Sweet 16 Preview + Scott Rueck & Adia Barnes Interviews

On the 10th episode of the Inside Pac-12 Women's Basketball Podcast, Pac-12 Networks' Ashley Adamson and Mary Murphy recap the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and discuss what propelled 5 teams from the conference to make it to the Sweet 16. Mary comments on Sabrina Ionescu's triple-double and highlights the support Ionescu has received from collegiate and professional players (4:20). Oregon State head coach Scott Rueck joins the podcast (14:47), and tells us the grittiness it took for his team to win two tight games at Gill Coliseum. Rueck shares his favorite moment from the weekend (16:00) and also talks about Mikayla Pivec being an underrated national star. Rueck shares the story of recruiting Pivec and his reaction when she called to tell him she had committed to the university (21:20). Coach Rueck talks about the family atmosphere Oregon State provides and what former football head coach Mike Riley once told him about working in Corvallis (26:36). Rueck wraps the interview previewing their Sweet 16 matchup versus one-seeded Louisville, a team that eliminated the Beavers last year in the Elite 8 (23:58). Arizona head coach Adia Barnes calls in (40:00) and talks about recruiting while playing in the postseason. Barnes highlights the Wildcats' WNIT success thus far and the player that has stood out aside from Aari McDonald (42:58). Adia talks about how long it takes to implement the culture you envision for your team (44:00) and how her experience as a WNBA player has made her the coach she is today (47:42). She also shares her disappointment on not making the NCAA tournament. Coach wraps her interview talking about how proud she is of attracting fans to McKale and how special it was getting their first WNIT win last week (50:00). Ashley and Mary comment on the end of Cal's season, and the tough process of saying goodbye to four seniors, including Kristine Anigwe (52:40). They wrap the pod getting Mary's take on which game she is most looking forward to in the Sweet 16, who has been the best Pac-12 player so far in the NCAA tournament, and who will be a game-changing player for Oregon (53:37).