Morning Links: Anticipation For The 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Builds Around SB Nation

Over the past few days, SB Nation's network of college bloggers have been gearing up for the 2012 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Fittingly, the most coverage might have been given to the first game of the day: #12 Eastern Michigan vs. #5 South Carolina.

• Garnett And Black Attack did a Q&A with the Eastern Michigan University blog Eagle Totem yesterday and found out three keys to the game: "tempo, turnovers, and Tavelyn". EMU's Tavelyn James has been struggling with her shooting efficiency lately, but the Eagles might give the Gamecocks some problems if she can get back on track. Read more >>>
• Hustle Belt posted links to the Q&A, with cmadler feeling a little bit better about EMU's chances after a few mid-major upsets in the men's tournament. He also pointed out that "when India Hairston subs in, I don't think South Carolina has anyone who can really match up with her." Read more >>>
• Whatever the outcome of this first game, Garnett And Black Attack pointed out a few days ago that even if South Carolina does advance, the Stanford Cardinal would "give Carolina fits" as "the Gamecocks are most vulnerable against teams with strong post play". Read more >>>

• Matt Sussman of Hustle Belt described South Carolina as "a male-EMU-type team: low scoring, low pace, good defense." And although SC's 3-point defense is good, that's not necessarily something EMU relies upon. Read more >>>
• Greg Alan Edwards of A Sea Of Blue previews Kentucky's matchup with McNeese State today, with a brief overview of his Wildcats' opponents. Read more >>>
• Am The 12th Man looks a bit ahead to Texas A&M's game against Arkansas, a prelude to a future SEC matchup. If the Aggies can overcome that, he likes their chances to make the Sweet 16. Read more >>>
• California Golden Blogs' norcalnick has a preview up for Cal's game against Iowa on Sunday, with just about every piece of information one might want. The key question: "So which team will Cal face? The group that limped to an 11-10 start, or the confident bunch that reeled off 8 wins in a row to climb back into the tournament?" Read more >>>
• norcalnick later posted some pre-tournament links related to the women's team, including an interview with Iowa coach Lisa Bluder who knows that Cal is not a particularly strong shooting team - from three or the free throw line - and might be looking to rattle them early. Read more >>>
• Jamie DeVriend of Voodoo Five takes a look at a strange University of South Florida game in which they held Florida Atlantic to just 20 points in the first round of the WNIT. The strangest part: they scored 10 points right before and right after halftime. Read more >>>
• RAJohnston of Blogger So Dear expresses some subtle bitterness at Wake Forest not being invited to the Big Dance in his post about the Deacons' 72-61 win over the Charlotte 49ers in the first round of the WNIT. Points off turnovers made the difference for Wake Forest in that one. Wake will face a solid James Madison team on Sunday. Read more >>>
• AndyPanda of Building the Dam has been tracking Pac-12 teams in the WNIT, briefly documenting Utah's win over Utah State in the first round. Utah will face the Washington Huskies on Sunday. Read more >>>

For more on the 2012 NCAA women's basketball tournament, visit our "NCAA Tournament 2012 section". Feel free to add any of your own links in the comments below. If you haven't already, also join The Swish Appeal Bracket Challenge to put your picks up against ours.