Girls’s hoops: Stanford South Carolina jumps to the highest

Women's hoops: Stanford South Carolina jumps to the top

Due to Kentucky’s magical run through the SEC Championship, we completed the 2023-22 Girls’s Faculty Basketball Rankings with a brand new #1.

This isn’t to say that South Carolina, which has been within the lead since week one, has misplaced any floor within the NCAA Championship standings. The Gamecocks already had the No. 1 total seed in Charlie Creme’s Bracketology drop, so Sunday’s 64-62 loss to the Wildcats within the SEC Last solely price South Carolina one other championship trophy. Gamecocks will now chase the most important ones with some additional motivation.

4 of the Energy 5 conferences have their champions and an NCAA resolution to auto-bid, whereas the Massive 12 takes place this week in Kansas Metropolis. Baylor dominated the occasion, profitable 9 of the previous 10. This yr’s title may push the Bears into the final top-seeded, after shedding to Louisville within the ACC quarter-finals.

The Massive 12 at the moment has six groups within the NCAA, none of that are in peril of falling aside whatever the league championship outcomes. Oklahoma is making an attempt to remain among the many high 16 producers within the NCAA, which hosts first and second spherical video games. So the Sooners, who completed the common season with a loss to Kansas (gave the Jayhawks insurance coverage to make their first NCAA look since 2013), are hoping for at the very least one KC win.

Here is a ultimate launch of the energy rankings earlier than you fill out your NCAA bracket.


sport

0:20

Baylor’s Ja’Mee Asberry fired a no-look go to NaLyssa Smith on a transitional run.

The Bears wanted two wins final week to say their twelfth common season title for the twelfth consecutive yr. They bought them behind Smith, who went 24 of 36 from the sphere and 14 of 15 from the streak for 63 factors, with 32 rebounds, in each video games.

Group of the Week: Kentucky Wildcats

There are various Kentucky groups that appear to have an excellent likelihood of profitable the SEC within the final decade or extra, however they have not. A number of weeks in the past, this yr’s Wildcats weren’t thought to have raced for that title. However their 10-game profitable streak modified their season and gave them a trophy this system had not gained in 40 years.

Dayton was the Atlantic 10 common season champion, however UMass gained his first A-10 title on Sunday. That is this system’s first NCAA Championship bid since 1998, and third total.

Coach of the Week: Kira Elsie, Kentucky Wildcats

In her second season as head coach of wildcats, Elzy had to make use of robust love and motivational ways to drag her staff out of the funk he was nonetheless coping with in February. It has succeeded. I additionally advised them that protection must be an all-encompassing proposal if they’d an opportunity at creating an NCAA area. It labored too, and now they do not have to attend for an enormous present. They seized the SEC’s automated pier with a dramatic win over South Carolina on Sunday.


Power rankings

1. Stanford Cardinal (28-3)
Earlier order:
2
this week: no video games

The Nationwide Champions had some shut calls on the finish of the common season, however they made it by the Pac-12 Championships in Las Vegas with wins over Oregon, Colorado and Utah. Haley Jones was the event’s most memorable participant, and he or she – together with the remainder of the Cardinal – appears robust in attendance on the NCAA Event.

sport

0:21

North Carolina completed the primary half 10-0, with Raina Perez 3 draining earlier than the bell.

2. North Carolina Wolfpack (29-3)
Earlier order:
3
this week: no video games

Wolfpack has become the president of the ACC Championship, having gained it three years in a row now. Miami had a formidable run to achieve the ultimate, however there was no stopping North Carolina State, who gained their three video games of the event by averaging 19.3 factors. High quarterback Elisa Konan, who grew up close to Greensboro, took benefit of her hometown event, profitable her MVP award on Sunday.

3. South Carolina Gamecox (29-2)
Earlier order:
1
this week: no video games

They’ve fallen within the energy rankings, however like we mentioned, nothing actually modifications for the Gamecocks which can be going to be within the NCAA Event. Nonetheless, they might have a renewed sense of urgency in apply. Some defensive gaffes and wasted free throws price South Carolina their ultimate loss to the SEC, however that is nonetheless the identical energy staff that has Minneapolis in sight.

4 – Baylor Bears (25-5)
Earlier order:
4
this week: Massive 12 vs TBD Quarterfinals (Friday)

The Bears completed off strong victories over Iowa State and Texas Tech to win their twelfth common season title for the twelfth consecutive yr. Nalissa Smith collected 63 factors and 32 rebounds in these two video games as Baylor heads to Kansas Metropolis with a full header.

5- Ukun Huskies (24-5)
Earlier order:
7
this week: Massive East Last vs Villanova (Monday)

Villanova ended UConn’s nine-year convention sport profitable streak on February 9, however Paige Bueckers, Caroline Ducharme and Olivia Nelson-Ododa did not play with the Huskies in that 72-69 loss. The present model of UConn is the notably intimidating model of adversaries.

sport

2:03

Iowa State defeats Indiana to win the Massive Ten Championship because of huge matches from Caitlin Clark and Monica Chinano.

6 – Iowa Hawks (23-7)
Earlier order:
13
this week: no video games

The hockey household continues to soar, shifting up seven locations within the energy rankings after profitable the Massive Ten Championship. No, they did not must beat Ohio State or Maryland or Michigan to try this, and so they misplaced to all of these groups within the common season (and likewise beat the Wolverines as soon as). However they confronted Massive Ten Championship opponents in Northwestern, Nebraska and Indiana all beneath 38% and confirmed some defensive prowess to maintain up with their assault.

7. Texas Longhorns (23-6)
Earlier order:
8
this week: Massive 12 Quarterfinals vs Kansas State (Fri)

Texas completed the common season with victories over Kansas and Oklahoma State and has now gained eight straight instances. Ranked No. 3 within the Massive 12 Championships, the Longhorns will face the Wildcats who’ve already defeated them twice by double digits. Texans have gained the Massive 12 title solely as soon as: in 2003, when the Longhorns final went to the Last 4.

8. Kentucky Wildcats (19-11)
Earlier order:
quantity
this week: no video games

It is uncommon for a staff to have the ability to soar from an unranked rank to the highest ten, however the Wildcats did one thing uncommon. Unprecedented, in actual fact: They beat seed 1, 2 and three to win the SEC event. Whereas the “working group” will preserve them out of the highest 16 within the NCAA Event, they play like the highest 16 seeded.

sport

1:10

Dre’una Edwards hits the inexperienced gentle 3 pointers with 5 seconds remaining as Kentucky State beat South Carolina 64-62 to win the SEC Championship.

9. Louisville Cardinals (25-4)
Earlier order:
5
this week: no video games

Louisville gained the 2018 ACC title and misplaced within the ultimate in 2019 and 2023. This yr, the Cardinal left an enormous lead and surprised Miami by beating him within the quarter-finals. Given their earlier success within the ACC course and the truth that they got here to Greensboro in fine condition, outselling the targets by the Hurricanes 23-7 within the fourth quarter was an enormous disappointment. However as with South Carolina, Louisville ought to be excited concerning the NCAA Championship.

10. LSU Tigers (25-5)
Earlier order:
6
this week: no video games)

Coach Kim Mulkee mentioned taking part within the SEC was not a precedence for the Tigers, as not a lot would change with the NCAA champion and so they wished to relaxation Alexis Morris. She suffered an MCL sprain on February 24 however is anticipated to play within the NCAA Championship. The Tigers fell within the SEC quarter-final in opposition to Kentucky. Contemplating that the Wildcats went on to win the title, the loss does not damage LSU in any respect.

11. Iowa Hurricanes (25-5)
Earlier order:
9
this week: Massive 12 vs TBD Quarterfinals (Friday)

After a disappointing 25-point loss to Baylor final Monday, the Hurricanes ended the common season in an enormous means on Saturday with a 74-57 victory over West Virginia as goalkeeper Emily Ryan scored 29 factors. The Cyclones have a file 14 victories within the Massive 12 and are ranked No. 2 within the League Championship, which they final gained in 2001.

12- Indiana Hoosiers (19-7)
Earlier order:
quantity
this week: no video games

The Hoosiers have been knocked out of the powerhouse rankings final week after shedding 4 of their final 5 common season video games. However their arrival within the Massive Ten ultimate – beating the Rutgers, Maryland and Ohio State – earlier than falling 74-67 to Iowa confirmed that Indiana seemed prepared for the NCAA Championship. Hoosiers reached the Elite Eight final season.

13. Virginia Tech Hockey (8-21)
Earlier order:
quantity
this week: no video games

The Hokies misplaced by simply two factors to champions NC State within the common season ultimate on February 27, then reached the ACC semifinals earlier than shedding to Wolfpack once more. ACC Participant of the 12 months Elizabeth Keatley, who sustained a shoulder harm within the quarter-final win over North Carolina, didn’t play within the semifinals. Coach Kenny Brooks mentioned that was a precaution, so she ought to be prepared for the NCAA Event. Identical for goalkeeper Kayla King, who sprained her ankle within the Hawkeyes’ opening sport in opposition to Clemson.

14 – Michigan Wolverines (22-6)
Earlier order:
10
this week: no video games

It has been a tricky week for Michigan: They misplaced the common season title within the Massive Ten after which misplaced 76-73 to Nebraska within the league quarterfinals. The Wolverines began the season 20-2, however have now misplaced 4 of their final six. They need to restore confidence in going to the NCAA Championship.

15- Ohio State Buckeyes (23-6)
Earlier order:
fifteenth
this week: no video games

The Buckeyes have been the highest seed within the Massive Ten and are in pursuit of their sixth title, however suffered a second loss this season to Indiana within the semifinals. Nonetheless, they’re heading to the NCAA Championship having gained eight of the final 10.

16. Maryland Terrapins (8-21)
Earlier order:
11
this week: no video games

The Terps entered Indianapolis in pursuit of their sixth Massive Ten title since becoming a member of the league in 2014-15. However they left after shedding 62-51 within the quarterfinals to Indiana, and it is arduous to make certain what model of Maryland we’ll see on the NCAA Championships. For a staff with loads of weapons, Terps have had some surprisingly poor offensive performances, together with scoring lower than 60 factors in two of their final three video games, each of which they misplaced.

within the ready room

Quickly in Oklahoma (23-7): The Sooners fell to Kansas to shut out the common season however they’ve an opportunity to avenge this loss rapidly because the groups meet once more Friday within the Massive 12 quarterfinals.

North Carolina Tar Heel (23-6): The Tar Heels have gained seven of their final eight ACC video games, however misplaced 87-80 in additional time to Virginia Tech within the quarterfinals.

BYU Cougars (25-2): The highest seed within the West Coast Convention, faces No. 4 seed Portland within the semifinals on Monday.