Coaches are always looking for players who are willing to give maximum effort in practice and games. The equation is simple: no matter how a game is going, whether your team is winning or losing, or you have missed the last six shots in a row, you control your energy and effort. Coaches know if you are not working as hard as you can because they have seen you do it before and know what you can accomplish. Sleepwalking through practice or pre-game walkthroughs without great effort and intensity does not let you conserve your energy for later – it creates bad habits. Programs that are built upon accountability do not tolerate low energy and lack of effort – those are non-negotiable.
Over the past 10 days, there have been coaches at high-profile programs publicly questioning the effort of their players. Everyone will have their own opinion on whether that was the right place to do that or not, but it shows us how, in this new world of college athletics, there is a shift. Has money changed how players approach college basketball? Are they not as concerned with performance, helping their team win or working hard because they are getting paid handsomely no matter what? Are some coaches afraid to hold players accountable for a lack of effort because they fear a top-rated talent will revolt and jump in the portal?
At The Weekly Fast Break, we have embraced what the great tennis legend Billie Jean King once said, “pressure is a privilege – it only comes to those that earn it.” Whether your revenue-sharing check is the largest in the locker room or your recruiting ranking was higher than the girl playing in front of you, all that matters now is how you respond and what effort you bring to the court. There are 10 days left before the biggest pressure is upon us – winning in March. Do not let anyone question your effort in the stretch run of this season.
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TIP-OFF
Top 16 reveal – Take one: The first run of the top 16 seed reveal of the 2026 NCAA Tournament field occurred on Feb. 14, and the irony of it being Valentine’s Day left some with a full heart and others feeling a bit unloved. These are the magical 16 bids because they are the ones that will guarantee you host first and second round games on your home courts. The four teams on the top seed line were UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Based upon results up to the reveal, these seem to be the right four teams. With Vandy’s loss the next day on Feb. 15 to a now-ranked Georgia squad, there will be some pearl clutching over where the Commodores will eventually land come Selection Sunday.
UCLA head coach Cori Close and her Bruins squad are poised to claim one of the number one seeds in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. (Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea | Imagn Images)
As part of the announcement, the NCAA also revealed the top 16 seeds’ projected regions. The regionals this year are set for Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, Calif. Why is that important, you ask? We know women’s basketball fans will travel, but proximity to fan bases is always preferred. This rendition of the top 16 moves Texas in as the five seed, to the Sacramento 2 regional and not in Fort Worth, which is an area ripe with Longhorn fans. If Texas moves up to that top seed line, then geography could be in its favor. This edition of the seeds has six teams, each from the SEC and Big Ten, two from the ACC, one from the Big 12, and one from the BIG EAST. The second reveal will occur on March 1. What will change between now and then? It is hard to tell because there are so many games left to be played. Here’s hoping the committee lets the games do the talking and pays attention, leaving assumptions at the meeting room door.
500 & counting: Dawn Staley put her mark on the women’s game as a player on the college, professional and Olympic stages and for the past 25 years, has etched her name with the greats in coaching as well. Her career started as the head coach at Temple in 2000, where she would spend eight seasons and amass a record of 172-80. She took over at South Carolina in 2008 and turned the floundering program into one of the elites that elevate the standard of success in the college game. She has guided the Gamecocks to three national titles and seven Final Fours in the past 10 seasons. On Feb. 14, Staley notched her 500th win at South Carolina with a 78-72 victory at LSU. It was also the 18th straight win over the Tigers. As Staley’s career win total will continue to rise this season and beyond, we tip our cap to her and the standard of excellence she has set – it is the bar others want to achieve, but are realizing just how hard it is to get there.
Big 12 mash-up: When the NCAA revealed the top 16 seeds for the Big Dance on Feb. 14, it showed just how tough the Big 12 Conference has been this season. TCU was the only team in the mix at No. 12 on the list of 16 teams, but it is one of four Big 12 teams ranked in this week’s AP Top 25. Those four – TCU, Baylor, West Virginia and Texas Tech – have created a log jam at the top of the standings with Oklahoma State and Colorado sitting next in line with five league losses. As of Feb. 18, 12 of the 16 conference teams are ranked in the top 60 of the NET Rankings. Current projections have at least seven Big 12 teams making the Field of 68 next month (see our Bracketology at The IX Basketball.
Head coach Molly Miller and the Arizona State Sun Devils are one of the teams in the Big 12 making a push for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. (Photo credit: Joe Rondone | The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
This year is not unlike others where the conference “eats its own” – teams beating up on each other night in and night out, stealing wins on the road and then using some homecourt luck to their advantage. The league is loaded with star talent and great coaches. Iowa State junior Audi Crooks is the nation’s second leading scorer at over 25 points per game, Notre Dame transfer Olivia Miles has had an immediate impact for No. 12 TCU, and one of the best freshmen in the nation is Kansas’ Jaliya Davis. No. 20 Texas Tech has surged this season under Krista Gerlich, a Lady Raider alumna herself – she has her team on track to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. Molly Miller took over an Arizona State program that won just 10 games a season ago and now the Sun Devils are at 21 wins and counting. ASU is teetering on the bubble for the Big Dance, a place its program has not been since 2019. We would caution you not to sleep on No. 19 West Virginia. The Mountaineers, under third-year head coach Mark Kellogg, are one of the top scoring and defensive teams in Big 12 play this season and could be in the driver’s seat to claim a regular-season title with two weeks to go.
Poll watch: The top five spots in this week’s AP Top 25 poll remain unchanged, including No. 1, which falls to the still unbeaten UConn Huskies (27-0). Head coach Geno Auriemma has led UConn to 654 appearances in the AP Top 25, which now ties him with fellow Hall-of-Fame coach Tara Vanderveer, who retired from Stanford in 2024. Vanderbilt holds onto the No. 5 spot after a huge win over No. 4 Texas on Feb. 12 (86-70) and then a loss on Feb. 15 to now No. 24 Georgia, 76-74. Maryland jumps six spots to No. 14 after their fourth win in a row on Feb. 15 over Ohio State (No. 10 this week). Fellow Big Ten member Minnesota is in the Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 23 – the Golden Gophers are on an eight-game winning streak. Princeton drops out of the poll after a 70-56 loss to Columbia on Feb. 13 and the two Ivy League programs are joined by four other mid-majors in receiving votes this week.
Maryland’s head coach Brenda Frese and the Terrapins have won four in a row and are up six spots to No. 14 in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll. (Photo credit: Nick King | Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
STAR POWER
All records are meant to be broken, but some last longer than others. North Dakota State junior Avery Koenen has earned her record-setting eighth Summit League Peak Performer of the Week, breaking the league record previously held by Kevi Luper of Oral Roberts (2009-10) for the most weekly awards in a single season. The 6’3 forward from Montevideo, Minn., had 29 points, going 10-for-18 from the field and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in the Bison’s win over North Dakota on Feb. 15 (87-51). Koenen also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, registering her 17th double-double of the season, which is tied for third nationally. NDSU has won 21 straight games, the second-longest winning streak in the nation behind UConn (43).
North Dakota State Bison forward Avery Koenen (22) has been unstoppable in the Summit League this year and has been named Player of the Week eight times so far this season. (Photo credit: Samantha Laurey | Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
For the third time this season, redshirt senior Megan Norris of UC Davis was named Big West Player of the Week. On Feb. 12, the Aggies prevailed in a triple-overtime contest to beat UC San Diego 88-80 and the 6’3 center set a pair of monster rebounding records. She set the program’s single-season record (302) while also setting the single-game record for rebounds for both UC Davis and the Big West (29). Her 29 boards are also the second most by a player in a single game in Division I this season. She added 13 points and four assists in the win. Norris followed up the record-setting night by dropping a double-double of 16 points and 14 boards in the 77-66 win over Long Beach State on Feb. 14. It was her league-leading 17th double-double of the year, which also ties for second most in the nation. The Menlo Park, Calif., native is also the top defensive rebounder in the nation at 10.5 per game. *Norris was also named a USBWA National Player of the Week.
East Carolina senior Kennedy Fauntleroy was named American Conference Player of the Week after powering the Pirates to two key league wins. The 5’7 guard had 23 points, four assists and three steals in the 65-61 win at Tulane on Feb. 10. It was the first road win for East Carolina over the Green Wave in 11 years. Fauntleroy then posted 19 points in the 79-73 victory at Temple on Feb. 14, making it the sixth consecutive road win for the Pirates this season. This was her second player of the week award this year.
Michigan super sophomore guard Olivia Olson (1) was named Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Feb. 16.
(Photo credit: MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Super sophomores are found throughout leagues all over the country and the Big Ten is full to the brim. This week’s Player of the Week honors went to Olivia Olson of Michigan. The 6’1 guard has been one of the best in the Big Ten this season and was recognized for her efforts in two key Wolverine wins this past week. She had 21 points, eight boards and a career-high seven assists in the Feb. 12 win over Northwestern (80-58). Olson then dropped 23 points and added another eight boards and two blocks in the victory over in-state rival Michigan State on Feb. 15. This is the first Big Ten player of the week award for the New Hope, Minn., native.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Week was Kaety L’Amoreaux of Fairfield after the junior averaged just over 19 points per game in two wins for the Stags in conference play. She blistered the nets with 30 points in the Feb. 14 victory over Quinnipiac 75-63, going 10-for-17 from the field and 4-of-8 from behind the arc. The guard, who hails from Endwell, N.Y., played all 40 minutes and had four rebounds and four assists. The win pulled Fairfield even with Quinnipiac at the top of the MAAC standings as of Feb. 18 – both teams sit at 16-1.
Fairfield junior guard Katy L”Amoureaux was named MAAC Player of the Week after averaging over 19 points per game in two big wins. (Photo credit: Fairfield Athletics & WBB)
Seton Hall’s Zahara Bishop was named Freshman of the Week in the BIG EAST after helping the Pirates to two key victories last week. The 6’ guard came in off the bench to score 20 points in 21 minutes of action in her team’s 70-58 win at Marquette on Feb 11. Bishop was 6-for-9 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe and added six rebounds. She followed that up with seven points and five boards in the Feb. 14 win over DePaul, 96-74. This is the second weekly BIG EAST recognition for Bishop, who hails from Minneapolis, Minn.
FULL COURT PRESS
It can be easy sometimes, from the comfort of our couches or keyboards to pass judgment on teams about results this time of year. We constantly wonder why players cannot make free throws in the clutch or why coaches substitute someone out late in a game. While we can all become “backseat coaches” about the X’s and O’s, we should never have to question the effort of our team. We want our teams to represent us in the best way they can. Here are some games you do not want to miss because we know the intensity on the floor will be nothing but max effort (check your local listings for game times and broadcast availability):
Feb. 18
Ball State at Buffalo
No. 15 Baylor at No. 20 Texas Tech
Arizona State at R/V Iowa State
No. 10 Ohio State at No. 23 Minnesota
New Mexico at Grand Canyon
UNLV at San Diego State
Feb. 19
Mercer at Wofford
No. 22 UNC at Virginia Tech
Lindenwood at Tennessee St.
Texas A&M at No. 21 Tennessee
NC State at No. 9 Duke
Florida at Mississippi State
No. 3 South Carolina at No. 25 Alabama
No. 7 LSU at No. 17 Ole Miss
Nebraska at Oregon
R/V Washington at No. 2 UCLA
Weber State at Montana State
Portland State at Idaho
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Feb. 20
Murray State at Bradley
Belmont at Illinois State
UAB at Tulsa
Feb. 21
Navy at Army
Rice at East Carolina
Ball State at Miami (OH)
Oklahoma State at No. 19 West Virginia
Kansas at K-State
R/V Fairfield at Siena
R/V North Dakota State at South Dakota
Morehead State at Western Illinois
Gonzaga at Pacific
No. 20 Texas Tech at Colorado
Feb. 22
No. 17 Ole Miss at No. 3 South Carolina
No. 6 Michigan at No. 13 Iowa
Virginia at No. 8 Louisville
No. 21 Tennessee at No. 11 Oklahoma
Mississippi State at No. 4 Texas
No. 16 Kentucky at No. 5 Vanderbilt
R/V Illinois at Northwestern
R/V Iowa State at No. 12 TCU
Wisconsin at No. 2 UCLA
No. 18 Michigan State at No. 23 Minnesota
SMU at Notre Dame
Feb. 23
K-State at No. 15 Baylor
No. 24 Georgia at Auburn
Feb. 24
Utah at Colorado
Troy at Arkansas State
*All statistics cited in this column are sourced from university and conference-provided statistics