No. 3-seed North Carolina was just one of five Atlantic Coast Conference teams awarded bids to the 2013 NCAA Women’s Tournament. You can read a preview of the Tar Heels’ 2:30 p.m. game with Albany here, but below is a summary of what other conference teams have in store.
To get started, you can view the overall bracket here.
No. 2 Duke (Norfolk) vs. No. 15 Hampton, 12:05 p.m. Sunday
The Blue Devils finished the season with a 30-2 record (17-1 in the ACC) and were ranked No. 5 in the nation. Even without Chelsea Gray, who ended her season early after a knee injury, the Blue Devils won the ACC tournament handily, defeating the Tar Heels 92-73 in the final. Notre Dame, their bracket’s No. 1 seed, is the only team with a realistic chance of taking Duke out of the tournament.
- The Chronicle provides us with a more complete preview the Blue Devils’ path, noting that three-seed Texas A&M could be a stumbling block.
- Alexis Jones has stepped up in the absence of Gray, and her play, argues Nick Martin of The Chronicle, could carry the Blue Devils through the bracket.
No. 4 Maryland (Bridgeport — with UNC) def. No. 13 Quinnipiac 72-52 Saturday
Next up for the Terrapins: No. 5 Michigan State, on Monday. As unlikely as it is, with Connecticut in its path, Maryland (25-7, 14-4 ACC) could meet UNC for the teams’ fourth meeting this season. The Terrapins actually finished ranked ahead of the Tar Heels — 12th in the nation — but fell to UNC in the semifinal round of the ACC tournament.
- From the Washington Post, a recap focusing on the Terrapins’ huge run during its first-round victory against 13-seed Quinni..Quipin..Quinpin…Quinnipiac (phew) on Saturday.
- ESPN highlights ACC Player of the Year Alyssa Thomas’ huge 29-point, 13-rebound performance in the opening round.
No. 8 Florida State (Oklahoma City) vs. No. 9 Princeton, 5:10 p.m. (ET) Sunday
Like UNC, FSU missed the NCAA Tournament last year after a seven-season string of appearances. Florida State (22-9, 11-7 ACC) was the only ACC team other than Maryland and Duke to defeat the Tar Heels, and enters the postseason with a similar fire in its belly. The Seminoles finished the season ranked No. 25.
- The Orlando Sentinel provides us with a little more context in its preview of the Seminole/Tiger Matchup in Waco, Texas.
- Mat Hooper of FSU’s student newspaper, FSView, writes that the Seminoles are set to approach the tournament with humility and respect for the privilege of competing.
No. 8 Miami (Norfolk) vs. No. 9 Iowa, 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Miami (21-10, 11-7 ACC) was the only ACC team, and the only team other than top-ranked Connecticut, to down the Duke Blue Devils this season. North Carolina handled the Hurricanes both times they met, but Miami also played giant-killer against No. 6 Penn State earlier in the season.
- Despite being the higher-seeded team, the Hurricanes will have to face No. 9 Iowa on its home court. The Miami Herald writes about the problems this poses for the team.
- This Sun-Sentinel article from March 10 is dated, but it captures the uncertainty that Miami faced as the tournament selections were announced.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
