We’d cue up the song to “Welcome Back, Kotter,” but that would make us appear dated.
Instead, we’ll just say welcome back to the Big Dance, Liberty and Virginia. The Lady Flames advanced for the first time since 2015; the Cavs are making their first appearance under Joanne Boyle. They haven’t been to the national tournament since 2010.
Virginia (18-13) is a 10 seed slated to meet No. 7 Cal (21-10), the last team Boyle coached prior to taking over in Charlottesville. The teams square off in Columbia, South Carolina at 5 p.m. Friday, and how cool would it be to see the Cavaliers take on No. 1 South Carolina in the second round? The defending national champions, coached by UVA alum Dawn Staley, have to get by NC A&T for it to happen (we wish it was Hampton….), and of course, Virginia would have to beat Cal.
The Cavs are 2-2 against Cal, last playing the Golden Bears in 2011, a 59-50 loss. The Bears, who received their second consecutive at-large bid, win behind Kristine Anigwe, a 6-4 junior forward averaging 16.7 ppg with 11 double-doubles this season. Sophomore guard Mi’Cole Cayton averages 13 and junior guard Asha Thomas, 12.7.
No. 14 Liberty (24-9, which won its 17th Big South tournament over the weekend, goes to Knoxville to play No. 3 Tennessee (24-7) on Friday at 2:30. It’s not Liberty’s first visit to Thompson-Boling Arena, where the Lady Vols have won their last 56 NCAA tournament games. The Lady Flames saw their perfect season come to a close in 1998 when they fell to Tennessee, which also came into the postseason perfect that year and went on to win its sixth of eight NCAA titles. If you didn’t catch our recollection about that game, there’s still time. Check it out.