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Does Seeding Even Matter for Women’s Basketball?

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On Monday, we brought up the seemingly insane thought that State WBB wouldn’t be a #1 seed. While at first we were stunned, it got us thinking; Does it even matter?

The WBB tourney is so much different than men’s when it comes to results. More often than not, although there are 64 teams that start, only the top seeds really make their way to the finish line. That said, should be noted that this year the top seeds won’t host the first two rounds, as they normally do.

Start Strong

Crazy enough, technically, it’s statistically better to start the Tournament as a #2 or #3 seed. Since 1982;

1-Seeds in First Round Matchups are 103-1
2 and 3-Seeds in First Round Matchups are 104-0

What a dramatic difference, right? There’s a little more separation between 1’s and 2’s in the second round, depending on if they are facing a previous round upset or not.

1-Seeds vs 8-Seeds in Second Round are 48-1
1-Seeds vs 9-Seeds in Second Round are 52-2

Regardless what team first seeds play in the next round, they fair well with a winning percentage of .970. Two-seeds, however, really see a difference depending on second round matchups.

2-Seeds vs 7-Seeds in Second Round are 49-13
2-Seeds vs 10-Seeds in Second Round are 31-3

If you are a second seed, you immediately need to hope for an upset in the 7-10 matchup. This all proves how top heavy the NCAA Tournament is, as a whole. For the most part, 1-7 seeds are the competitors and 8-16 are there for a good, short time.

 

Elite Eight

Regardless if State is a #1 or #2 seed, we would like to think they can get to the Elite Eight. There they could meet South Carolina, Texas A&M, UCONN or Stanford and prove, one way or the other, that they are truly a contender. So let’s take a look at the last five years of NCAAT to see what the chances are they get there.

In the last five years of Elite Eights;

1-Seeds18 of 20 made it
2-Seeds13 of 20 made it

When everything was said and done, only 9 teams outside the top-2 seeds made it to the Elite Eight. Yes, there is a higher chance for 1-seeds to survive and advance, but not overwhelmingly.

 

Final Four

This is finally where we see the top seeds separate themselves from the competition. Over the last five years, with 20 Final Four slots;

1-Seeds were 13 of 20
2-Seeds were 5 of 20

That’s right…If you are a number one seed, you have a 65% chance of getting to the Final Four. In fact, two of the last five  Final Four consisted of ALL 1-Seeds.

Champions

We call the WBB Tourney in the biz, “Chalk Time”. Most 3-16 seeds should just save the travel money from the get-go. The last time a team outside the top two spots won it all? 1997, when the 3rd seeded Tennessee Volunteers won. Those 22 years since have seen 1-seeds win 18-times and 2-seeds win 4.

Now, this is all slightly skewed from the fact that UCONN is a monster and had double-digit championships spanning two decades. But when in doubt, put money on a 1-seed to take the whole damn thing home.

What it means for State

Simply put, if State does what they need to do, they’ll make it to the Elite Eight and it truly wont matter. Even as a 2-Seed, they’d find themselves with a 65% chance of facing a top seed and get their revenge. We’ll just have to patiently wait until Monday to find out what the committee thought.

Regardless, Wes Moore will get the team laser focused and, hopefully, State fans can have some fun. Just please be longer than a day, right MBB?

Passionate State fan that just wants to win...something...like anything...

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Women's Basketball

VIDEO: NC State women fall 64-63 to Princeton on late three in NCAA 1st Round

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The NC State women were a 7 seed, picked to move on over 10-seeded Princeton, but that’s not how it worked out.

The Pack women were plagued by turnovers (20) and Princeton capitalized with a late 3 to clinch the win. Highlight above.

Sad day for NC State all around.

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Women's Basketball

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: NC State Moves Up to #15 After Win Over Notre Dame

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The NC State Women’s Basketball (16-5) team moved up 5 spots in the Week 13 AP Poll, after defeating Notre Dame 69-65 yesterday, who was ranked 7th then, and ranked 9th now.

(ESPN)

ACC Teams in the Week 13 AP Poll

9. Notre Dame

11. UNC

13. Virginia Tech

15. NC State

16. Duke

23. FSU

The Wolfpack’s next game will be on Thursday night on the road at Georgia Tech at 8pm on ACC Network.

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NC State Signee Zoe Brooks is a McDonald’s All-American

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NC State Women’s Basketball 2023 signee Zoe Brooks was named a McDonald’s All-American yesterday.

McDonald’s All American Game East Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Zoe Brooks Saint John Vianney (NJ) G 5-10 NC State
Essence Cody Valdosta (GA) F 6-3 Alabama
Aalyah Del Rosario The Webb School (CA) F 6-5 LSU
Jadyn Donovan Sidwell Friends School (DC) G 6-0 Duke
Milaysia Fulwiley W.J. Keenan (SC) G 5-6 South Carolina
Hannah Hildalgo Paul VI (NJ) G 5-6 Notre Dame
Riley Nelson Bullis School (MD) W 6-0 Maryland
Courtney Ogden Westminster School (GA) W 5-11 Stanford
Laila Reynolds Shabach Christian (FL) F 6-2 Florida
Emma Risch Palm Bay Magnet (FL) G 6-1 Notre Dame
Taliah Scott Saint John’s Country Day (FL) G 5-9 Arkansas
Ashlynn Shade La Lumiere (IN) G 5-9 UConn
McDonald’s All American Game West Roster
Player High School Position Height Committed to
Kamorea Arnold Germantown (WI) G 5-9 UConn
Sofia Bell Jesuit (OR) W 6-1 Oregon
Madison Booker Germantown (MS) W 6-1 Texas
Addyson Brown Derby Senior (KS) W 6-2 Iowa State
Breya Cunningham La Jolla Country Day (CA) F 6-4 Arizona
Kymora Johnson Saint Annes-Belfield (VA) G 5-7 Virginia
Tessa Johnson Saint Michael Albertville (MN) G 5-10 South Carolina
Amanda Muse Heritage (CA) F 6-4 UCLA
Judea Watkins Sierra Canyon (CA) G 6-0 USC
Mikaylah Williams Parkway (LA) G 6-0 LSU
Jada Williams La Jolla Country Day G 5-6 Arizona
Sahara Williams West (IA) W 5-10 Oklahoma

(SN)

Here is what ESPN had to say about Brooks being named a McDonald’s All-American.

Zoe Brooks, G

Signed with: NC State | 2023 ESPNW 100 ranking: 9
St. John Vianney HS (New Jersey)

Brooks is a gifted scorer who can flat out put the ball in the basket. Over the past 18 months, she has really gone to work on her conditioning and it brought her game to another level. She is a true three-level scorer. Defenses must be there on the close out, but containing Brooks is no easy feat as she attacks angles, changes speeds, and has the footwork and handle to counter. Her strength allows her to finish with contact at the rim and her touch provides an array of floaters and usage of the glass for buckets. Brooks sees the floor well and zips passes to teammates for open looks. Defensively, she has fantastic instincts and is good in passing lanes and in the press. Brooks is averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season. (ESPN)

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Women’s Basketball: #20 NC State 71 Miami 61: Box Score & Highlights

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#20 NC State picked up a much needed win last night against Miami, defeating the Hurricanes 71-61 in PNC Arena, avoiding a 3-game skid.

Sophomore Guard Saniya Rivers led the pack with 14 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Seniors Camille Hobby and Mimi Collins both had 11 points.

Sophomore Guard Aziaha James had 10 points, and led the Pack with 6 rebounds.

The Wolfpack was without Jada Boyd and Jessica Timmons last night, and River Baldwin went down with an injury, and will have an MRI tomorrow.

NC State is now 14-5 overall, and 4-4 in ACC play, and will play at Louisville on Sunday at 1pm on ABC.

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