Daybreak Staley has South Carolina six wins away from ending off a historic season.
The Gamecocks need to grow to be the tenth ladies’s basketball crew to go undefeated for a complete season because the they enter the NCAA Tournament because the No. 1 total seed.
Staley’s squad has been challenged a number of occasions this yr however has at all times pulled by means of. The defending nationwide champions will play Norfolk State within the first spherical of the match, the NCAA choice committee revealed Sunday night time.
“It didn’t take a loss for us to be taught from the teachings of an in depth sport,” Staley stated. “Now we discovered ourselves ready the place we will’t afford to lose.”
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South Carolina’s coach Daybreak Staley holds up the online after defeating Tennessee 74-58 to win the championship sport of the Southeastern Convention ladies’s match in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photograph/Mic Smith)
Whereas the Gamecocks, led by star Aliyah Boston, have been a lock to be the highest seed for a lot of the season, a number of faculties have been vying for the opposite No. 1s, together with Iowa, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Stanford and Utah. The Hawkeyes, led by electrifying guard Caitlin Clark, have been a prime seed twice earlier than, in 1988 and 1992.
The committee in the end selected the Hoosiers, Hokies and Cardinal. Indiana and Virginia Tech are first-time No. 1 seeds. Stanford has been a prime seed 13 occasions now, together with within the final three tournaments.
“We spent quite a lot of time on a wide range of issues. definitely the primary line and the best groups internet hosting,” choice committee chair Lisa Peterson stated.
The match begins Wednesday with two First 4 video games. The total insanity begins with 16 video games Friday and 16 extra the following day.
South Carolina might have the best path to the Closing 4 in Dallas because it will not need to go removed from house. The Gamecocks, who’re the 18th crew to achieve the NCAA tourney unbeaten, will play their first two video games on campus earlier than probably heading 90 minutes away to Greenville, South Carolina, for one of many two regionals. The Gamecocks simply received the Southeastern Convention Match at that website.
South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston holds up the championship trophy after defeating Tennessee 74-58 to win the championship sport of the Southeastern Convention ladies’s match in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photograph/Mic Smith)
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“It’s nice. Once we obtained shipped out to Stockton (California, in 2017), we thought it was a drag, however we find yourself profitable the nationwide championship. So there are blessings in all sorts of conditions,” Staley stated. “We’re blessed that Greenville was a area. We’re blessed that we did sufficient to get to despatched to this area and we have now to make it work for us. We all know it received’t be simple.”
The NCAA modified its format this season and is having two regional websites for the Candy 16 and Elite Eight rounds. Greenville hosts one and Seattle the opposite. As soon as once more the highest 4 groups in every area will host the opening two rounds.
The opposite prime groups in South Carolina’s bracket are No. 2 seed Maryland, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 4 UCLA. The Gamecocks beat both Maryland and UCLA this season.
“I prefer it. Some familiarity. Handle Norfolk State, then see the place that takes us,” Staley stated. “I don’t wish to put the cart earlier than the horse. Typically while you’re in a match setting like this it’s at all times a great factor to have performed somebody.”
Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder, middle, hoists the trophy with assist from guard Caitlin Clark, left, after they defeated Ohio State in an NCAA school basketball championship sport on the Large Ten ladies’s match Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photograph/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Indiana is the opposite prime seed in Greenville. Utah is the two seed with LSU third and Villanova fourth.
UConn, which was the final crew to go unbeaten and win the title in 2015-16, is seeking to prolong its personal historical past and attain the Closing 4 for the fifteenth consecutive yr. The Huskies had a troublesome yr with accidents however lastly began to get wholesome heading into March. Star guard Azzi Fudd, who missed 22 video games with a knee damage, returned for the Large East Match and helped the Huskies win it.
Geno Auriemma’s crew, which has received a report 11 nationwide championships, is a No. 2 seed in Seattle. The Hokies are the highest seed in that a part of the bracket. Ohio State is the three seed and Tennessee the 4. The Girl Vols have been in each NCAA Match because it began in 1982.
The Cardinal are the No. 1 within the different Seattle regional. Iowa is the No. 2, Duke the three seed and Texas 4.
The Atlantic Coast Convention has eight groups within the match with the Large Ten, SEC and Pac-12 every having seven. The Large 12 has six and the Large East 5.
4 groups can be making their first look within the match: Southern Utah, Southeastern Louisiana, Sacramento State and Saint Louis.
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Columbia, Kansas, Massachusetts and Oregon have been the primary 4 groups out of the sphere.
