CBB Full-Court Press: UCLA's Betts building Wooden Award case

College Basketball Full-Court Press recaps the most important developments from the sport and examines their significance moving forward.

Betts making Wooden Award case

The National Player of the Year race is heating up.

Lauren Betts' case for the Wooden Award is just as good as any. The 6-foot-7 center is averaging 20.2 points, 9.7 boards, and 2.9 assists. She ranks third in the NCAA in player efficiency rating (42), fourth in blocks (2.8), and eighth in field-goal percentage (64.1%). Betts is also among the NCAA's leaders in double-doubles with 11 in 19 appearances.

Her improved playmaking has added another dimension to UCLA's elite offense. She's a weapon in dribble handoffs, she makes simple reads when doubled, and she kicks the ball out to open shooters on the perimeter. Betts tallied a career-high 11 assists in the Bruins' most recent victory over Minnesota, becoming the first women's college basketball player standing 6-foot-7 or taller to have 10 assists in one contest, according to Dano Mataya of Her Hoop Stats.

Betts' passing ability puts opponents in a dilemma. Few players have the size, strength, and finesse to match up one-on-one against her down low. Sending an extra defender at her leaves them vulnerable against UCLA's 3-point threats. Betts has thrived regardless of the opposition's scheme, posting some historic numbers during her junior year. She dropped 33 points on 14-of-15 shooting versus then-No. 8 Maryland, becoming the first player in the past 25 years to score at least 30 points on 90% shooting against a top-10 opponent.

Betts' rim protection has made the Bruins extremely difficult to score on in the paint. They're third nationally in opponent 2-point percentage (33.8%) and 14th in blocks (5.2). Betts set a single-game school record last month versus Baylor with nine rejections. She's recorded three-plus swats on nine occasions this season.

South Carolina rules SEC

The last three weeks have cemented South Carolina as the undisputed top squad in a tough SEC. The Gamecocks remain undefeated in conference play with five consecutive wins over ranked opponents. Their average margin of victory in those top-25 tilts is 18.6 points, including a 101-60 rout of then-No. 13 Oklahoma. Dawn Staley's defense continues to shine despite losing Ashlyn Watkins for the rest of the campaign. Opponents are shooting only 21% from deep and 32.7% overall in Watkins' absence. The Gamecocks' athleticism across the roster and constant ball pressure have given counterparts fits all season long.

South Carolina delivered one of its finest defensive performances of the campaign against arguably its biggest SEC threat. The team limited a potent LSU offense to a season-low 56 points - well below its average of 88.3 - on 29.9% shooting. The Tigers' Big Three of Flau'Jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams, and Aneesah Morrow shot a combined 31.5% from the field and coughed up the ball 11 times. The Gamecocks registered 13 steals and scored 22 points off turnovers. LSU was held scoreless for extended stretches, including the last 4:51 of the second quarter.

The scary part about South Carolina's latest triumph over the Tigers was that the team won by double digits in spite of a poor offensive showing. Every team is bound to have an off-shooting night. But the Gamecocks can lean on a top defense to grind out a win.

Last No. 1 seed up for grabs

UCLA, South Carolina, and Notre Dame have remained atop the AP poll for the last eight weeks and would each earn a No. 1 seed if the NCAA Tournament started today. The last top seed is suddenly back on the table after USC's shocking defeat to Iowa over the weekend. The Trojans still have the upper hand with top-10 road wins over UConn and Maryland on their resume. However, their remaining Big Ten schedule features a clash with the top-ranked Bruins and a prime-time date with No. 8 Ohio State next weekend.

Texas moved up to fourth in the latest AP poll and trails only South Carolina in Quad 1 wins. The Longhorns have signature victories over Maryland, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Alabama. Their only defeats this season are to the Gamecocks and an overtime loss on the road versus The Fighting Irish. Texas can build its case further with its next four games coming against ranked opponents.

UConn always seems to find itself in the conversation for a No. 1 seed, even though it's been nearly a decade since its last national championship. The Huskies did most of their heavy lifting early on, picking up wins over North Carolina, Ole Miss, Louisville, and Iowa State. The Big East isn't as competitive as it once was, so Geno Auriemma has scheduled a pair of non-conference road matchups against Tennessee and South Carolina. A win over either school could be a difference-maker when the committee gathers in March.

LSU was undefeated until the team fell to South Carolina nearly two weeks ago. It's the lone blemish on another strong start under Kim Mulkey. The Tigers' non-conference schedule was fairly light, with a neutral-site win over NC State being the lone highlight. Their path to a No. 1 seed runs through the deep SEC. LSU already has a pair of top-20 wins over Oklahoma and Tennessee. A road victory versus Texas in mid-February could give the Tigers the inside track.

Transition three

Vandy's building something special: Vanderbilt had gone six straight seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance when Shea Ralph took the school's head coaching gig in 2021. The ex-UConn player and assistant has quickly turned the program around, leading the Commodores back to the Big Dance in her third year on the job and its first AP poll ranking in 11 years. Vanderbilt boasts one of the nation's highest-scoring offenses, ranking seventh at 85.3 points per contest. Mikayla Blakes has been electric in her debut campaign, averaging 22.1 points on 47.1% shooting. The No. 8 overall recruit recently broke JuJu Watkins' single-game freshman scoring record, dropping 53 points in last Thursday's win over Florida. A big test awaits Thursday when the Commodores head to Austin for a showdown versus No. 4 Texas.

Miles' comeback key to Hidalgo's success: Hannah Hidalgo is Notre Dame's top offensive option and could very well become the first player in school history to take home the Wooden Award. Her improved scoring and efficiency have been aided by Olivia Miles' return from a torn ACL. Miles has re-taken her role as the Fighting Irish's primary facilitator, dishing out an ACC-leading 6.5 dimes per contest. The senior guard's 2.54 assist-to-turnover ratio is tied for 21st nationally. Miles' elite finishing at the rim and newfound 3-point stroke have given Niele Ivey's squad a dynamic backcourt punch that's been nearly unstoppable so far.

Ohio State's big week: The Buckeyes could single-handedly shake up the AP poll and race for the top seeds during its upcoming road trip to Los Angeles. A win over No. 1 UCLA or No. 7 USC would be a huge statement heading into the final stretch of Big Ten play. Ohio State has an impressive 15-point comeback win over then-No. 8 Maryland on its resume, but it's also suffered a shocking loss to Penn State. The next seven days will be a helpful measuring stick for the eighth-ranked Buckeyes.