Its Time to Step it Up

The Womens Division I Regional bids are out, as the journey to get to Columbus, Ohio is officially on. The top eight teams and two individuals not on those teams qualifying advance from each site to compete for the National Championship later this month. Listed below are those who received the invite, and the squads I think will advance. All three Regionals will be played on May 11-13.

Central Regional -- Bryan, Texas
Duke, Ohio State, Nebraska, Southern Cal, Michigan St., Northwestern, Pepperdine, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Birmingham-Southern, Florida, Missouri, Jacksonville St., Oklahoma St., Baylor, Jackson St., Kent St., Tulsa, St. Francis

My picks to advance: Duke, Southern Cal, Pepperdine, Texas A&M, Florida, Oklahoma St., Ohio St., SMU

West Regional -- Auburn, Wa.
UCLA, New Mexico, Oregon St., Georgia, Washington, Washington St. Purdue, Long Beach St., New Mexico St., Arkansas, BYU, Georgia St., UNLV, UC-Irvine, Oral Roberts, Arizona, San Jose St., Bradley, Stanford, Denver, Montana

My picks to advance: UCLA, Georgia, Purdue, Arkansas, UNLV, New Mexico, Washington, BYU

East Regional -- Browns Summit, N.C.
Arizona St., South Carolina, Furman, Auburn, LSU, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida St., Mississippi St., Wake Forest, Alabama, Campbell, Cal-Berkeley, North Carolina St., College of Charleston, Vanderbilt, Augusta St., East Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Yale

My picks to advance: Arizona St., Auburn, Tennessee, Wake Forest, Cal-Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Florida St.

The parity in the womens game has improved dramatically in the past decade, with many of these teams I have not chosen, legitimately having a chance to advance. I welcome your thoughts and picks as well, and hope you tune in to the next College Central presented by PING on Wednesday May 10th at 6:30 eastern.

Email your thoughts to Steve Burkowski