Which girls’s groups will take advantage of noise in Champ Week?

South Carolina managed the No. 1 spot within the nation from the second week of the season on, however the “the whole lot else” this girls’s school basketball season was a roller-coaster trip. The No. 2 spot modified fingers eight instances within the common season. A number of top-20 groups misplaced on a weekly foundation.

The mud nonetheless hasn’t settled, establishing doubtlessly probably the most thrilling and significant Champ Weeks in a very long time.

After the Gamecocks, the three remaining No. 1 seeds are nonetheless up for grabs. Stanford, Ohio State, UCLA, Iowa, Texas, USC and LSU are all candidates to stake a declare by profitable their convention tournaments. The highest-16 seeds — and the suitable to host first- and second-round NCAA match video games — might go in any variety of instructions relying on what occurs within the ACC, Large Ten, Large 12 and Pac-12 tournaments.

A number of mid-major leagues might have vital influence on the bubble, as will the SEC match. Every convention has its personal must-know storylines, and these are those to play closest consideration too, in addition to the groups that is likely to be on the courtroom, as we draw nearer to Choice Sunday and the NCAA match.

Extra protection:
Bracketology | NCAA match schedule | Girls’s Match Problem

American Athletic Convention

Imply Inexperienced making an attempt to complete the job: North Texas has already set a program file for wins in among the finest turnarounds within the nation. That is one season after profitable simply 11 video games and ending seventh of their last season in Convention USA. Now the purpose is profitable the AAC match and attending to the NCAA match for the primary time since 1986. To do it, the Imply Inexperienced will lean on the perfect frontcourt duo within the nation. Senior Tommisha Lampkin leads the convention in discipline purpose share and graduate DesiRay Kernal ranks within the AAC’s high 10 in scoring, rebounding and steals.

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America East

Maine tries to finish the sweep at residence: The final two instances Maine went into the America East match because the No. 1 seed (2021 and 2022), the Black Bears got here up quick, dropping championship video games at residence. After Saturday’s blowout win in Orono over the Albany Nice Danes, Maine’s chief convention rival, the Black Bears earned the regular-season title and have one other probability at internet hosting the match last as they attempt to return to the NCAA match for the primary time since 2019. Junior Adrianna Smith (2023 winner) and senior Anne Simon (2022 winner) are the front-runners for convention participant of the yr.

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ACC

Right here come the Irish: Issues are likely to shift shortly within the aggressive ACC. The foremost query within the league only a week in the past was whether or not Virginia Tech may very well be a No. 1 seed within the NCAA match. Then they misplaced twice to complete the common season and the notion disappeared. A type of losses was to Notre Dame — and the thrill is abruptly about their upward mobility. Hovering simply exterior the highest 16 seeds for weeks, Notre Dame lastly broke via with the win over the Hokies and losses by Oklahoma and Colorado. Then the Irish dominated Louisville within the regular-season finale and now appear able to reaching as excessive as a No. 3 seed. The Irish have picked the suitable time to play their finest basketball.

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Atlantic Solar

Eagles maintain hovering: Florida Gulf Coast as soon as once more has run away with the ASUN. Not one league opponent bought inside single digits of the Eagles and so they gained their thirteenth regular-season crown — by 4 video games within the standings — within the final 14 years. Emani Jefferson, who ranks third within the convention in scoring, fifth in assists and first in discipline purpose share, also needs to win the Eagles’ sixth consecutive convention participant of the yr award. The one query is: Ought to FGCU by some means slip up within the ASUN match, is a résumé actually solely highlighted with a win over North Carolina adequate to get an at-large bid?

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Atlantic 10

Can the A-10 get two NCAA match bids? It was a speaking level initially of January and it stays the A-10’s largest query on the finish of the common season. However the reply is not as promising now because it was two months in the past. Some attrition among the many high groups within the final week — George Mason beat Richmond, VCU beat George Mason and Saint Joseph’s, and Saint Joseph’s misplaced to Fordham — might need made the league race extra thrilling, nevertheless it damage the résumés of the NCAA match contenders. With no top-50 NET workforce within the A-10, the probabilities for a number of bids look small. Richmond’s at-large credentials are the perfect, so the best-case situation to get a number of groups within the NCAA bracket could be the Spiders dropping within the A-10 match title recreation. They may probably squeak in as one of many final groups in, giving the A-10 two bids.

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Large East

Fading Golden Eagles: Count on the Large East to get three groups into the NCAA match, however due to uneven play from Marquette all through the convention schedule, that quantity is not as computerized because it was two months in the past. The Golden Eagles averaged 81.4 factors per recreation whereas operating to an 11-0 begin within the nonconference. The manufacturing plummeted to a median of 66.2 factors in Large East video games. An 11-7 convention mark — which included a pair of losses every to UConn, St. John’s and Villanova — means Marquette probably must ship a win over the Wildcats within the Large East quarterfinals at Mohegan Solar to really feel snug about receiving an NCAA match at-large bid.

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Large Sky

Japanese Washington goes for first title since 2010: Within the 4 seasons earlier than the arrival of Jamie Loera, Japanese Washington gained 27 whole video games. In her two seasons in Cheney after transferring from Arizona State, Japanese Washington has gained 41 video games. She has remodeled this system. And it hasn’t include large numbers, though her 12.4 PPG and 5.3 APG in two years are strong. It is include management and basketball IQ. The Eagles gained simply the second convention title of their historical past (2010), and so they’ll be of their first NCAA match since 1987 in the event that they pull the Large Sky sweep.

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Large South

One participant, two groups, two titles: Lauren Bevis of Excessive Level is a Large South regular-season champion for the second consecutive season. She simply occurs to have performed it with two completely different groups. An All-Large South first-team choice a yr in the past for Gardner-Webb, Bevis will go down as among the finest shooters in league historical past. In her fifth school season, she led the Large South in scoring, 3-point share, 3-pointers per recreation and free throw share. After enjoying within the NCAA match with the Runnin’ Bulldogs, she’s making an attempt to do the identical with the Panthers, who gained the convention by 4 video games and are massive favorites to make simply the second match journey in program historical past.

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Large 12

Booker makes the Longhorns go: When Rori Harmon — most likely the perfect participant within the Large 12 — went down with a knee harm in late December, it did not appear logical that the promise of Texas’ season may very well be realized. Madison Booker did not subscribe to such logic. The freshman moved from a small ahead and complementary position to level guard and lead Longhorn. Texas misplaced simply 4 video games since. Booker has been that good. And it is not simply her 16.5 PPG and 4.9 APG. It’s her willingness to guide, take the ball in essential conditions and take, and make, massive photographs. The Longhorns misplaced out on the Large 12 regular-season title by one recreation to Oklahoma, however they’re nonetheless in place for a attainable No. 1 seed within the NCAA match. A Large 12 match title would possibly simply do it.

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Large Ten

No. 1 seed up for grabs: All eyes on the sold-out Large Ten match in Minneapolis might be on Caitlin Clark as she performs the ultimate Large Ten video games of her outstanding profession, however now that she’s handed the scoring information of Kelsey Plum, Lynette Woodard and Pete Maravich, consideration ought to flip to only how far these Iowa Hawkeyes can go. Step one might be maximizing their NCAA seed. Due to their convincing win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday, a No. 1 seed within the NCAA match remains to be in play. A 3rd consecutive Large Ten match championship might be essential to get there. That is as a result of Ohio State can be in place to carry a No. 1 seed and is likely to be the workforce Iowa must leap to get to the highest line within the NCAA bracket. Each the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes may very well be No. 1 seeds in the event that they meet within the Large Ten finals and if Stanford and UCLA come up quick within the Pac-12 and Texas has a poor displaying within the Large 12.

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Large West

Sluggish and regular wins the race? Regardless of not having a single scorer common greater than 12 factors per recreation, a workforce discipline purpose share that ranks 254th within the nation, and a adverse rebounding margin, Hawaii is one recreation away from profitable its second regular-season Large West championship, making the Rainbow Wahine the favorites to seize a 3rd straight Large West match. The system is not a easy one, however 12-year coach Laura Beeman appears to have perfected it: sluggish the tempo, dig in on protection and get to the free throw line. Hawaii ranks 340th in tempo of play. Amongst groups main their leagues or with an opportunity to make the NCAA match, solely Chattanooga and Saint Joseph’s play slower, however the Rainbow Wahine do lead the Large West in discipline purpose share protection and rank ninth within the nation in free throw fee.

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Coastal Athletic Affiliation

From newcomer to favourite: It took only one season after leaving the American East for Stony Brook to determine the higher-rated and deeper CAA. With two video games left, the Seawolves have wrapped up the convention championship. With a trio of scorers not usually seen on the mid-major stage, Stony Brook has upped its scoring common by almost seven factors per recreation over a yr in the past. Gigi Gonzalez, who has performed in 125 video games in a Seawolves uniform and leads the CAA in scoring, Khari Clark, an LMU switch who has exploded with the Seawolves, and Sherese Pittman have taken Stony Brook’s offense to a brand new stage.

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Convention USA

Is Center Tennessee beatable? The reply has been no so far in convention play. Since an additional time win over Louisiana Tech on the opening day of CUSA play, Center Tennessee hasn’t even been challenged. The Blue Raiders are the perfect offensive, defensive, capturing and passing workforce in CUSA — and in some situations, the margin is vast. Savannah Wheeler and Anastasiia Boldyreva are the 2 finest gamers within the league — and an argument may very well be made that Ta’Mia Scott and Jalynn Gregory are Nos. 3 and 4. Center Tennessee beat a Rickea Jackson-less Tennessee in early December, however as a result of no different workforce in CUSA even tops 135 within the NET, the Blue Raiders have not performed a résumé-worthy recreation since. That implies that for as dominant as they’ve been in convention play, an at-large bid might nonetheless allude the Blue Raiders ought to they’ve one dangerous recreation on the flawed night time within the convention match.

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Horizon League

A two-bid league? Solely as soon as in its historical past has the Horizon League despatched two groups to the identical NCAA match. The convention may very well be in place to do it once more if Inexperienced Bay, which earned that at-large bid in 2010, joins Cleveland State within the 2024 discipline. Ought to the Phoenix not win the Horizon League match — and they’re the No. 2 seed behind the Vikings — they could have a case for an at-large bid once more. November wins over top-25 NET groups Creighton and Washington State will put Inexperienced Bay in consideration. Nonetheless, final weekend’s loss at residence to Milwaukee damage the résumé — and price the Phoenix a share of the regular-season championship. The most effective-case situation for the league is Cleveland State beating Inexperienced Bay within the match title recreation. The 2 late-season losses is likely to be too many for the committee to beat, however no different bubble workforce has two top-25 NET wins like Inexperienced Bay.

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Ivy League

Ivy Insanity and March Insanity go hand in hand: Princeton is a sure NCAA match workforce. Columbia is a borderline at-large chance, a transparent bubble workforce. That makes the outcomes of Ivy Insanity, the Ivy League’s four-team postseason match that is not performed till the Saturday night earlier than Choice Sunday, among the many most intriguing to all bubble groups. The Tigers and Lions break up their regular-season conferences and can head to Ivy Insanity as the highest two seeds. If Princeton emerges because the champion for the fifth straight time, it is possible the Ivy will get just one workforce into the NCAA match, protecting an at-large spot open to a different workforce. If Columbia, behind Abbey Hsu, this system’s just lately minted all-time main scorer, wins a second recreation in opposition to the Tigers, the Ivy League is sending two groups to the NCAA match, probably forcing an SEC or Large Ten workforce to the flawed aspect of the bubble.

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Metro Atlantic Athletic Convention

Stags are off and operating: Solely South Carolina misplaced fewer video games, and no workforce within the nation will win its league by greater than Fairfield. Carly Thibault-DuDonis — daughter of Mike Thibault, the all-time winningest coach in WNBA historical past, and sister of Eric Thibault, the present Washington Mystics coach — constructed probably the most profitable season in Stags historical past in simply her second season as a head coach. Touchdown Wantagh, New York, freshman Meghan Andersen might need been the important thing. The 6-foot-1 Anderson leads the MAAC in scoring (16.2 PPG) and 3-point accuracy (37.7%). Anderson’s pairing with senior Janelle Brown offers Thibault-DuDonis probably the most productive backcourts within the nation.

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Mid-American Convention

Lockett’s well being holds the important thing: Groups that shock and outperform expectations are likely to make a greater story. A great underdog is straightforward to root for. And generally the those that make predictions actually do know what they’re speaking about. MAC coaches chosen Toledo, Ball State and Kent State to complete 1-2-3 within the league standings in October. 4 months later, they would be the high three seeds within the MAC match. The Rockets bought off to a sluggish begin after which had a setback with an harm to star guard Quinesha Lockett. Final yr’s MAC participant of the yr missed 5 video games, however the Rockets have misplaced simply as soon as since her return. This is identical core group of gamers who additionally gained the MAC regular-season and match titles a yr in the past — after which upset Iowa State within the first spherical of the NCAA match.

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Mid-Japanese Athletic Convention

Diamond’s influence: With one recreation left within the common season and the MEAC match nonetheless to come back, 23-5 Norfolk State have an opportunity to interrupt the file for many wins in program historical past since they moved to Division I for the 1997-98 season. That file is simply a yr outdated, however this workforce is healthier than the 2022-23 model that gained 26 video games. Name it the Diamond Johnson impact. The Spartans have misplaced simply as soon as because the former Rutgers and NC State level guard began suiting up for them 10 video games into the season. Norfolk State’s scoring, assists and discipline purpose share are all up over a yr in the past. Johnson is averaging 20.4 factors per recreation, however her 17 video games do not qualify her for the MEAC leaderboard. The excellence of main the convention goes to Spartan junior Kierra Wheeler, whose 17.6 PPG are an enchancment by over six factors a contest.

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Missouri Valley Convention

Stability reigns at Drake: Allison Pohlman has been at Drake since 2007 as an assistant or affiliate head coach below two head coaches: Amy Stephens and Jenny Baranczyk. After Baranczyk’s profitable nine-year tenure ended along with her taking up at Oklahoma, Pohlman was given her probability to run this system. The success has remained. After a run to the MVC match title final March and a close to upset of Louisville within the first spherical of the NCAA match, the Bulldogs elevated to a first-place end within the convention behind their unselfishness and talent to share the ball. The Bulldogs, led by level guard Katie Dinnebier, are tenth within the nation in help fee. Dinnebier ranks third nationally in whole assists and third within the MVC in scoring. A second straight journey to the NCAA match for Pohlman will not come through an at-large bid. It’ll require one other MVC match championship. However the final two seasons have proved the applications remains to be in good fingers.

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Mountain West

Hofschild in choose firm: Two gamers within the nation common over 20 factors and 7 assists per recreation. Caitlin Clark is a straightforward guess for certainly one of them. Colorado State fifth-year level guard McKenna Hofschild is the opposite. Desi-Rae Younger of MWC champ UNLV would possibly problem Hofschild for participant of the yr due to the Girl Rebels’ dominance however protecting the 5-2 Hofschild and her staggering numbers from a second straight win appears unlikely. Hofschild can be sixth within the nation in offensive win shares, ninth in offensive effectivity, is an 83.4% free throw shooter and makes almost 40% of her 3-pointers.

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Northeast Convention

Pryor would possibly already be the NEC’s finest ever: As a freshman, Ny’Ceara Pryor did the whole lot a participant might do, profitable NEC participant, freshman and defensive participant of the yr. That additionally included main Sacred Coronary heart to an NEC match title and the Pioneers’ first NCAA match win within the First 4 over Southern. She’s even higher this season. Her scoring (19.1 PPG), rebounding (7.3 RPG), assists (4.6 APG) and capturing share (46.2%) have all improved. She leads the NEC in scoring, assists, discipline purpose share and steals. Most significantly, she has made Sacred Coronary heart even higher. The Pioneers have clinched not less than a share of the regular-season crown, their first in eight years.

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Ohio Valley Convention

Screaming Eagles soar to the highest of OVC: Southern Indiana will not be enjoying within the NCAA match however this system’s rise to success is without doubt one of the finest mid-major tales of the season. The Screaming Eagles have been a nine-win workforce in 2022-23, their first season after reclassifying to Division I. A yr later they’re 17-1 in OVC play and gained the convention by six video games. And that’s with solely two gamers — Vanessa Shafford (fifth in rebounding) and Ali Saunders (third in assists-turnover ratio) within the high 5 in each main statistical class. SIU will not be eligible for the NCAA match till 2027 however would be the workforce everyone seems to be chasing on the OVC match this weekend in Evansville. If the Screaming Eagles win it, the second-place workforce will declare the OVC’s computerized bid.

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Pac-12

Finest for final: Not solely ought to this be probably the most intriguing convention match within the nation this yr, however with seven groups within the high 25 of the NET, it shapes as much as be the perfect Pac-12 match ever. The storylines only for NCAA match seed jockeying make a protracted record. Stanford and UCLA are enjoying for No. 1 seeds however would possibly want to every attain the championship recreation to make sure that occurs. USC can be nonetheless within the combine for a No. 1 however would not less than want to achieve the finals and get assist elsewhere. Colorado’s possible assembly with Oregon State within the quarterfinals — sure, that is only a potential quarterfinal matchup — will probably decide the Buffs’ possibilities to land within the high 16 and host first- and second-round NCAA match video games. Washington State confirmed indicators of life by profitable at Colorado on Saturday that the Cougars hadn’t proven because the season-ending harm to Charlisse Leger-Walker. That retains them alive for an at-large berth. An upset of Stanford within the quarterfinals would do the trick.

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Patriot League

Weimar tries to raise BU: Heading into the ultimate day of the common season, the Patriot League had six groups inside a recreation of one another atop the standings. No convention match within the nation stands to be so vast open. What is not vast open is the participant of the yr race. Boston College senior Caitlin Weimar has dominated from the primary day of league play and hasn’t relented. She leads the Patriot in 4 statistical classes: scoring, rebounding, discipline purpose share and blocks. She can be more likely to win her third defensive participant of the yr honor. Navigating the match and getting the Terriers to only their second NCAA match could be Weimar’s ending be aware to one of many Patriot League’s finest all-time seasons.

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SEC

SEC takeover of the bubble: South Carolina completed a second consecutive common season unbeaten. LSU is the defending nationwide champs and the Tigers is likely to be piecing collectively one other run. Ole Miss is enjoying its most constant basketball of the season. However the story within the SEC, notably the early days of the convention match, is all of the groups on or across the bubble. Texas A&M and Mississippi State mixed to go 2-10 within the last two-plus weeks of the season. Vanderbilt fared higher however nonetheless misplaced all of its key video games in February. All of them want not less than one win in Greenville, and with the Aggies and Bulldogs enjoying one another on Day 2, that will not be attainable. The SEC might nonetheless get 9 groups into the NCAA match if issues break its means round the remainder of the nation. However that quantity might fall to 6 simply as simply. That is life with so many groups on the bubble.

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Southern Convention

Rose blossoms for Wofford: Whereas Chattanooga has dominated the SoCon, profitable it by 5 video games within the common season, no participant dominated the convention statistically like Rachael Rose of Wofford. The 5-7 junior led the league in scoring (22.1 PPG), rebounding (8.6 RPG), assists (5.6 APG), steals (2.1 SPG), free throw share (87.5%) and minutes (35.7 MPG). Whereas her numbers aren’t fairly as eye-popping as Caitlin Clark’s, and the Terriers are solely 16-12, Rose is statistically the Clark of the SoCon. She scores 33% of Wofford’s factors (Clark scores 34% of Iowa’s), and with Rose’s capturing and passing, she accounts for 55% of the Terriers’ discipline objectives. (Clark’s quantity is 58% for the Hawkeyes.)

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Southland

Fast-star Playing cards: With the inside-outside combo of Akasha Davis and Sabria Dean, Lamar has captured its first regular-season convention championship since 2019. The Cardinals additionally have not made the NCAA match since 2010. As sizeable favorites to win the convention match, that streak would possibly finish. Davis, second within the convention in scoring and rebounding and first in discipline purpose share, also needs to be the favourite to take residence participant of the yr, one season after being a first-time all-SLC choice and two seasons after being the league’s freshman of the yr.

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Summit League

Jackrabbits have to ship: South Dakota State have had one other dominant season within the Summit. The Jackrabbits allowed simply 59.1 factors per recreation in convention play and have become the primary workforce in Summit League historical past to go unbeaten in convention play in consecutive seasons. In contrast to the final two years, nevertheless, South Dakota State’s NCAA match destiny will strictly come all the way down to profitable the convention match. An at-large bid appears unlikely with only a 6-5 nonconference file and no signature wins. Sophomore Brooklyn Meyer (18.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 64.8 FG% in league play) has put collectively a player-of-the-year caliber season, and had a double-double in opposition to South Carolina. With solely two of their Summit League video games determined by single digits, the Jackrabbits might be heavy favorites, however a fifth journey within the final six NCAA tournaments will come down to a few video games in Sioux Falls.

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Solar Belt

Thundering Herd revival: Kim Caldwell probably will not obtain a single vote for nationwide coach of the yr, however she has performed one of many best jobs within the nation. In her first season in Huntington after seven success seasons at Division II Glenville State in West Virginia, Caldwell transformed Marshall to an up-tempo, urgent fashion that has paid large dividends. The Thundering Herd went from 15 to 23 wins, the primary 20-win season for this system since 1990-91, and the primary convention regular-season championship since 1989. The quick tempo employed by Caldwell helped flip level guard Abby Beeman into the Solar Belt participant of the yr. Her 6.2 assists per recreation have been good for tenth nationally. Marshall ranks fifth within the nation with 85.4 factors per recreation and third with 13.3 steals per recreation. And this got here after final yr’s main scorer, Roshala Scott, left the workforce after six video games (since transferred to James Madison).

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Southwestern Athletic Convention

Girl Tigers as potential large slayers: In search of a possible massive upset within the first spherical of the NCAA match? Jackson State is likely to be a stunning alternative. The Girl Tigers have dominated the SWAC once more (simply two convention losses in 4 seasons), they’ve uncommon measurement for a non-power league (six gamers within the rotation 6 ft or taller) and have expertise enjoying in opposition to the nation’s finest groups. Jackson State’s nonconference schedule included Kansas State, Oregon State, Mississippi State, Miami and Texas. Whereas all 5 have been losses, the Tigers have been aggressive in opposition to the Bulldogs and Hurricanes and beat St. John’s. Main scorers Miya Crump and T’lan Boler have been additionally on the workforce in 2022 that just about upset LSU within the first spherical of the NCAA match.

Western Athletic Convention

One participant, two rivals: Final season, Trinity San Antonio led California Baptist in scoring. This season she’s the highest scorer at Grand Canyon. They simply so occur to be the 2 finest groups within the WAC. Such are the methods of faculty basketball on the planet of the switch portal. San Antonio’s arrival helped take the Lopes to the following stage. After ending fourth a yr in the past, Grand Canyon (the league’s stingiest protection) is battling the Lancers (the WAC’s top-scoring offense) for the regular-season crown, which can probably be determined when the 2 face off within the regular-season finale on Saturday.

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West Coast Convention

Will Spokane host NCAA match video games? Not since Delaware with Elena Della Donne in 2012 has a workforce exterior of the Energy 6 conferences been a top-four seed within the NCAA match. Gonzaga is in place to interrupt the streak. The Zags have been No. 15 within the last top-16 reveal by the NCAA match choice committee. If Gonzaga dominates the WCC match prefer it did the common season — profitable all 16 video games by a median of 30.7 factors per recreation — the Bulldogs might be internet hosting first- and second-round NCAA match video games. With guidelines completely different in 2012 and the early-round websites predetermined, that Delaware workforce did not get to host video games. Xavier was the final workforce from a nonmajor convention to host, in 2010. The Musketeers, a No. 3 seed, reached the Elite Eight that season.