Question and answer

ARE THE TERPS LEGITIMATE TITLE CONTENDERS?

Before the season tipped off in November, the Terrapin women's basketball team was an afterthought on a national scale. But after a breakthrough season that featured the emergence of one of the nation's top freshmen in forward Alyssa Thomas, the Terps have put themselves on the map.

But should they be considered a national-title contender? It depends how you define "contender." The Terps have the depth and length to make a run at the Final Four from their No. 4 seed in the East Regional, but with the normal top-heaviness of this year's tournament — it would be a surprise if we didn't see all four No. 1 seeds again reach the Final Four — the Terps would need a herculean effort to get to their first Final Four since 2006.

The main trouble lies in having to go through Connecticut and all-everything guard Maya Moore. The Huskies demolished their opposition this year, losing only to Stanford while beating three of the ACC's best — Duke, North Carolina and Florida State — by an average of 31 points. Then again, the Terps have shown the ability to beat top teams, also beating Duke and North Carolina by more than 20. I guess that's why they play the games, but it would shock the basketball world to see the Terps move past the Sweet 16.

IS THIS THE YEAR CONNECTICUT IS DETHRONED?

This season saw Connecticut's 90-game winning streak come to an end, but if there's a favorite for this year's Big Dance, it again would have to be coach Geno Auriemma's Huskies.

This year, though, is unlike the past two seasons, when the Huskies were far and away the nation's best. In 2011, they've got some competition. Stanford has already beaten them this season, and fellow No. 1 seeds Baylor and Tennessee are also stacked with talent. The four teams have a combined seven losses, and even those defeats are byproducts of infighting. Connecticut lost to Stanford. Stanford lost to Tennessee. Tennessee lost to Baylor. Baylor lost to Connecticut.

So while it's anyone's guess if there will be a new winner crowned this year in Indianapolis, give the early edge to the Huskies, who still have the nation's best team and best player.

HOW WILL THE EAST SHAKE OUT?

With the Terps hosting the first two rounds at Comcast Center and the NCAA making clear efforts to limit travel for the women's tournament, it was safe to assume the Terps would end up in the East, where the regional semifinals and finals will be held in Philadelphia. With that assignment came a slew of teams that the Terps are familiar with — they've already played No. 2 seed Duke, No. 5 Georgetown and No. 9 Purdue — in addition to plenty more talented ones.

Obviously, top-seeded Connecticut is the front-runner. But the Blue Devils, Hoyas and Huskies all have one thing in common: a top-notch guard. Between Moore, Duke's Jasmine Thomas and Georgetown's Sugar Rodgers, it seems that the East Region will come down to the backcourt. With the Terps thriving off size and savvy and No. 3 seed DePaul relying on depth and grit, the East becomes all the more interesting.

But all speculation aside, it still looks like Connecticut's to win.

CAN GRINER TAKE BAYLOR ALL THE WAY?

Last season, 6-foot-8 center Brittney Griner put fourth-seeded Baylor on her back and carried it to the Final Four.

Although the Bears' impressive run fell short of a title after meeting eventual national champion Connecticut in the semifinals, they've only harnessed the momentum from last season and turned it into a Big 12 championship and No. 1 seed in this year's tournament.

But does the All-America center have enough to carry the Bears to a national championship? There's always a chance.

Her 22.6 points per game are among the nation's best, and her lauded defensive ability has the potential to change games — for proof, look no further than her record-setting shot-blocking performance in last year's tournament.

Plus, the Bears have a favorable bracket, playing the first two rounds at home in Waco, Texas, and the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight not far from home in Dallas. They could have to contend with Big 12 foe Texas A&M — the region's No. 2 seed — in the Elite Eight, but they already got past the Aggies in the regular season and the Big 12 Tournament.

We know it's a battle-tested team. Baylor lost to Connecticut by just one and beat fellow No. 1 seed Tennessee by 11 in December.

So are the Bears for real? Absolutely, and with a game-changer like Griner, there's no limit to how far they might go.