Irish Eyes Not Smiling: notre Dame’s no. 1 Seed in Jeopardy?

Notre Dame’s aspirations to defend their ACC tournament title and secure a coveted No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament suffered a meaningful blow on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The Duke Blue Devils upset the Irish in the tournament semifinals wiht a 61-56 victory.This loss raises serious questions about Notre Dame’s momentum heading into the national tournament.

The Irish offense, typically a high-scoring juggernaut, sputtered against duke’s tenacious defense. Notre Dame managed a season-low 56 points, a stark contrast to their usual 85.7-point average. Their shooting woes were evident, as thay converted only 37.5 percent of their field goal attempts. The first 15 minutes of the second half were especially challenging,with the Irish managing a mere five baskets.

Star guard Hannah Hidalgo led Notre Dame with 23 points, but she lacked sufficient offensive support. Olivia miles, Hidalgo’s backcourt partner, saw limited action in the fourth quarter after apparently rolling her left ankle early in the period. The absence of a fully effective Miles further hampered the Irish offense.

Despite the offensive struggles, Notre Dame’s defense showed some resilience, forcing as many turnovers (21) as Duke had field goals. Though, the team now faces the challenge of regrouping after a series of recent setbacks. The Irish suffered two losses in the final week of February, falling to NC State and Florida State. While they rebounded with wins against Louisville and Cal, their shooting accuracy has declined sence early February. After a dominant 19-game win streak, Notre Dame enters the NCAA Tournament with three losses in their last five games, likely as a No.2 seed.

Wolfpack Howling: NC state’s ACC Victory Clarifies Seeding

NC State avenged an earlier loss to North Carolina with a decisive 66-55 victory, securing their spot in Sunday’s ACC title game for the second consecutive year. After an initial 5-0 deficit, the Wolfpack unleashed a 21-0 run to sieze control of the game. The performance of NC State’s freshman bigs, Tilda Trygger and Lorena Awou, was particularly noteworthy. They combined for 18 points and effectively limited North Carolina centre Maria Gakdeng to just six shot attempts.

This victory likely solidifies NC state’s position as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a ranking they held in the previous two top 16 seeding reveals. While an unexpected turn of events in the Big Ten and SEC tournaments could perhaps alter the landscape, NC State’s strong NET rating (16th entering the game) suggests they are unlikely to rise to a No. 1 seed. However, their presence in the conference tournament could impact their potential opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina, previously ranked as the 10th overall seed in the Top 16 reveal, suffered losses to Duke and Virginia since then. While a strong showing in the ACC tournament could have propelled them to a No. 3 seed, they will likely remain a hosting team after defeating Boston College and Florida State to reach the semifinals. The ACC is now positioned to have four hosting sites: the three North Carolina teams and Notre Dame.

UConn’s 3-Point Woes: A cause for Concern?

UConn’s success in March, and potentially April, may hinge on their 3-point shooting performance. Their struggles from beyond the arc in losses to Notre Dame, USC, and Tennessee highlight this vulnerability. These three games account for three of their seven worst 3-point shooting performances during the regular season. While they boasted an impressive 38 percent 3-point shooting average overall this season, they shot 26 percent or worse in each of those losses.

In contrast, their explosive performance against South carolina in February, where they sank 46 percent of their 3-point attempts, showcased their national title contender potential. UConn’s 3-point shooting had been consistently strong in recent games, including the win against the Gamecocks, sinking at least 40 percent of their 3s in six of their nine games since the start of February.

Though, this positive trend took a downturn as the Huskies commenced their Big East tournament journey. They recorded their worst 3-point shooting performance of the season, converting only 2 of 19 attempts (11 percent) in a 71-40 win over St.John’s. Despite the victory, UConn cannot be complacent about this performance. Their four best long-range shooters—Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Ashlynn Shade, and Sarah Strong—combined for just two makes in 14 attempts.

UConn will have an prospect to improve in the semifinals against the winner of Villanova-Marquette.A bright spot for the Huskies was Caroline Ducharme, a former No. 5 recruit who had played in only three games this season due to neck and back injuries, scoring her first points of the season in late-game action.

Caroline Ducharme scores her first points of the season! pic.twitter.com/ECKr4mFNp7

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) March 8, 2025

Bubble Bursts: Richmond’s Upset loss Reshapes NCAA Tournament Picture

The NCAA Tournament bubble has already burst for at least one team: the Richmond Spiders. Despite a dominant 17-1 record in Atlantic 10 play and an outright regular-season title, the Spiders suffered a stunning semifinal loss to No. 4 seed St. Joseph’s. Laura Ziegler’s game-winning jumper at the buzzer secured a 50-49 victory for the Hawks, stunning the expected A-10 champions.

Richmond, previously considered a lock for the NCAA tournament, now faces uncertainty. Their loss has significant implications for other bubble teams. the Atlantic 10, previously considered a single-bid league, is now likely to

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Shakeup: A Deep Dive into the Shifting Sands of March Madness

Is the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament poised for the biggest upset in it’s history? The recent upsets and surprising performances have certainly thrown a wrench into predictable seeding.

Editor: Dr. Johnson, welcome. your expertise in women’s college basketball is unparalleled. Let’s delve into the recent surprises in the ACC and other conferences. Notre Dame’s shocking loss to Duke – what does this mean for their tournament hopes, and how does it impact the overall seeding?

Dr. Johnson: Notre Dame’s upset loss to Duke certainly throws a notable wrench into their previously anticipated No. 1 seed. Their unexpected stumble, coupled with inconsistent performances in the weeks leading up to the conference tournament, indicates a vulnerability. This loss significantly impacts their tournament hopes, pushing them from the top seed consideration down to, very likely, a No. 2 seed. The implications extend to the entire tournament bracket,as their seeding directly influences potential matchups and the overall playoff dynamics. The loss underscores the importance of consistent performance throughout the season – even a team with an extraordinary regular season record can falter under pressure. We’ve seen this before; even the most dominant teams are not immune to unexpected defeats.

Editor: NC State’s victory over North Carolina paints a different picture. How does their success alter the landscape, and what’s their most likely seeding?

Dr.Johnson: NC State’s win over North carolina was decisive and solidifies their strong position heading into the NCAA Tournament. Their consistent performance throughout the season, coupled with this impressive victory, points towards a highly probable No. 2 seed. While there’s always a chance for shifts based on other conference tournament outcomes, their strong NET ranking and overall dominance suggest their seeding is relatively secure. Their success highlights the importance of peaking at the right time and demonstrating resilience under pressure – a critical ingredient for a prosperous deep run.

Editor: UConn’s 3-point shooting struggles have been a recurring theme.How significant is this vulnerability, and what adjustments might they need to make during the NCAA Tournament?

Dr. Johnson: uconn’s 3-point shooting inconsistency is indeed a cause for concern. While their overall shooting percentage is strong, their performance in key games – particularly losses to higher-ranked opponents – reveals a vulnerability they must address. Their success in March Madness hinges on improving their long-range accuracy. Their reliance on the 3-point shot, when it isn’t falling, can disrupt the overall offensive flow impacting the team’s ability to score points. UConn must focus on improving shot selection, practicing consistency under pressure, and perhaps adjusting their offensive strategy to minimize the impact of their 3-point struggles.

Editor: Richmond’s upset loss was another unexpected outcome. How does that impact other bubble teams vying for a tournament spot?

Dr. Johnson: Richmond’s shocking upset loss significantly impacts the NCAA tournament bubble picture. The loss highlights how rapidly the landscape can change in March Madness. This outcome could dramatically shift the selection committee’s assessment and create a ripple effect across other bubble teams. What was previously considered a single-bid league is now possibly up for grabs, so this increases the uncertainty and competitiveness for other teams contending for a tournament spot. Other programs within the A-10 conference, specifically, will be looking for a spot in the upcoming tournament. Those teams need to perform exceptionally well to even be considered.

Editor: In your expert opinion, what are the key takeaways from these recent conference tournaments that teams should focus on heading into the NCAA Tournament?

Dr. Johnson: Several crucial takeaways emerge from the recent conference tournaments. Firstly, consistency is paramount. Teams cannot afford to have significant performance fluctuations, even towards the end of the season. Next, managing pressure is essential, as the stakes in March madness are exceptionally high. Strong mental fortitude and resilience are crucial in handling the pressure of elimination games. identifying and addressing weaknesses is vital. Teams need to be brutally honest about their shortcomings and actively work towards mitigating vulnerabilities before heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Final Thought: The recent upsets and shifting tournament landscape highlight the unpredictable nature of women’s college basketball. The action continues to be extremely exciting, and the upcoming rounds will be full of action. What are your thoughts on the updated tournament picture? Share your predictions in the comments below!