March is starting to show its signature excitement.
Last week saw three of the top five teams in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings suffer defeats, prompting a significant reshuffle in the standings. Former No. 1 UCLA’s perfect season was halted by their rival USC, while former No. 4 South Carolina and No. 5 LSU encountered back-to-back losses on Sunday.
Additionally, two other top-10 teams faced setbacks (Kentucky, NC State), while Ohio State pushed their game into overtime to secure a close victory, and USC managed a comeback late in their contest to avoid the same fate. With one month remaining until Selection Sunday, there has been no shortage of thrilling twists, turns, and upsets. The women’s selection committee even unveiled its first top 16 rankings, adding to the anticipation.
Only two weeks remain before conference tournaments commence, kicking off the true excitement of March Madness.
Who deserves the No. 1 spot?
Texas has catapulted itself into the No. 1 discussion with three consecutive top-10 victories. As the leaders of the SEC, they have constructed their impressive 11-2 record in Quad 1 games, surpassing South Carolina’s 10-3.
The Longhorns (26-2, 12-1) achieved an upset over then-No. 2 South Carolina, showcasing the outstanding performance of Madison Booker. They also held Kentucky to a mere 49 points, marking the Wildcats’ lowest output of the season, which is 30 points under their average. Texas demonstrated resilience by overcoming a double-digit deficit to clinch a well-rounded team win over LSU, establishing themselves as a leading contender for the top position.
The Fighting Irish (22-2, 13-0) also make a compelling case for the No. 1 ranking with significant victories over USC, UConn, and, importantly, Texas. However, that triumph came in early December, and since then, Notre Dame has improved, thanks to the return of forwards Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen. Texas has equally grown stronger, with Madison Booker and Rori Harmon working seamlessly together.
UCLA and its recent slip to rival USC are still in the conversation for a top spot. A narrowly contested game against Michigan State on Sunday can be overlooked, especially since Lauren Betts remains day-to-day due to a toe injury. Both South Carolina and UConn might also lay claim to a higher ranking based on their complete resumes rather than recent performances, particularly UConn’s edge due to its win against the Gamecocks, who have lost two of their last three outings and would be a surprising selection if they continue this path.
Any momentum towards crowning USC as the No. 1 was dampened by their close call against Washington on Sunday, where they fought back from a 12-point deficit to win 69-64.
Notre Dame is peaking at the right moment
It has been a while since Notre Dame faced a significant challenge, with their last three games (against Stanford, Cal, and Pitt) being won by an average margin of 39 points. Their defensive displays during this stretch have been remarkable, particularly against teams averaging below .400 in ACC play.
The Fighting Irish (13-0 ACC) have established a significant lead in the ACC regular season race, although they have yet to face the conference’s elite teams. This upcoming week will test their resolve as they prepare for games against third-place Duke (11-2, two games back) on Monday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) and a home matchup against second-place NC State (12-2, 1.5 GB) on Sunday (12 p.m. ET, ESPN). They will also take on Miami in this stretch, playing three games within a week.
To finish the season, Notre Dame hosts sixth-place Florida State (10-4, 3.5 GB) and fifth-place Louisville (11-3, 2.5 GB), marking the toughest stretch of their ACC schedule. So far, their only encounter with a top-six team was a 76-66 victory at North Carolina in early January.
The dynamic backcourt of Hannah Hidalgo (25.2 ppg) and Olivia Miles (17 ppg) has only grown stronger, with both shooting over 40% from beyond the arc (Westbeld is also above this threshold with her impressive 11-for-25 shooting). They will face a significant challenge from Duke’s aggressive perimeter defense at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Blue Devils have successfully held 12 opponents below their scoring averages while forcing an average of 23.4 turnovers per game.
Utah’s Emerging Backcourt Aims for Success
Utah, currently ranked 17th in Her Hoop Stats ratings and 20th in NET as of Sunday, boasts a healthy backcourt that has propelled the Utes under the radar. They feature two standout 50-40-90 shooters in guards Gianna Kneepkens and Kennady McQueen. Remarkably, no other teams in the country meet all these criteria combined (minimum 20 minutes per game and participation in 20 games).
Kneepkens, who missed much of last season due to a broken foot, is having a career year, averaging 19.3 points as a senior, with shooting splits of 52.2% from the field, 47.2% from three, and 91.8% from the free-throw line. McQueen, now a fifth-year senior, is also posting a career-best 11.2 points, boasting a stunning line of 51.3%/44.4%/93.3%. She’s made 14 of her 15 free throws, showcasing her skill in drawing fouls rare this season.
Together, they combined for 44 points and 10 of Utah’s 18 three-pointers in a dominating 98-62 victory over Arizona State on Saturday. The Utes are currently on a seven-game win streak, firmly in the Big 12 title race, which remains the most competitive among power conferences.
Kansas State, TCU, and Baylor all sport records of 12-2, with Utah just behind at 11-3 after facing each of those top teams. Notably, their losses to Baylor and TCU were by single digits, and all occurred when McQueen was sidelined due to a high-ankle sprain. As the Big 12 tournament approaches, matchups against these teams will be crucial for the Utes’ quest for the title.
Utah, overcoming a coaching change early in the season when Lynne Roberts departed for the WNBA’s Sparks, had a brief stint in the AP poll in early January.
Must-Watch Games This Week
Duke (20-5, 11-2 ACC) at Notre Dame (22-2, 13-0 ACC), Monday at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN) — Duke will look to claim its first ACC regular season title since 2013.
Kansas State (24-3, 12-2 Big 12) at West Virginia (20-5, 10-4 Big 12), Monday at 2 p.m. ET (FOX) — The Mountaineers’ pressure defense may play a pivotal role in the Big 12 race, as they face TCU on Sunday (12 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
LSU (25-2, 10-2 SEC) at Kentucky (20-4, 9-3 SEC), Sunday at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN) — Kentucky leads the SEC in blocked shots (6.96 bpg) and aims to enhance its tournament seeding with a high-profile victory.
Current AP Rankings
1. Notre Dame
2. Texas
3. UCLA
4. USC
5. UConn
6. South Carolina
7. LSU
8. Ohio State
9. North Carolina
10. TCU
11. Duke
12. Kansas State
13. NC State
14. Kentucky
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. West Virginia
18. Alabama
19. Baylor
20. Georgia Tech
21. Maryland
22. Michigan State
23. Creighton
24. Oklahoma State
25. Illinois
Yahoo Sports AP Ballot
1. Texas
2. Notre Dame
3. UCLA
4. UConn
5. USC
6. South Carolina
7. LSU
8. TCU
9. Ohio State
10. North Carolina
11. NC State
12. Kentucky
13. Kansas State
14. Duke
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. West Virginia
18. Baylor
19. Alabama
20. Michigan State
21. Georgia Tech
22. Maryland
23. Creighton
24. Oklahoma State
25. Utah
