Mar 10, 2025, 07:45 AM ET
The Energy 4 meetings topped ladies’s faculty basketball match champions Sunday, with peak seeds South Carolina (within the SEC) and TCU (within the Large 12) successful titles. Within the Large Ten, second-seeded UCLA took house the championship, whilst third-seeded Duke received the ACC.
Whilst there are nonetheless vital Champ Week video games to be performed and automated berths to be received over the following six days, the NCAA variety committee has virtually all the data had to finalize the highest 16 seeds within the NCAA match bracket. Handiest UConn, which faces Creighton in Monday’s Large East match ultimate, continues to be taking part in a few of the groups within the working to get one of the most peak 4 seeds in every area.
What did we be told concerning the peak groups within the nation from Champ Week? What had been the large good points or losses? ESPN analyzes how the league tournaments thus far have assisted in shaping the bracket and instructed us what to anticipate for March Insanity with not up to every week to move sooner than Variety Sunday.
Did the weekend come to a decision the No. 1 seeds and peak 16?
Charlie Creme: Championship Sunday modified the order of the No. 1 seeds however now not the groups. South Carolina’s dominant efficiency over Texas (which entered the day at No. 1 general in Bracketology) within the SEC championship recreation allowed the Gamecocks to leap from No. 4 to No. 1. USC misplaced its likelihood to be No. 1 by way of shedding the Large Ten identify recreation to UCLA. The Trojans fell to No. 3 simply at the back of the Bruins. Texas slides to No. 4.
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Baylor made the most important transfer of any staff all through Champ Week thus far, shifting into the highest 16 by way of attaining the Large 12 championship recreation, the place it in the end misplaced to TCU. Tennessee, Alabama and Kansas State all value themselves the chance to host first- and second-round NCAA match video games by way of shedding sooner than their convention semifinals. They had been all within the peak 16 sooner than the convention tournaments started. Now they’re all No. 5 seeds.
That left the door open for the Bears and Ohio State, either one of which at the moment are projected to be No. 4 seeds within the NCAA match. Regardless of getting blown out within the Large Ten semifinals by way of UCLA, the Buckeyes did sufficient by way of beating Iowa within the quarterfinals, mixed with the ones previous losses by way of the Woman Vols, Pink Tide and Wildcats.
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What is mistaken with Notre Dame?
Michael Voepel: After successful 19 video games in a row, the Irish have misplaced 3 in their previous 5: in OT at ACC regular-season co-champion NC State, at house to Florida State and within the ACC match semifinals to Duke. In conjunction with Notre Dame, the ones had been the highest 4 seeds within the ACC tourney. So when asking what is mistaken with Notre Dame, it is unimaginable to forget about what has been going proper for its warring parties. The ones groups’ sturdy guard play helped counteract the guard-dominant Irish, who’re led by way of Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron.
That stated, the Irish are not taking part in their easiest now, nor assembly trainer Niele Ivey’s expectancies. We’re going to wait to look whether or not forwards Maddy Westbeld and Liatu King (who performed simply 17 mins within the semifinal loss) are totally wholesome, and whether or not Notre Dame’s self assurance as a unit has been dented. Notre Dame nonetheless will have to very easily achieve the Candy 16, however now there are extra questions on its skill to advance past that.
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Alexa Philippou: There were problems on each side of the ball. The Irish’s half-court offense ceaselessly stalls, and they don’t seem to be taking pictures the ball like they did previous this season, managing a 40% clip on 3s simply as soon as since Feb. 13. Protection has been a significant sticking level for Ivey, basically after the Florida State and NC State video games wherein her squad gave up over 85 issues in consecutive contests — an indictment of the fringe protection now and then but additionally this staff’s loss of a staunch internal presence.
Greater than anything else, it feels just like the Irish have not been taking part in with synergy on each ends; they are taking part in extra as folks than as a unit.
Creme: The chemistry problems that I believed may well be a subject matter in November appear to exist now. One thing concerning the offense is not running. Miles isn’t taking part in her easiest basketball and Hidalgo appears to be urgent. Her shot variety hasn’t been perfect.
Notre Dame used to be in a position to overcome USC, Texas and UConn with Westbeld at the sidelines, however it sort of feels the Irish want to have her extra concerned if a Ultimate 4 run is within the playing cards. Ivey wasn’t even proud of Notre Dame’s protection following the ACC match semifinal loss to Duke, so it is exhausting to search out many positives. However just about two weeks off and getting clear of the familiarity that ACC warring parties have with them could be the alternate the Irish want.
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South Carolina three-peats as SEC champion with win over Texas
South Carolina captures its 1/3 directly SEC identify in a dominating 64-45 win over Texas.
Which staff is your pick out presently to win the 2025 identify, and did Champ Week make you are feeling extra assured or alternate your prediction?
Voepel: I am sticking with South Carolina, and the SEC match identify run made me extra assured. Tourney MVP Chloe Kitts has kicked issues up a notch, beginning with a triple-double on Feb. 27 at Ole Leave out. The previous 5 video games, she has averaged 15.6 issues and 9.2 rebounds. She wasn’t a large issue within the Gamecocks’ losses to Texas and UConn in February, which perceived to mild a fireplace for her and all of the staff.
The Gamecocks are taking part in with self assurance and effort — MiLaysia Fulwiley is sort of a one-woman energy plant — plus spectacular protection. They restricted the effectiveness of Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers and Texas’ Madison Booker within the SEC semifinals and ultimate.
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Creme: Once in a while one loss overdue within the season can ignite a staff to search out some other equipment — equivalent to what Michael stated above about South Carolina’s losses closing month. With that very same thought, I’m going to move with USC. Clearly, not anything in the way in which the Trojans performed in the second one half of on Sunday towards UCLA instills self assurance. However most likely this loss will pressure them to have a look at their weaknesses and make changes. Having the country’s easiest participant in JuJu Watkins will have to additionally assist.
Hedging my bets a bit of, I’d have favored to have observed extra from UConn towards some other top-ranked staff after that spectacular travel to South Carolina. If that model of the Huskies presentations up the remainder of the month, I would not wager towards them. It is simply too exhausting to inform as a result of UConn hasn’t been driven within the Large East.
Philippou: I have most commonly stated in contemporary weeks that the nationwide champion shall be one of the most peak six groups: Texas, USC, UConn, South Carolina, UCLA or Notre Dame. Now I believe it possibly shall be both South Carolina, USC or UConn. And because the Gamecocks’ dominant run all through the SEC match indicated their juice is again, and for the explanations Michael laid out, I’m prone to select them because the favorites presently. That stated, I believe in a season with such a lot parity, the legit NCAA bracket pairings and matchups shall be much more vital in figuring out groups’ fates.
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Duke rolls NC State in the second one half of to win ACC Match
Duke takes down NC State 76-62 to say the ACC Championship in a comeback victory.
Are Duke and TCU official identify contenders?
Creme: I used to be assured Notre Dame or NC State used to be going to win the ACC match identify, after which Duke beat each impressively. The Blue Devils’ moment half of towards the Wolfpack used to be as just right as any efficiency from a Duke staff in a very long time. The Blue Devils boast the fourth-rated protection within the nation, however the connectivity and straightforwardness wherein Duke performed offense put it on a unique stage.
A lot of what I wrote about Duke additionally applies to TCU. The enjoy, chemistry and skill to make giant pictures and get vital stops on protection are all there. However whilst Duke and TCU are just right groups apparently peaking on the proper time, I consider the nationwide champion shall be both South Carolina, UCLA, USC, Texas or UConn. To win the NCAA identify, the Blue Devils and Horned Frogs may have to overcome two and even 3 of the ones groups from the Elite 8 on. This is an excessive amount of to invite.
Philippou: I am not positive I accept as true with Duke to proceed to make pictures love it did as opposed to NC State towards increasingly more tricky pageant. Now we have observed flashes of Sunday’s offensive onslaught from the Blue Devils, however they’re hardly ever a given. They scored 46 issues in 45 mins towards North Carolina in January.
TCU, in the meantime, is so reliant on its giant 3 of Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince and Madison Conner, and its protection shall be examined towards more difficult groups. The Frogs also are a gaggle most commonly missing NCAA match enjoy. That stated, I would not be stunned if both staff will get sizzling and makes a run to Tampa.
Voepel: Placing in combination a championship run does not appear most probably for TCU or Duke. However attending to a Ultimate 4 could be large for both. Duke has made it 4 occasions, all below former trainer Gail Goestenkors (1999, 2002, 2003, 2006), and TCU hasn’t ever made it that a ways.
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Hailey Van Lith on TCU win: ‘That is what you reside for’
Hailey Van Lith speaks to Kris Budden after defeating Baylor and successful the Large 12 match Maximum Exceptional Participant award.
Which projected No. 1 seed do you may have the least quantity of religion in?
Creme: Regardless of the win over South Carolina and a proportion of the SEC regular-season identify, I have been weary about Texas for a couple of weeks. This weekend best added to that worry. The Longhorns are nice defensively and feature an All-American in Booker, however their incapacity and infrequently unwillingness to shoot 3-pointers limits them.
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In modern day basketball wherein perimeter taking pictures is so integral, it is virtually unattainable that one of the most easiest groups within the nation additionally ranks closing in 3-point price. That stuck as much as Texas within the Elite 8 loss to NC State closing March — and I consider it’s going to once more.
Voepel: Defensively, Texas can beat maximum groups within the match. Alternatively, the offensive considerations Charlie main points make the Longhorns essentially the most prone of the No. 1 seeds relating to dealing with different elite squads.
Philippou: Excluding Texas, I nonetheless have considerations about UCLA even after it received the Large Ten match. Credit score the Bruins’ protection and Lauren Betts’ play in the second one half of in serving to UCLA conquer a 13-point deficit, however USC’s cave in used to be of epic proportions: The Trojans overlooked 15 consecutive pictures over 10 mins of recreation time. And nonetheless, UCLA received by way of best 5. Whilst their taking pictures used to be higher Sunday, the Bruins nonetheless became over the ball 24 occasions and gave up 21 offensive rebounds.
UCLA may have exorcised some demons by way of after all knocking off USC and successful its first convention match identify since 2006, however that is nonetheless a program that hasn’t ever been to the NCAA Ultimate 4. To after all smash via, they should play with the brink that they had again in November after they beat South Carolina, and with out that ancient weight on them.
