Notre Dame Basketball: Irish WBB NCAA Tournament hopes and a bright future

The Notre Dame basketball team programs seem to be headed in different directions, as the women’s basketball team, (10-8, 8-6) is currently fifth in the ACC standings and vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Men’s team looked to be making a run a month ago but has lost their last two, and head into the ACC Tournament trending in the wrong direction.

However, while expectations for this year’s women’s team were modest, this Notre Dame basketball team is poised to return to national prominence soon.

It is fair to say that the Notre Dame women’s basketball team has not lived up to the program’s high standards in recent seasons. However, the Irish have played well in the latter parts of this season, and they have a talented group of young players that could help bring them back to the Final Four.

Notre Dame basketball has six freshmen and two sophomores on their 15-player roster, and with that young core, this Irish team should be quite formidable in the coming years. Sophomores Sam Brunelle and Anaya Peoples have played significant minutes during the past two seasons.

Brunelle was one of the top recruits in the country back in 2019, and she has been a key part of the Irish offense as a stretch-4. This season, she is shooting nearly 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from three.

Peoples was overshadowed a bit by Brunelle in the 2019 recruiting class, but she has been just as impressive. She is shooting 46 percent from the field, leads the team in steals, and is second on the team in total rebounds.

Notre Dame Basketball: WBB trending in the right direction

Freshmen Maddy Westbeld and Olivia Miles have played extraordinarily well in their inaugural season with the Irish and appear to be stars in the making.

In games this season, Westbeld led the team in scoring seven times, led the team in rebounds eight times, and led the team in assists four times. She currently leads the team in field goal percentage, points per game, and total rebounds.

Miles should technically still be a senior in high school. She graduated from high school a semester early and enrolled at Notre Dame. She joined the women’s basketball team midway through the season and has made an immediate impact.

Also, due to the NCAA’s new COVID exemption, she will not lose a year of eligibility for playing this season.

There is a good chance that all four of those players are all in Notre Dame’s starting lineup next season. With that much production returning, expectations for Niele Ivey’s squad will be significantly higher.

Before we look ahead to the future, there are still opportunities for the Irish to impress this season. They will play their final game of the regular season against Louisville, the second-ranked team in the nation, on Sunday.

A win over the Cardinals would be Notre Dame’s best win of the season by far. It would also greatly improve their chances to make the NCAA Tournament. ESPN currently projects that Notre Dame will be one of the last teams to make the tournament. The Irish will need to finish the season strong to punch their ticket to the big dance.

After the conclusion of the regular season this weekend, Notre Dame will prepare for the ACC Tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Greensboro, North Carolina from March 3rd to March 7th.

Notre Dame is currently fifth in the ACC standings. If the Irish beat Louisville on Sunday and North Carolina State beats Syracuse, Notre Dame would finish fourth in the conference. That is important because it would earn them a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.

On the other hand, if the Irish lose on Sunday and Virginia Tech beats North Carolina, Notre Dame would finish sixth in the conference. Regardless of where they are seeded, the Irish will need to play well in Greensboro. To keep their tournament hopes alive, they will need to win at least one game.

Eight days after the conclusion of the ACC Tournament is “Selection Sunday.” On that day, the final bracket for the NCAA Tournament is released.

To recap, Notre Dame needs a win or a close loss against Louisville on Sunday, and then at least one win in the ACC Tournament. Those are very achievable goals for an Irish squad that has played much better in the second half of the season.