Girls’s NCAA event 2022 – Reseeding the Candy 16

The Creighton Bluejays did it. So did the South Dakota Coyotes. The 11th-seeded Princeton Tigers and 12-seed Belmont Bruins got here oh-so-close. And a wild two days of second-round play within the 2022 NCAA women’s basketball tournament in the end gave us two double-digit seeds within the Candy 16. All of it necessitates main modifications to the seeding.

The largest adjustment comes proper on the high. The South Carolina Gamecocks, who’ve been No. 1 all season, are now not main the best way. With their two blowout victories, the Stanford Cardinal are the brand new No. 1 total. That’s only the start of the shake-up. When a No. 10 seed has been some of the spectacular groups within the event, large modifications are coming, and South Dakota makes a giant bounce.

The Coyotes eradicated an SEC workforce and a Massive 12 squad, and every of these leagues have simply two groups remaining within the subject, the identical quantity because the Massive East. The Massive Ten, which was rated the fifth-best convention within the nation, in accordance with the NET, despatched 4 groups to the Candy 16. The ACC, No. Four on that listing, additionally has 4.

And about that home-court benefit: Of the highest 16 seeds internet hosting first- and second-round video games, 5 did not advance to the Candy 16, and three extra — the Indiana Hoosiers, Tennessee Lady Volunteers and UConn Huskies — barely survived.

Now the place do all these groups fall? Here’s a brand-new Candy 16 rating after two extra days of video games.

Observe this hyperlink for a whole take a look at Friday’s schedule and Saturday’s games, that are all on the ESPN household of networks. Go to this hyperlink to verify your Women’s Tournament Challenge bracket.

---

1. Stanford Cardinal
Authentic seed: No. 1
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 NCAA event file: Defeated No. 16 Montana State 78-37; defeated Kansas 91-65

The primary spherical was about Francesca Belibi‘s dunk and the Cardinal’s stifling protection towards Montana State. Sunday’s efficiency was about Lexie Hull‘s 36 factors and Stanford’s 13 3-pointers towards Kansas. Success can tackle many various kinds for the Cardinal. No workforce is as numerous or versatile. There is no such thing as a higher instance than this: Stanford has gained its two video games by a mean of 33.5 factors, and Haley Jones has a complete of 11 factors. The Cardinal even confirmed some explosiveness. They led the Jayhawks by solely three at halftime, however the lead was 34 lower than 14 minutes later. The defending NCAA champion’s successful streak is as much as 22 video games, simply the longest within the nation.

Up subsequent: vs. Maryland (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

2. South Carolina Gamecocks
Authentic seed: No. 1 total
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event file: Defeated No. 16 Howard 79-21; defeated Miami 49-33

The Gamecocks have been No. 1 all season lengthy, however after a 49-point efficiency in a second-round victory over Miami, they have to drop. Sunday’s outing was an excessive instance of an ailing offense, nevertheless it was not the one symptom. South Carolina’s subject purpose charge hasn’t attain 40% in 4 of its previous 5 video games, and for the season, the Gamecocks rank 310th within the nation in 3-point charge. A free throw charge of 67% can be a priority. Alternatively, the protection is so good, the Gamecocks do not slide too far. South Carolina has allowed simply 54 complete factors in two video games, shattering the previous NCAA file of 71 (Oregon State, 2016) for fewest allowed within the opening two rounds. The Gamecocks additionally lead the nation in blocked photographs and opponents’ subject purpose share. There is no such thing as a cause to consider the protection will not proceed to dominate in Greensboro.

Up subsequent: vs. North Carolina (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

3. NC State Wolfpack
Authentic seed: No. 1
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event file: Defeated No. 16 Longwood 96-68; defeated Kansas State 89-57

Steadiness and 3-point accuracy have been the calling playing cards this season for the Wolfpack, and nothing has modified within the NCAA event. In opposition to Kansas State within the second spherical, all eight gamers who noticed motion by the top of the third quarter had scored not less than 4 factors — and the participant with simply 4 was All-American Elissa Cunane. With out its star making an influence, NC State nonetheless led by 27 factors earlier than cruising within the fourth. The Wolfpack made seven of their first 11 photographs from deep; they’ve made 36.7% of their 3-pointers this season, which ranks 10th within the nation.

Up subsequent: vs. Notre Dame (Saturday, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN)

4. Louisville Cardinals
Authentic seed: No. 1
Candy 16 seed: No. 1
2022 event file: Defeated No. 16 Albany 83-51; defeated Gonzaga 68-57

The Cardinals’ place as a No. 1 seed appeared tenuous for the 10 days after they misplaced to Miami within the ACC event, and it was solely locked in when Baylor misplaced the Massive 12 event title sport. Now it is rock strong, even with hard-charging UConn proper behind. Louisville was excellent even when Hailey Van Lith was taking part in poorly within the first half of the season. She has regarded like an All-American to this point within the event, averaging 20.5 factors per sport on 50.0% taking pictures. But when the Cardinals are to make a fourth Ultimate 4 beneath Jeff Walz, it is going to be behind their protection, which is rated 10th by Her Hoop Stats.

Up subsequent: vs. Tennessee (Saturday, Four p.m. ET, ESPN2)

5. UConn Huskies
Authentic seed: No. 2
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event file: Defeated No. 15 Mercer 83-38; defeated UCF 52-47

UConn had performed UCF 13 instances previous to Monday night time’s second-round sport. The Huskies had gained these by a mean of 31.7 factors. Monday’s contest was nothing like that. The sport was performed precisely the best way the Knights need to play. They dictated tempo and physicality. Had UCF made greater than 10 of 20 free throws and never dedicated 20 turnovers, UConn wouldn’t be advancing to a 28th consecutive Candy 16. The Huskies had been compelled into doing issues UConn groups not often do. They missed 9 of 11 layup makes an attempt, shot 29.2% from the sector, went the ultimate 5:05 with no subject purpose, bought outrebounded and had two gamers foul out. UConn’s 52 factors had been its lowest of the season. It was the final word survive-and-advance sport for a program that hasn’t had a second-round sport this shut since 1999.

Up subsequent: vs. Indiana (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN)

6. Texas Longhorns
Authentic seed: No. 2
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event file: Defeated No. 15 Fairfield 70-52; defeated Utah 78-56

Vic Schaefer is experiencing a coach’s dream: His workforce is peaking at simply the precise time. By no coincidence, his star freshmen, Rori Harmon and Aaliyah Moore, are taking part in their finest basketball. The 6-foot-1 Moore’s 18 and 21 factors within the first two rounds are the 2 highest-scoring video games of her younger profession. Level guard Harmon has 19 assists in two event video games, following a 20-point sport within the Massive 12 championship sport. A workforce that has gained all season due to its protection (rated the eighth finest by Her Hoops Stats) has discovered its offense, which is averaging 77.Zero PPG for the reason that begin of the Massive 12 event.

Up subsequent: vs. Ohio State (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

7. Indiana Hoosiers
Authentic seed: No. 3
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event file: Defeated No. 14 Charlotte 85-51; defeated Princeton 56-55

The Hoosiers’ beginning lineup has performed a mixed 21 years of school basketball. They wanted each day of that have to outlive Princeton, which erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit and got here inside a possession of being the primary Ivy League workforce to achieve the Candy 16. A spinning layup by Grace Berger, in her fourth season, with 31 seconds left, and a steal by Ali Patberg, in her fifth season however seventh 12 months in faculty, had been the distinction to safe Indiana’s second straight Candy 16 look. All 5 of these starters common in double figures, with Berger main the best way at 14.Zero PPG. She additionally led the best way on Monday with 15 factors.

Up subsequent: vs. UConn (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN)

8. Michigan Wolverines
Authentic seed: No. 3
Candy 16 seed: No. 2
2022 event file: Defeated No. 14 American 74-39; defeated Villanova 64-49

Consecutive possessions within the fourth quarter as they pulled away from Villanova spotlight the perfect of the Wolverines. First, they swung the ball across the perimeter and made two or three additional passes till liberating open sharpshooter Maddie Nolan for a 3-pointer. On the subsequent journey down the ground, a crisp move to the low put up discovered star senior Naz Hillmon for a layup. That sequence pushed Michigan’s lead into double figures on the best way to the Wolverines’ second straight Candy 16 look after by no means having been there earlier than. Hillmon dominated together with her 50th profession double-double (27 factors, 11 rebounds), however Leigha Brown‘s 18 factors had been much more vital. Michigan’s second-leading scorer, Brown is wholesome once more, and she or he performed in simply her fourth sport after lacking a month with a leg harm.

Up subsequent: vs. South Dakota (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

9. Iowa State Cyclones
Authentic seed: No. 3
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event file: Defeated No. 14 UT Arlington 78-71; defeated Georgia 67-44

One quarter into the event, the Cyclones trailed UT Arlington by eight and regarded like they might be headed for an upset. Iowa State hasn’t misplaced 1 / 4 since. As she so usually does for the Cyclones, Ashley Joens was the catalyst towards the Mavs with 36 factors and 19 rebounds. Within the blowout of Georgia, Joens deferred to guards Lexi Donarski and Emily Ryan, and Iowa State’s defensive sport plan did the remaining, limiting the Woman Canine to 30.4% taking pictures. Usually, the Cyclones win with their taking pictures. They lead the nation in 3-point charge (38.9%) and are fourth in free throw charge (81.0%), however they’re a sneaky good defensive rebounding workforce (13th nationally) and defend with out sending their opponent to the road (third in free throw charge protection).

Up subsequent: vs. Creighton (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

10. Maryland Terrapins
Authentic seed: No. 4
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event file: Defeated No. 13 Delaware 102-71; defeated Florida Gulf Coast 89-65

The prolonged break day between their early exit from the Massive Ten event till the NCAA tourney appears to have helped the Terps immensely. Ashley Owusu is wholesome, Diamond Miller appears to be like snug once more and Angel Reese has regained her inside dominance. They’re taking part in like the massive three they had been projected to be, and so they mixed for 65 of the Terps’ 89 factors towards FGCU. The Terps are the second-highest scorers within the event to this point, one thing extra paying homage to the squad that led the nation in factors per sport a 12 months in the past.

Up subsequent: vs. Stanford (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Authentic seed: No. 5
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event file: Defeated No. 12 UMass 89-78; defeated Oklahoma 108-64

Monday’s win over Oklahoma is what the Irish appear like when they’re allowed to play in transition. The Sooners, third within the nation in tempo, felt they might run with Notre Dame. They could not — and the 44-point defeat tied for the most important ever by a top-four seed in NCAA event historical past. Freshman level guard Olivia Miles routinely dribbled into area after which discovered shooters. That helped Dara Mabrey to seven 3-pointers and 29 factors. Sonia Citron (25 factors) and Maya Dodson (20 factors) bought layup after layup. For the second straight sport, Miles reached double digits in assists, with 12, and Notre Dame’s 108 factors had been a season excessive. Miles’ 23 assists are probably the most for a participant in her first two event video games since 2000. Now the Irish face a really acquainted opponent within the Candy 16. Notre Dame was the one ACC workforce to beat the Wolfpack this season.

Up subsequent: vs. NC State (Saturday, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN)

12. South Dakota Coyotes
Authentic seed: No. 10
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event file: Defeated No. 7 Ole Miss 75-61; defeated Baylor 61-47

The Coyotes have performed like a workforce that was underseeded by the committee. They may nonetheless be underseeded right here. In 80 minutes towards Energy 5 groups Ole Miss and Baylor, South Dakota has but to path. Coach Daybreak Plitzuweit’s protection has utterly shut down two potential top-five WNBA draft picks in Shakira Austin and NaLyssa Smith. That should not be an excessive amount of of a shock. The Yotes ranked ninth within the nation this season in factors allowed per sport. They only hadn’t been this good towards the Energy 5 groups they performed in November and December, together with South Carolina, Northwestern and Oklahoma. Yet another win and Chloe Lamb and Hannah Sjerven will develop into nationwide stars. They’ve been convention stars practically their total careers within the Summit League, with Lamb this 12 months’s participant of the 12 months and Sjerven a two-time defensive participant of the 12 months.

Up subsequent: vs. Michigan (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

13. Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Authentic seed: No. 4
Candy 16 seed: No. 3
2022 event file: Defeated No. 13 Buffalo 80-67; defeated Belmont 70-67

Belmont might need been the higher workforce on Monday night time, however Tennessee discovered a manner. With the sport on the road, the Woman Vols went to freshman Sara Puckett, whose 3-pointer with 20 seconds left was the winner. Belmont solely misplaced the battle on the boards 43-40 to the most effective rebounding groups within the nation, however it’s going to remorse solely making 5 of 10 free throws, together with two misses by Jamilyn Kinney proper earlier than Puckett’s Three gave Tennessee a one-point lead. The Woman Vols beat a No. 13 and a No. 12 seed to achieve the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2016, and their finest participant in each video games, Alexus Dye (38 factors and 22 rebounds within the two sport), beforehand performed for Troy, which was a No. 15 seed a 12 months in the past.

Up subsequent: vs. Louisville (Saturday, Four p.m. ET, ESPN2)

14. North Carolina Tar Heels
Authentic seed: No. 5
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event file: Defeated No. 12 Stephen F. Austin 79-66; defeated Arizona 63-45

Courtney Banghart has been constructing steadily since taking the Tar Heels’ teaching job three years in the past and now has North Carolina within the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2015. With a seven-player rotation that consists of 5 sophomores, the Tar Heels went right into a raucous setting in Tucson and by no means let Arizona problem them. Fifteen of North Carolina’s subject objectives had been assisted, however protection gained the sport. The Wildcats solely had 17 factors at halftime and had been by no means within the sport previous the halfway level of the second quarter.

Up subsequent: vs. South Carolina (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

15. Ohio State Buckeyes
Authentic seed: No. 6
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event file: Defeated No. 11 Missouri State 63-56; defeated LSU 79-64

The Buckeyes had been the sixth-highest scorers within the nation this season, nevertheless it did not appear like it towards Missouri State within the first spherical. They wanted their protection to win that one. The offense returned towards LSU, and the veteran Tigers had no reply. Khayla Pointer tried to save lots of LSU like she did Saturday towards Jackson State, however as a result of Jacy Sheldon (23 factors) and Taylor Mikesell (18 factors) had been on the opposite aspect, Pointer’s 32 factors weren’t sufficient. Mikesell is the second-most correct 3-point shooter within the nation, and she or he made 4-of-7 on Monday. That is twice as many as LSU made within the sport.

Up subsequent: vs. vs. Texas (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

16. Creighton Bluejays
Authentic seed: No. 10
Candy 16 seed: No. 4
2022 event file: Defeated No. 7 Colorado 84-74; defeated Iowa 64-62

The Bluejays are an excellent offensive workforce. Ranked eighth within the nation in factors per 100 possessions and fourth in efficient subject purpose share, Creighton’s spacing, taking pictures and passing are rivaled by few, and the Bluejays employed these attributes to slice up Colorado within the opening spherical. Then Creighton beat Iowa by slowing the tempo, which can be a energy, and with protection. The Bluejays clipped and bumped Caitlin Clark simply sufficient to pressure her worst sport of the season and held the Hawkeyes to their lowest complete all 12 months. That Iowa switch Lauren Jensen hit the game-winning shot for Creighton is without doubt one of the finest tales of the opening weekend. The Bluejays’ subsequent opponent, Iowa State, will likely be like wanting in a mirror, making it some of the intriguing matchups of the regional semifinals.

Up subsequent: vs. Iowa State (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)