Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • Connecticut, which has won 69 straight games, is the overwhelming favorite to capture a fourth straight na‑ tional title, and it will be in the Bridge‑ port Regional out East. • Baylor, the national champions in 2005 and 2012 — and possibly the team to beat in 2017 — will likely be in the Dallas Regional. • Nouveau rich South Carolina, which the Irish defeated in the clos‑ ing seconds of the Final Four last year, probably will be in the Lexington Re‑ gion to represent the SEC, while Notre Dame is projected to be shipped out to Sioux Falls, S.D. The first two rounds will be on Notre Dame's home court, which are generally considered "gimmes." This year, though, it's not incon‑ ceivable that traditional power Ten‑ nessee could be an No. 8 or No. 9 seed, despite possessing top‑10 tal‑ ent throughout its roster. That could mean a dangerous potential second‑ round matchup with the Irish if the Volunteers are placed in Notre Dame's region. This Notre Dame team is capable of making it to the national champion‑ ship game again, but also is more vul‑ nerable than its recent predecessors. Depth in the frontcourt beyond Turner is the primary reason why. Keeping Turner healthy and out of foul trouble, and finding a consistent complement on the boards and on de‑ fense (where 5‑9 senior Hannah Huff‑ man has aided the cause on occasion) will be pivotal. Sophomore Kathryn Westbeld (6‑2) battled an ankle injury that sidelined her the last two regular‑season games and is more effective from the high post. In the championship game of the ACC Tournament, though, she converted her first four shots against Syracuse, all in the 10‑ to 12‑foot range while finding the gap in the two‑three zone, to finish with 10 points. "We're a little thin in the post," Mc‑ Graw said prior to the ACC Tourna‑ ment. "Without 'Kat' lately, it's seemed even worse. I like the four‑guard look, but we [could] play a couple of teams that have a lot of big guys, so it's dif‑ ficult to go four guards against some of them." ✦ MOVING? Let our customer service department know your new address! CALL US 1-800-421-7751