INDIANAPOLIS -- A first-time host and two locations that last hosted a championship round more than a decade ago highlight the first- and second-round and regional sites for the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, as selected by the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee.
Cities chosen to host first- and second-round games in 2014 include Ames, Iowa; Baton Rouge, La.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; College Park, Md.; College Station, Texas; Durham, N.C.; Iowa City, Iowa; Knoxville, Tenn.; Lexington, Ky.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Storrs, Conn.; Toledo, Ohio; University Park, Penn.; Waco, Texas; and West Lafayette, Ind. The four selected regional sites are Lincoln, Neb.; Louisville, Ky.; Notre Dame, Ind., and Stanford, Calif.
Toledo will be hosting Division I Women’s Basketball Championship play for the first time, while Los Angeles’ Pauley Pavilion, which hosted the 1984 NCAA Women’s Final Four, will see championship play for the first time since 1999. Lexington, which will host first- and second-round action, will be involved in championship play for the first time since the 1986 Women’s Final Four.
“The committee continues to look for ways to create a better in-arena atmosphere for our student-athletes, improve attendance and enhance the broadcast look of the games,” Carolayne Henry said, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and senior associate commissioner/senior woman administrator at the Mountain West Conference. “The 2014 championship presented us with a unique opportunity for our institutional hosts during the regional rounds of play. The committee is continuing to look at other host and format options that make sense for our championship going into 2015 and beyond.”
The following first- and second-round sites will host games either Saturday, March 22, and Monday, March 24 or Sunday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 25, 2014 (dates to be determined):
VENUESITEHOST(S)
Hilton ColiseumAmes, IowaIowa State
Pete Maravich Assembly CenterBaton Rouge, La.LSU
Carmichael ArenaChapel Hill, N.C.North Carolina
Comcast CenterCollege Park, Md.Maryland
Reed ArenaCollege Station, TexasTexas A&M
Cameron Indoor StadiumDurham, N.C.Duke
Carver-Hawkeye ArenaIowa City, IowaIowa
Thompson-Boling ArenaKnoxville, Tenn.Tennessee
Memorial ColiseumLexington, Ky.Kentucky
Pauley PavilionLos Angeles, Calif.UCLA
Alaska Airlines ArenaSeattle, Wash.Washington
Harry A. Gampel PavilionStorrs, Conn.Connecticut
Savage ArenaToledo, OhioToledo
Bryce Jordan CenterUniversity Park, Pa.Penn State
Ferrell CenterWaco, TexasBaylor
Mackey ArenaWest Lafayette, Ind.Purdue

The following regional sites will host games either Saturday, March 29, and Monday, March 31 or Sunday, March 30, and Tuesday, April 1, 2014 (dates to be determined):
REGIONALVENUESITEHOST(S)
Lincoln RegionalPinnacle Bank ArenaLincoln, Neb.Nebraska
Louisville RegionalKFC Yum! CenterLouisville, Ky.Louisville
Notre Dame RegionalJoyce CenterNotre Dame, Ind.Notre Dame
Stanford RegionalMaples PavilionStanford, Calif.Stanford
All roads from the preliminary rounds will lead to Nashville, site of the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four to be played April 6 and 8 at Bridgestone Arena. 
 

Seattle...despite fan grumblings...might be the best option.

As a two seed, Louisville probably wouldn't be headed to Storrs (UConn), Waco (Baylor) W. Lafayette (Purdue), Lexington (UK), Knoxville (UT), Iowa City (Iowa St), Durham (Duke),  Ames (Iowa St), Los Angeles (Stanford), Baton Rouge (LSU), College Park (Maryland), Chapel Hill (UNC), or College Station (Texas A&M).

That leaves Seattle, Toledo or University Park. Figure Notre Dame in for Toledo. University Park is Penn State's home. They could get in as a #4 and you don't stick a #2 and a #4 in the same First and Second Round site.

Seattle looks very possible.

Louisville as a #2 in Seattle. Facing a #15 to begin and then the winner of a #6 vs #9 matchup. After that, back to Louisville for the Regional.

Let's look at the current top eight teams in the nation. Where would they go in regional seeding if they make the Sweet Sixteen?

1) UConn - Lincoln is the guess. You don't put two #1 seeds together and there are no #1 midwestern teams currently.
2) Notre Dame - They are hosting in South Bend
3) Duke - A possibility of heading to the "Ville"
4) Stanford - They are hosting in the Maples Pavillion
5) Louisville - The Cards are hosting
6) Maryland - A candidate for South Bend
7) UNC - We see them headed out west to Stanford
8) Okla St. - In Lincoln. The weakest #2 seed

It is all conjecture at this point...but a westward swing could serve the Cards well in getting back to Louisville to host and play in the Louisville regional. Then, the fun begins.

We'll know in less than two months...

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Say what? Despite the rough weather, CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO will terrorize the internet airwaves this morning at 11 a.m.

Jenny and I have a good show planned...great interviews with Jeff Walz, freshman lacrosse player Steph McNamara and discussion of hoops, lacrosse, swimming, tennis and much, much more. Don Paulie has issues, as usual and we'll see how Jenny fares in Paulie's Pick 'Em & the weekly quiz.

Get in on the fun at www.crescenthillradio.com this morning at 11 a.m.

paulie
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