The Weekender: Men's March Madness is a Win for Seniority, Women's College Basketball is Thriving, and Anthony Richardson is an All-Time Polarizing Prospect

By 11W Staff on April 2, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Dan Hurley and Jordan Hawkins
Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports
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Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.

Experience Wins in March

One of the wildest men's NCAA Tournaments in history is coming to a close, with San Diego State and UConn set to battle for the title on Monday night (9:20 p.m., CBS). Perhaps only one thing has been more validated than the Aztecs and Huskies during this year's March Madness: the importance of developing players.

As an increasing number of national powers participate in the one-and-done game, the tournament has served as a reminder that seniority and experience are still crucial aspects of any title-winning team.

True freshmen that are considered to be elite NBA prospects have struggled mightily in the Big Dance. Brandon Miller, who will likely be the first college guy off the board in the draft, was arguably the worst player on the floor in all three of Alabama's games. Potential lottery pick Nick Smith Jr. was the weak link during Arkansas' run. Baylor guard Keyonte George shot 16% from the floor.

Meanwhile, take a look at the squads that cut down the nets. None of the four have a first-year player that averages 14 or more minutes per game. There are no surefire top draft picks to speak of; the closest is UConn three-point sniper Jordan Hawkins, whose shotmaking ability may earn him first-round status. No McDonald's All-Americans made it to Houston.

Last year's championship game tells the same story. Kansas and North Carolina combined for 141 points on the night, and none of them were scored by a true freshman. If we are to learn anything from the annual chaos of March Madness, it's that developing players remains vital to having team success in college basketball.

Women's Tournament is a Huge Success

While the men's bracket produced all surprise region winners, a quartet of top-three seeds managed to dodge a minefield of upsets to reach the women's Final Four. The stars have certainly been out in Dallas, as each of the national semifinal squads featured at least one All-American.

Regardless of what happens in the title game, 2023 March Madness has been a massive step forward for women's college basketball. The tournament has showcased the sport's incredible talent, and the intensity continues to spark high drama at every turn.

After posting a 41-point triple-double to outduel Louisville's Hailey Van Lith on Sunday night, Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark put on another show on Friday. The junior guard dropped 41 again, this time leading the Hawkeyes to a victory over undefeated defending champion South Carolina. Quite a few people were tuned in to watch the pair of virtuoso performances, with TV ratings records falling left and right.

More and more sports fans are recognizing the astounding skill level and excitement that women's college basketball brings, and it's safe to say that the game has grown considerably over the past few weeks alone.

Clark's second-seeded Iowa team will play Angel Reese and No. 3 seed LSU for the national championship on Sunday afternoon (3:30 p.m., ABC); an expanding global audience can only hope that this fantastic tournament has one last classic left to offer.

Anthony Richardson Shines at Pro Day

With four quarterbacks vying to be the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson delivered a strong closing argument on Thursday. The Florida signal-caller showed improved accuracy and displayed his effortless arm strength to a throng of NFL personnel at his pro day.

Take away the highlights and measurables, and Richardson's status as an early draft selection is incomprehensible. He was by no means a historic high school recruit – 247Sports ranked him as the 15th-best quarterback in his class – and his collegiate passing numbers are less than inspiring. In addition, Richardson wasn't an incredibly relevant player at Florida; the Gators went 6-7 in his starts, and thus rarely played under a national spotlight.

But turn on a reel of his top plays, and the infatuation with his ceiling quickly becomes understandable. The Gainesville native drops jaws with his arm talent and graded out as the most athletic quarterback prospect in the past 37 years.

C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young remain the favorites to be the top two picks, but Richardson's tantalizing skill set is impossible to ignore. Carolina is on the clock, and the world will soon find out if the talented yet enigmatic 20-year-old managed to win over its front office.

ICYMI

The five most underappreciated Ohio State football plays of the past decade

In a 10-year run full of Scarlet and Gray magic, there are bound to be incredible plays that slip through the cracks. It's time for those hidden moments to be recognized and appreciated.

Bad Luck and Trouble

Injuries to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. may have cost Ohio State a ring last year. The 2023 Buckeyes need to respond better to adversity in order to achieve their goals.

Jacy Sheldon will return for fifth season with Ohio State women's basketball

Jacy Sheldon has already cemented her legacy as one of the best point guards in school history. But after a historic Elite Eight run, she's coming back to win a national title.

What's Next

  • Women's Lacrosse: at Marquette, 1 p.m. Tuesday (FloLive)
  • Softball: vs. Ohio, 4 p.m. Tuesday
  • Baseball: vs. Kent State, 6 p.m. Tuesday (BTN+)
  • Women's Tennis: vs. Kentucky, 4 p.m. Wednesday
  • Men's Volleyball: vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 7 p.m. Thursday (BTN+)
  • Men's Lacrosse: vs. Maryland, 8 p.m. Friday (BTN)
  • Football: Spring Game, 12 p.m. Saturday, April 15 (BTN)
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