Hoops

2018/19 NCAA Season: Aussie Men & Women

Moragn Yaeger is the last women standing in the NCAA Tournament, heading to the Final Four. But there are a host of others starring in the WNIT and WBI.

NCAA Women: Yaeger and Oregon dance into Final Four

One Aussie male has advanced to the Final Four, while Koat Noi has led TCU to the final of the NIT.

NCAA Men: Stattmann headed to Final Four, Kouat making some noise

She will be the oldest player at any college !

Mangakahia has opted to return to Syracuse for another year rather than nominating for the WNBA draft.
One More Year

Smith was today named to the All-America 2nd Team

Smith is joined on the second team by Kristine Anigwe (Cal), Kalani Brown (Baylor), Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame) and Bridget Carleton (Iowa State).
The first team consists of Megan Gustafson (Iowa), Napheesa Collier (Connecticut), Teaira McCowan (Mississippi State), Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon) and Asia Durr (Louisville).

35 Aussies across 28 teams featured in the first weekend of the three postseason events, with 11 of those playing in the NCAA Tournament. All nine first round games featuring an Australian finished with an Aussie winner, with five of those making their way through to the Sweet 16. Elsewhere, three Aussies remain standing in the WNIT, whilst Nicola Mathews and Appalachian State have made their way through to the WBI semi-finals.

NCAA Women: Five Aussies remain in NCAA Tournament after solid first weekend

With Champ Week done and dusted, attention now turns to the ‘Big Dance’ – the NCAA Tournament. Four Aussies reached the tournament as conference champions, whilst seven more picked up at-large bids to see 11 Aussies split evenly across 11 teams enter the 64-team bracket.

NCAA Women: The Aussies in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

With the power conferences having completed their conference tournaments last weekend, the mid-majors took centre stage as the battle for a single bid in many leagues played out. With a number of Australians playing in the Big Sky, that was always one league that was a chance of sending an Aussie to the NCAA Tournament, and fans weren’t disappointed. On the other side of the country, Buffalo secured the MAC Championship and an automatic bid of their own, with Courtney Wilkins playing a major role.

NCAA Women: Aussie stars light up the Big Sky

Selection Sunday finalised the NCAA Tournament field, with a total of 12 Australian men across 8 teams set to go ‘dancing’. Seven of those teams won their conference tournaments to book direct entry into the event, while one (Virginia) were included in the field after a brilliant season and are currently ranked number two nationally entering this week.

NCAA Men: The Aussies in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

Thanks for the correction!

Mangakahia is actually 23! Born 21 April 1995, so she is about to turn 24.

The most common mature age entry in NCAA stems from students who were on active military duty so were able to defer their eligibility. Another way is if you served as a missionary. Those are two avenues I've noticed watching NCAA sports.

^ good question, not sure how she’s managed it, but it’s a valid point to reflect on who she plays against, be very interesting to see how she pulls up against ones her own age.

With Tiana about to turn 25, would there be other students her age still playing or is her situation somehow unique?

Seems odd when the majority are 18-21.

The first half of Champ Week provided, as always, scintilliating performances, joyous memories, and utter heartbreak as conference crowns were decided, and seniors saw their careers either end with a tournament loss or continue on for another game. Among the Aussies, the stars once again shone brightest as Alanna Smith and Tiana Mangakahia picked up conference tournament awards, with Smith picking up the Pac-12 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as Stanford upset Oregon in the decider.

NCAA Women: Smith leads Stanford to 13th Pac-12 Tournament title

Stanford upsets Oregon to win the Pac 12 tournament.
Alanna Smith named Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

She is really piling up the accolades this season.

Very odd given she has yet to be included in the Opals squad! (even though she should be in it)

Well done to Alanna. Fantastic year for her and likely a top 10 pick in the draft.

Awesome to see 2 Aussies finish 1 and 2 in the NCAA in assists.
O'Neill with 8.5 and Mangakahia with 8.4 season average.

The commentators for the Syracuse v Boston college game also said that tiana would be trying out for the aus national team at the end of the season.
Thought it was odd that they knew that.

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior Alanna Smith has been named the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Smith is Stanford's fifth women's basketball awardee, joining Brittany McPhee (2017-18), Chiney Ogwumike (2013-14), Kayla Pedersen (2010-11) and Jayne Appel (2009-10).

"I’m just really proud of this team," FSU head coach Sue Semrau said. "We did not have an answer for their point guard. We played her different ways off the ball screens and she made us pay in every way. It would have been nice to have more bodies to put on her and she played a tremendous game, but I thought we did too."

Enormous game for Tiana today. 44 points (@ 80%!), 8 assists, 5 boards in their 94-88 win.



She was also the only one shooting........I’d say Florida State lost the game, more than Syracuse won it, obviously no defence at all if they can’t shut down the only player shooting the ball lol

Hopefully they upload the game on YouTube.

Enormous game for Tiana today. 44 points (@ 80%!), 8 assists, 5 boards in their 94-88 win.

Boxscore

Not a great game today... too many turnovers for tiana.

I have seen her play live in the NCAA this season - she should be in the squad clearly.

And I have absolutely no connection to her.

Tiana should have been selected to the Opals squad. Short-sighted omission.

I'm sure LC agrees with me, tiana should be in the opals camp.

^
“I'm sure when tiana gets drafted, she will be called up to opals camp. Watched the last few syracuse games and she is so comfortable running the show.nreads the game very well.”

Yes Dad ......

I'm sure when tiana gets drafted, she will be called up to opals camp. Watched the last few syracuse games and she is so comfortable running the show.nreads the game very well.

Yup! Awesome isn't it?!

Ncaaw assist leaders. Both Aussies.

The stars shone brightly once again this week as Alanna Smith, Tiana Mangkahia, Jade Johnson and Shannon Dufficy all delivered as the season approaches crunch time. A number of freshmen also produced, with Sam Simons pouring in 28 points for a new career-high and Haylee Andrews tying her career-high for assists.

NCAA Women: Smith picks up a third Pac-12 Player of the Week award

Great article on Alanna Smith from the Stanford website

Into the Dust

Whilst many of the usual suspects turned in some outstanding performances, a slightly unexpected name put everyone in the shade as Courtney Murphy continues to make up for lost time in her freshman season in Seattle. Murphy was one of a number of freshmen to shine this week, as Haylee Andrews continues to perform for Portland and Callie Bourne strengthens her grip on a starting spot for Idaho State.

NCAA Women: Murphy breaks Seattle’s scoring record, leads team to first win

Goodchild vs Mangakahia
Duke vs Syracuse

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9FZVvErgoO8

Stanford and Opals forward Alanna Smith was once again among the leading Australians in women’s college basketball this week, with the senior edging her way firmly into the conversation for Pac-12 Player of the Year after some outstanding efforts. Elsewhere, Jade Johnson broke a school record in St. Francis’ win over local rivals LIU-Brooklyn, and Emily Fisher enjoyed a breakout weekend for American University.

Visit W3Schools!

Anon^, that's a crock, are you just making stuff up as you go......?

Every player has a choice based on what they want to do and try for themselves, that hasn't changed and won't change.

Next season, another 35 women headed to college.

The amount of Men going to college sliding...
Simply not producing much talent on the men's side.
Seabl, state league and Nbl dp seem to be the go to options.

Correct - record numbers of Aussie men and women.

More Aussies are playing college basketball than ever before it seems.

While we were spoilt with a talent-laden class of 2017/18, this season a number of lesser-known Aussies have been making an impact across NCAA Division I ranks.

There may be no Jock Landale or Xavier Cooks, but we may well be unearthing a next generation of college stars from down under this season, with Cameron Healy the most impressive of the freshmen to date. Kouat Noi and Jack White are standing out on major programs, while a host of others have stepped up to experience career-best years. Subsequently we count down the Top 10 Aussies at the mid-point of the 2018/19 season.

NCAA Men: Midseason All-Australian Awards

Crazy numbers!

Her average is now

21 points
8.4 rebounds
2.4 assists
2.4 blocks
57.1 fg
73.8 ft
50.5 3 pt%

In the best conference too.

She has been nothing short of amazing this season! A real contender for Pac-12 POY.

A lazy 34 & 15 for Alanna today. 4/5 from the perimeter takes her season 3P% to a ridiculous 50%

As the number of Australians in women’s college basketball continues to rise, so too does the number of players producing at a high level not only relative to their countrywomen, but on a national level.

Names such as Alanna Smith and Tiana Mangakahia immediately jump to mind with the pair both considered WNBA prospects, but the list of players in contention for All-Australian selection runs far deeper than the ten players selected. With non-conference play having now wrapped up, we take a look at the top 10 Australian players as well as the top first-year student-athlete.

NCAA Women: Midseason All-Australian Awards

Hope so

Maybe she'll be in the wnbl next season.

Hopefully Maley is okay and things come together for her. She seems like a good kid but the AIS, Oregon and now TCU haven’t worked out.

For sure.
Horvat sitting at the end of the bench late in her sophomore year for ucla. Not sure she will ever get big minutes playing behind other sophomores and freshman.
Maley left 2 programs.