Let’s not mention that the next opponent is 34-0, and has won its first two tournament games 91-39 and 88-41.
Let’s not mention how that team attacks in such relentless waves; it can be second in the nation in team scoring at 86 points per game, but not have one individual scorer in the top 250.
Or how its bench outscored the other team’s reserves the other night in the second round 51-0.
For that matter, how the bench outscored the other team’s starters 51-41, though that’s no shocker since it’s happened 11 times this season.
Let’s not mention how this team wins its games by an average of 31 points. Or that the roster has eight McDonald’s All-Americans.
Or that in the last 108 games and three seasons, it has lost three times, by a combined seven points.
As the Hoosiers raced up the stairs at the end of the court to celebrate with the student section — senior Mackenzie Holmes leading the way after 29 points in her final home game — let’s not mention that the next opponent is South Carolina.
There are 16 teams left in the NCAA tournament, but it is not outlandish to believe that 15 of them are in danger of standing in front of a freight train.
Unsure of what a Gamecock is? It’s fast and strong and just played a respectable opponent — North Carolina — in the second round.
The halftime score was 56-19.
“We needed a performance like this,” coach Dawn Staley said afterward.
“And hopefully playing this good of basketball can be contagious throughout the rest of the way.”
Oh, my. That could be trouble. A truly great team can be good for a sport, elevating the stature of the game.
But how good is it for the next opponent standing in the middle of the tracks? The next name on the to-beat list, if this is to be a coronation?
