The ACC has eight teams in the field, including No. 1 seeds Notre Dame and Louisville. Tennessee and Central Michigan are also big winners.
The women’s NCAA tournament field is now out and the games are still a few days away. So before we get to making our picks and debating who will make the Final Four, let’s take a last look at the bracket.
Who were the winners and losers from Selection Monday?
Notre Dame: Following its loss to North Carolina, the defending champion spent the rest of the season chasing a chance to play in the Chicago Regional. In the two top-16 reveals from the NCAA selection committee, the Irish were first in Greensboro, then in Portland. Finally, on the last day of the season, Notre Dame beat Louisville in the ACC tournament championship game, earning its spot close to home. The Irish fan base in Chicago should come out in full force at Wintrust. That’s not only good news for Notre Dame, that’s good for the game.
Tennessee: Making the field as an 11-seed won’t thrill the rabid fan base in Knoxville, but the Lady Vols just making the field was never a forgone conclusion this season. Getting in and extending the streak of NCAA tournament appearances to 38 straight has to be good enough for Tennessee.
The NCAA bracket held few surprises, but UConn’s No. 2 seed was the jaw-dropper. It’s the first time since 2006 the Huskies aren’t a 1-seed.
The ACC: For the second straight year the ACC put eight teams into the field, the most of any conference in the country over that span.
