Updated look at post-Christmas women’s bracketology
As the calendar works past Christmas, the women’s college basketball season will continue to heat up with conference play.
After a 98-69 win over Loyola Chicago on Dec. 21, the nonconference season is already in the rear-view mirror for No. 3 Iowa (12-1, 1-0 Big Ten). Senior superstar Caitlin Clark registered her 13th career triple-double in that contest, going off for 35 points, a career-high 17 rebounds and 10 assists.
Sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke poured in 20 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, graduate guard Kate Martin added 19 points and secured her eighth double-figure scoring game out of the past nine.
Making her second career start with fifth-year guard Gabbie Marshall sidelined, junior guard Sydney Affolter rounded out Iowa’s double-figure scorers with 10 points.
The Hawkeyes turn their full attention to the Big Ten slate beginning with their Dec. 30 date against Minnesota inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 1 p.m. CT. The game is scheduled to be carried by the Big Ten Network.
Iowa beat Wisconsin, 87-65, in a sold-out Kohl Center on Dec. 10 to open Big Ten play. Clark and Stuelke combined for 49 points in that contest as the Hawkeyes won their 28th straight over the Badgers.
With conference play starting across the nation, let’s take a look at Iowa’s bracketology projection from ESPN’s Charlie Creme. What seed have the Hawkeyes drawn and who might be in Iowa’s bracket?
Plus, a look at the conference bids breakdown and the current bubble as well.
Iowa's current projected seeding
Iowa’s current seed: No. 1 in the Portland 3 Region
What it means: Iowa would track down its third No. 1 seed in program history. The Hawkeyes were a No. 1 seed in the 1988 NCAA Tournament in the West Region and the No. 1 seed in the 1992 NCAA Tournament in the Midwest Region. It’s just another bit of history Clark and Co. can add to their resume if they continue on this pace.
Including last season, Iowa has been a No. 2 seed five times, a No. 3 seed five times and a No. 4 seed twice.
Which other teams comprise Iowa's Portland 3 Region?
Iowa’s Portland 3 Region opponents:
No. 2 Stanford
No. 3 LSU
No. 4 Notre Dame
No. 5 UConn
No. 6 Louisville
No. 7 West Virginia
No. 8 Washington State
No. 9 Syracuse
No. 10 Michigan State
No. 11 Kansas / Green Bay
No. 12 North Texas
No. 13 Stony Brook
No. 14 Norfolk State
No. 15 Northern Arizona
No. 16 Eastern Kentucky
Analysis of the Portland 3 Region
It’s a bracket full of heavy hitters. Headlined by Clark and Iowa, the Hawkeyes welcome in Stanford’s Cameron Brink, LSU and reigning Final Four Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron and UConn and Paige Bueckers.
Louisville is the No. 6 seed and that’s a program that Iowa met in the Elite Eight of last season’s tournament. The Hawkeyes wouldn’t be getting any favors from the tournament committee if this was their draw.
But, it’s certainly a made-for-TV bracket with Stanford, LSU and UConn alongside Iowa.
Who are the other No. 1 seeds?
Top overall seed: South Carolina in the Albany 1 Region
Other No. 1 seeds: UCLA in the Portland 2 Region and North Carolina State in the Albany 4 Region
Conference bids breakdown
ACC: 10
Pac-12: 8
Big Ten: 7
SEC: 7
Big 12: 6
Big East: 3
Horizon: 2
Joining Iowa out of the Big Ten conference are No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Indiana, No. 6 Maryland, No. 10 Michigan State, No. 10 Nebraska and No. 11 Minnesota.
On The Bubble
Last Four Byes: Nebraska, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Duke
Last Four In: Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Kansas, Green Bay
First Four Out: Seton Hall, Florida, Michigan, California
Next Four Out: Texas Tech, Penn State, Colorado State, Auburn
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