Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/123805
Under the Dome Point ✦ Counterpoint: Was The Women's Basketball Team's Run To The Final Four A Good Season Or Another Promising Irish Sport That Came Up Short This Year? Don't Take Success For Granted Missed Opportunities By Dan Murphy By Wes Morgan When Louisville shocked Brittney Griner's BayGetting into the NCAA Tournament for the men lor team in the Elite Eight on the last night of is equal to reaching the round of 32 or even the March, maybe the biggest Sweet 16 for the women. Over upset in sports this year, the last decade, 12 women's the door was blown wide basketball programs made at open for a national title in least five Sweet 16 appearSouth Bend. Notre Dame ances, Notre Dame included fell short. For the third with six. straight year, the Irish Of the 40 Final Four slots in reached the Final Four but the last 10 years, Connecticouldn't cross the threshcut (seven), LSU (five), Stanold. At least they made it ford (five), Tennessee (four), to the welcome mat; that Notre Dame (three) and Baylor was no small feat. (three) have filled 67.5 percent Don't forget how much (27) of them. Only 16 programs talent this team lost last have been represented in the season. Skylar Diggins Final Four in the last decade. returned, but seniors DeAnd of the 160 Sweet 16 vereaux Peters and Nataspots available over the past lie Novosel were both 10 seasons, 14 teams have ocplucked in the top eight Head coach Muffet McGraw has guided cupied 92 of them. In all, only picks of the 2012 WNBA the Irish to three straight Finals Fours, 56 different institutions have Draft. On the men's side, but Notre Dame did not win the national been represented in the Sweet Kentucky lost two top- championship in any of those years. 16 since the 2003-04 campaign. photo by joe raymond eight picks last season and There are 74 men's teams dropped from national champs to a first-round NIT that have reached that stage in the NCAA Tournaexit. A return trip to the Final Four in New Orleans ment over the same span, with only eight having this season wasn't supposed to happen. done it five times or more. There have been 26 The Big Easy only seemed so easy because of men's teams to make the Final Four from 2003-04 what the Irish accomplished before they got through this past year, none having made more there — 30 straight wins, three victories over rival than three trips. UConn and a Big East championship. Yes, women's With such little parity on the women's side, basketball has all the parity of an ancient caste sys- there should have been at least one championship tem, but don't take Notre Dame's seat in the circle banner added to the rafters at Purcell Pavilion. for granted. It had to work to stay there this year. This year was another missed opportunity.