ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme picked Vanderbilt women’s basketball to go to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, which would be playing exactly to the expectations of the No. 2 seed the Commodores were given.
Creme, predicting every game, picked Vanderbilt (27-4) to have double-digit victories over 15-seed High Point, 10-seed Colorado and 6-seed Notre Dame. A potential game against the Fighting Irish would pit the Commodores against former player Iyana Moore, though Notre Dame would have to defeat 3-seed Ohio State first.
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However, in an Elite Eight matchup, Creme picked Vanderbilt to lose to UConn, 91-67. That matchup, if it happens, could pit Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph against her mentor Geno Auriemma and pit SEC Player of the Year Mikayla Blakes against UConn’s Sarah Strong, another National Player of the Year contender.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph during the first quarter SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph during the first quarter SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph is escorted to the locker room, during the fourth quarter SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph gathers players for a huddle after being ejected from the game and before being escorted to the locker room, during the fourth quarter SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph talking with Vanderbilt guard Aubrey Galvan (3) during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt forward Sacha Washington (35) embraces coach Shea Ralph after being taken out of the game during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 85-60.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph and guard Aubrey Galvan (3) celebrate defeating Texas at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph disputes a call during the fourth quarter against Florida at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph coach Shea Ralph gestures to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph talks with guard Aubrey Galvan (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph prepares to embrace Vanderbilt University Athletics Director Candice Storey Lee after beating Louisiana State University at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph celebrates with fans after beating Louisiana State at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Coach, Shea Ralph, hugs Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes (1) after the women’s basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Virginia Cavaliers at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt’s head coach Shea Ralph looks on during the exhibition game between Vanderbilt and Memphis during the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic at FedExForum on October 27, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Mar 6, 2025; Greenville, SC, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph directs her team against the Tennessee Lady Vols during the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works with her team against the South Carolina during the second quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches her team face South Carolina during the second quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph argues a foul call as she talks with an official during an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches her team face Arkansas during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph celebrates a play during the first quarter against Tennessee at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works the sidelines during the first quarter against Tennessee at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph talks with forward Khamil Pierre (12) during an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph talks with forward Sacha Washington during an NCAA college basketball game against Appalachian State Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Maysen Garrick spends time with her parents Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach Shea Ralph and associate head coach Tom Garrick after an NCAA college basketball game against Appalachian State Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph encourages her players during a timeout against Appalachian State in an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph reacts during the win against Arizona at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph speaks during SEC Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph is interviewed by Paul Finebaum during SEC Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball vs Florida Gators in SEC Tournament on March 7, 2024, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Vanderbilt’s Head Coach Shea Ralph on the court.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph signals her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Sunday, Feb.18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph works the sideline during their game against Ole Miss at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Jan 28, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph directs her team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Jan 28, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph disputes a call against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph encourages her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kennesaw State Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Coach Shea Ralph during the first quarter of the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches her team face LSU during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph encouraging her players during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Sunday, February 12, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph looks on during the first half against the Florida Gators at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 22, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt womens head coach Shea Ralph on the sidelines as they play against MTSU during the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt womens head coach Shea Ralph argues a call at halftime as they play against MTSU during the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works with her team against Murray State during the third quarter of the WNIT first round game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 17, 2022. Vanderbilt won 73-47.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph celebrates with guard De’Mauri Flournoy (13) as they win the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament game against Texas A&M in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph directs her players against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph agues a foul call with an official during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida at the womenÕs Southeastern Conference tournament, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Florida won 53-52.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt forward Terren Frank (15) fouls Texas A&M guard Jordan Nixon (5) as Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph yells to her players as they face Missouri during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches her team face Tennessee during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vandy head coach Shea Ralph on the sideline during the game against MTSU, on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women’s basketball coach in fifth season with Commodores
Vandy head coach Shea Ralph on the sideline during the game against MTSU on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.
The Commodores last made the Elite Eight in 2002.
Vanderbilt opens its March Madness run against High Point (27-5) at Memorial Gymnasium on March 21 (6 p.m. CT, ESPNews).
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt women’s basketball predictions in March Madness by ESPN
