Barring any unforeseen changes, Notre Dame will enter the 2023-24 season in as good of shape as it could be. olivia miles will be healthy, Cassandre Prosper will be around for a full season, and Hannah Hidalgo has arrived. That doesn’t even account for the fact that virtually the entire rest of the rotation from the Irish’s second straight Sweet 16 is returning. Irish fans should be feeling very confident.

Before tackling ACC play, the Irish will play a nonconference schedule. Actually, one of those games is scheduled for the middle of conference play, but that game as well as the season opener will serve as real measuring sticks for where they stand. That’s because those opponents are among the class of women’s basketball.

Based on this schedule, what kind of shape do you think the Irish will be in by the time their conference opponents start popping up? Whatever you think, here it is:

Nov. 6 vs. South Carolina in Paris

All-time series: Notre Dame leads, 3-2.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 92, South Carolina 85 on Nov. 26, 2017.

Nov. 12 at NJIT

All-time series: Never met.

Nov. 15 vs. Northwestern

All-time series: Notre Dame leads, 3-1.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 92, Northwestern 58 on Nov. 16, 2022.

Nov. 21 vs. Chicago State

All-time series: Notre Dame leads, 2-0.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 68, Chicago State 61 on Jan. 11, 1980 at Huskie Invitational.

Nov. 25 at Ball State

All-time series: Tied, 2-2.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 95, Ball State 60 on Nov. 20, 2022.

Nov. 29 at Tennessee

All-time series: Tennessee leads, 22-8.
Last meeting: Tennessee 74, Notre Dame 63 on Nov. 11, 2019.

Dec. 6 vs. Lafayette

All-time series: Never met.

Dec. 17 vs. Purdue

All-time series: Purdue leads, 14-13.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 88, Purdue 82 in overtime in second round of 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Dec. 21 vs. Western Michigan

All-time series: Notre Dame leads, 10-0.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 85, Western Michigan 57 on Dec. 21, 2022.

Jan. 27 at UConn

All-time series: UConn leads, 39-14.
Last meeting: Notre Dame 74, UConn 60 on Dec. 4, 2022.

Story originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire