Women's NCAA tournament 2022 - Why centers could be the difference-makers in March Madness

After watching 6-foot-6 Ayoka Lee and 6-4 Lauren Ebo battle in the paint at the Big 12 women's basketball tournament, Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie made a prediction.

«I think the centers can be a big factor in the NCAA tournament,» said Mittie, whose star Lee set an NCAA single-game scoring record with 61 points earlier this season. «One thing about the tournament is, it's so physical.»

Texas coach Vic Schaefer, who calls Ebo the Longhorns' most improved player this season, echoed Mittie.

«There are not that many true 5s in the game anymore. Everybody wants to work on facing up and shooting the 3,» Schaefer said. «There is a real value in having someone like Lauren. I have a real appreciation for those 5s that get it done down there and are physical, they're tough, they protect the paint.»

Schaefer went to the NCAA championship game in 2017 and 2018 with 6-7 Teaira McCowan, a grind-it-out-on-the-block center who is now with the WNBA's Dallas Wings. In his first season with Texas last season, Schaefer constantly encouraged 6-5 Charli Collier — who became the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft — to stay closer to the rim.

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For years, pro men's and women's basketball has been evolving to have more positionless players who can both execute the pick-and-roll and defend against it. To a degree, that has taken some root in the college game as well. But there is still a need for so-called old-fashioned bigs, even if their skill set has expanded. And whether they are listed as centers, center/forwards, or just posts, those who fit the bill as their team's bigs and rim protectors are likely to be a huge part of which