Editor’s Note: A win over Notre Dame March 29 set No. 2 seed TCU up to face No. 1 seed Texas for a chance at the Final Four. Read more.
“I think it’s the greatest story going on in college basketball — men or women.”
– TCU Women’s Basketball Coach Mark Campbell
Campbell might be slightly biased but he’s also right. He had been responding to a question about how he’d explain the 18-month trajectory of his team to the national sports audience who, in many cases, will be meeting them for the first time when they make their inaugural Sweet 16 appearance.
No. 6 TCU plays No. 8 Notre Dame at noon Saturday in Birmingham with a ticket to the Elite 8 on the line.
“To go from 1-17, forfeiting games, holding open tryouts (last season) to the best season in school history,” Campbell said. “It’s like a Disney movie.”
The Sweet 16 appearance is just one first in a long line of firsts, mosts and bests achieved by Campbell and the Horned Frogs this season.
- Most victories by TCU women’s basketball team (33-3)
- First league championship
- First Big 12 Tournament Championship
- Best NCAA tournament seed (No. 2)
- Two All-America finalists in Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince
So, if it’s a Disney movie, is it Cinderella?
“To be honest, it is a Cinderella story,” Campbell said. “(We) are at the pinnacle of our sport now. It is surreal. It’s hard. You are in the eye of the storm so it’s truly hard to understand the big picture from how outside of our bubble views it but I have a hard time believing there is a better story in March Madness than TCU women’s basketball and what’s transpired in the last 24 months.”
TCU guard Hailey Van Lith has been one of the architects behind their Cinderella season. In her first season at TCU, HVL earned accolades as Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, First-team All-Big 12, Big 12 tournament Most Outstanding Player, Naismith finalist, All-American finalist. The awards were the icing. Her growth, her humility and her leadership were keys in bringing this team together, and to uncharted territory.
And while HVL will get on board with the Disney movie angle and even Cinderella, just don’t say underdog.
“When I was younger, things like that used to really irritate me,” Van Lith admitted. “I guess I’m OK with that narrative as long it gets more people to watch the games or gets more people into women’s basketball … But I wouldn’t say that we feel like an underdog or I feel like an underdog. We know they (Notre Dame) are a great team and we know that we are going to have to come to play 100 percent. But, at the end of the day, we are good as well and we are confident in what we do. It’s going to be a great women’s basketball game.”
Do not cue the closing credits quite yet, though, the Horned Frogs believe they have more history to make.