The NCAA released the first of two women’s basketball top-16 seed projections on Sunday afternoon on to seed three of its top eight seeds loss by the end of the day.
Newly No. 1-ranked Notre Dame (22-2), as it has been for weeks in bracketology predictions, was projected as a No. 1 seed by the NCAA, albeit the lowest No. 1 seed of the top four picks.
UCLA (24-1) was named the top seed overall, followed by South Carolina (23-3), Texas (26-2) and Notre Dame.
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After the reveal show, South Carolina went on to get hammered by UConn (a projected No. 2 seed), 87-58, in South Carolina.
It should be noted that Notre Dame appears as the lower No. 1 seed to Texas, despite the Irish winning that head-to-head matchup in South Bend back in December.
The Longhorns ended an eight-day stretch on Sunday in which they beat three top-10 teams in a row, including South Carolina.
Top four seeds overall will get to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament March 21-24. Sweet 16 and Elite Eights games will be played in Spokane, Wash., and Birmingham, Ala. March 28-31. The women’s Final Four is in Tampa, Fla., April 4-6.
The tourney kicks off with First Four games on March 19-20 at campus sites. Selection Sunday is March 16 at 8 p.m.
Here is a look a Notre Dame’s March Madness projections.
Notre Dame women’s basketball NCAA Tournament résumé for 2025 March Madness
NET Ranking: No. 4
Strength of schedule: 9
Non-conference strength of schedule: 6
Quad 1 record: 7-2
Quad 2 record: 6-0
Quad 3 record: 2-0
Quad 4 record: 8-0
The quadrant system accounts for the location of the game and the opposing team’s NET ranking. Quad 1 games, for instance, are at home against teams ranked Nos. 1-30 in the NET, on a neutral court against teams ranked Nos. 1-50, and on the road against teams ranked Nos. 1-75.
Seed: 1 (3rd overall)
On Tuesday morning, Charlie Creme of ESPN had the Irish climb up a spot to the third overall No. 1 seed, with the Irish projected to play 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson in South Bend as part of Birmingham Region 3. UCLA remains the top seed overall followed by Texas. South Carolina is the final No. 1.
Notre Dame women in herhoopstats.com bracketology
Seed: No. 1 (No. 3 overall)’
Herhoopstats.com has UCLA as the top seed overall, followed South Carolina. Texas is the other No. 1 seed and fourth overall. It should be noted that this bracket was last updated on February 14, before South Carolina lost to UConn
This site has Notre Dame playing 16-seed Southern, Ind., in South Bend as part of Birmingham Region 3.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame women’s basketball bracketology projection
