracuse	7:30 p.m.	ESPN3	Nebraska

Jessica Hill/Associated Press

It's amazing to look at the difference between the best team in men's college basketball and women's college basketball. Kentucky, which enters the NCAA tournament undefeated at 34-0, is one of the biggest favorites in recent memory with a 42 percent chance to win the title, per projections by FiveThirtyEight. 

By comparison, Villanova is second on that list at 11 percent. Using the same site and same projection methodology on the women's side, Connecticut has a 74 percent chance to win the national championship. South Carolina is second at 10 percent. 

The odd thing is that teams like South Carolina, Notre Dame and Maryland each have two losses and have looked like potential title contenders at different points in the season. The Gamecocks were flirting with perfection before Connecticut knocked them off by 25 points in February. 

However, it's important to note that game was in Storrs. If there's a rematch between South Carolina and Connecticut, it will happen on a neutral site in Tampa. Anything that happened before is irrelevant. 

Plus, as noted by an editorial in The State, the Gamecocks have been battle-tested already this season by virtue of playing in the SEC:

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The Gamecocks have posted 14-2 and 15-1 records in the SEC the past two years, claiming the regular-season crown in the nation’s toughest and deepest conference for women’s basketball both years.

While last year’s selection as a No. 1 seed in the tournament was unprecedented and incredible, expectations were not quite as high as this year. Last year’s team was a solid unit that bowed out in the Sweet 16. But this year’s squad is a deep and talent-laden bunch that has what it takes to make a deep run.

"

It feels like South Carolina would be the team to defeat Connecticut, if it's going to happen in the NCAA tournament. 

Richard Shiro/Associated Press

Stanford, which was the only team to defeat UConn in the regular season, struggled once it got in Pac-12 play, with four losses in 11 games since February 6, including three to average competition like Oregon, Arizona and California. 

The key for Connecticut will be avoiding its own hype, which doesn't seem like a problem for head coach Geno Auriemma based on these comments to reporters after the bracket was announced, via The Boston Globe:

‘‘The fact that everybody thinks it’s a done deal, that we’re going to win the whole thing,’’ Auriemma said, ‘‘those are probably people who have never coached, or haven’t coached in a Final Four or have won a national championship.’’

Whether Auriemma wants to hear it or not, the reason everyone talks about another title like it's a done deal is because of what he's built. This program operates on another level, especially with top-tier competition like Notre Dame or South Carolina on the opposing side. 

It may be wrong to expect Kentucky's men to breeze through the NCAA tournament due to the number of close calls that team has had this season, but it's wholly justified to expect the Lady Huskies to steamroll the competition on their way to a third straight title.