Idaho women’s basketball draws top-seeded Baylor in NCAA first round

The Idaho Vandals (24-9, Big Sky Tournament champions) are in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament field for the third time in four years. They’ll play Baylor (33-1, Big 12 regular season/tournament champions) at 3 p.m. Friday on ESPN2.

And coach Jon Newlee wasn’t exactly thrilled Monday as his team watched the selection show on TV.

“Extremely disappointed in the committee and what they decided to put us as a 16. I think it’s a joke, to be honest with you. ... I don’t know what you gotta do with these guys. We get no respect from them — that’s three out of the last four years where we got nothing out of that committee, and I don’t know what their problem is. I guess they must feel like the Big Sky isn’t a very good basketball conference, apparently, but it’s a good conference, a good solid conference. ... This is disappointing for me and my team, for sure.’’

Idaho was a No. 14 seed in 2014 (lost to Louisville) and a No. 16 seed in 2013 (lost to UConn). The Vandals didn’t play in the NCAAs last year, which included an 88-70 loss at Baylor.

This year, the Bears are No. 2 in the NCAA in scoring margin (+24.6).

“It’ll be a big challenge, but we won’t back down from it, and we’ll be ready to play on Friday,’’ Newlee said.

THE FOUR NO. 1 SEEDS

• Dallas Region: Baylor (33-1)
• Bridgeport Region: UConn (32-0)
• Lexington Region: Notre Dame (31-1)
• Sioux Falls Region: South Carolina (31-1)

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 12:49 AM with the headline "Idaho women’s basketball draws top-seeded Baylor in NCAA first round."