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Well before Notre Dame tipped off the 2024-25 season, most people believed it would be a national championship contender. For most of the season, the Irish rewarded that faith by beating some of women's basketball's best teams in nonconference play, winning 19 straight games and ascending to the top ranking in the country.
Everything changed as the Irish lost three of their final five games before the NCAA Tournament. That relegated them to a No. 3 seed, an unfathomable proposition only a short time ago.
That's what happens when other teams looking for high seeds succeed more in conference tournaments than you. The selection committee take everything that's happened during the season into account, especially at the very end.
Despite the recent difficulty, there are reasons the Irish still can get to the Final Four and reasons they can't. Here are two arguments for both sides and what we think will happen:
As long as the Irish have arguably the best backcourt duo in the country in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, they can win any game. Both previously had seasons without the other in which they contended for national player of the year. Together, they are contenders for that award again, and all one has to do is watch how well they both play on both ends.
Liatu King and Liza Karlen, previously the best players at Pittsburgh and Marquette respectively, opted to spend their final years of college eligibility with the Irish. Their additions helped form the Irish's reputation as a national title contender, and both have lived up to the hype. While Karlen has sacrificed her statistics to become the player who does the undesirable but necessary dirty things, King has continued to put up points and also currently has the best field-goal percentage of her career.
The one thing all of the Irish's recent losses have in common is that guards paced their teams in scoring, often with totals the Irish weren't used to seeing from opposing players. Also, if they or their teammates were able to contain at least one of Hidalgo or Miles enough, they had a very good chance of emerging victorious. As we get deeper into the tournament, the possibility of that increases, and one bad game from either Irish star could mean an earlier elimination.
As worthy a successor as Niele Ivey has been to Muffet McGraw, the biggest knock on her has to be that she hasn't won more than two tournament games at one time. The Irish have gone out in the Sweet 16 in each of the past three years, and they have yet to prove they can weather any adversity thrown their way once they've gotten to that point in the tournament. Until they prove otherwise, especially given recent events, they can't be given the benefit of the doubt.
This is the most talented group Ivey has coached during her time leading the Irish. The extended break between the ACC Tournament and now has allowed to heal and mentally reset. Add in the fact that they've drawn a regional with teams they have proven they can handle for the most part, and there is little reason to think this team won't be playing during the final weekend.
This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Can Notre Dame women reach Final Four in March Madness? Our prediction
Continue reading...
Everything changed as the Irish lost three of their final five games before the NCAA Tournament. That relegated them to a No. 3 seed, an unfathomable proposition only a short time ago.
That's what happens when other teams looking for high seeds succeed more in conference tournaments than you. The selection committee take everything that's happened during the season into account, especially at the very end.
Despite the recent difficulty, there are reasons the Irish still can get to the Final Four and reasons they can't. Here are two arguments for both sides and what we think will happen:
Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles are lethal together
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As long as the Irish have arguably the best backcourt duo in the country in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, they can win any game. Both previously had seasons without the other in which they contended for national player of the year. Together, they are contenders for that award again, and all one has to do is watch how well they both play on both ends.
Liatu King and Liza Karlen have been key transfers
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Liatu King and Liza Karlen, previously the best players at Pittsburgh and Marquette respectively, opted to spend their final years of college eligibility with the Irish. Their additions helped form the Irish's reputation as a national title contender, and both have lived up to the hype. While Karlen has sacrificed her statistics to become the player who does the undesirable but necessary dirty things, King has continued to put up points and also currently has the best field-goal percentage of her career.
Productive opposing guards can make the Irish vulnerable
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The one thing all of the Irish's recent losses have in common is that guards paced their teams in scoring, often with totals the Irish weren't used to seeing from opposing players. Also, if they or their teammates were able to contain at least one of Hidalgo or Miles enough, they had a very good chance of emerging victorious. As we get deeper into the tournament, the possibility of that increases, and one bad game from either Irish star could mean an earlier elimination.
The Irish have not been to advance past the Sweet 16 lately
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As worthy a successor as Niele Ivey has been to Muffet McGraw, the biggest knock on her has to be that she hasn't won more than two tournament games at one time. The Irish have gone out in the Sweet 16 in each of the past three years, and they have yet to prove they can weather any adversity thrown their way once they've gotten to that point in the tournament. Until they prove otherwise, especially given recent events, they can't be given the benefit of the doubt.
This will be the year the Irish get back to the Final Four
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This is the most talented group Ivey has coached during her time leading the Irish. The extended break between the ACC Tournament and now has allowed to heal and mentally reset. Add in the fact that they've drawn a regional with teams they have proven they can handle for the most part, and there is little reason to think this team won't be playing during the final weekend.
This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Can Notre Dame women reach Final Four in March Madness? Our prediction
Continue reading...
