While the Notre Dame women’s basketball loss this weekend was one of those deflating defeats that threatens to take some fun out of the season, Irish fans should take heart. While Niele Ivey’s squad is not the top ranked team anymore, they are still well suited to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They’ve just got to keep taking care of business from here on out.
Notre Dame women's basketball still has No. 1 seed, ACC championship in sight
ESPN "bracketology" expert Charlie Creme still has the Notre Dame women’s basketball team projected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament despite losing at NC State on Sunday. That’s the first piece of good news.
The second piece of good news is that another one of their goals is still very much ahead of them. Considering that loss to the Wolfpack was the first in conference, they still have a very good chance at an ACC title. They can clinch it with a win over No. 24 Florida State on Thursday night.
NCAA Tourney still a top goal of Notre Dame women's basketball team
So about that No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? Things could change, but Creme wrote in his latest bracketology update that he sees the Fighting Irish still an odds on favorite for one of the four top spots.
“So many of the top teams have played each other, and the results indicate the regionals and Final Four could be an unpredictable and wild ride,” Creme wrote. “Because of the variability in these games, head-to-head can’t be applied exclusively. The question is how much the committee will factor it into its decision-making, which will go a long way to determining the No. 1 seeds and their order.”
“With those victories over the Trojans and Huskies, Notre Dame should remain a No. 1 seed,” Creme continued.
What seems to be clear is that as long as the Notre Dame women’s basketball team does what it is expected to do in the final weeks of the regular season, they’re still sitting pretty.