USC Surges to No. 1 Seed in NCAA Women’s Basketball Rankings
In a significant shift within the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball landscape, the University of Southern California (USC) has ascended to the No. 1 seed, pushing South Carolina down to a No. 2 seed, as revealed by the NCAA Selection Committee on Thursday. This latest ranking reflects games played up to Wednesday and is crucial as Selection Sunday approaches on March 16.
USC’s impressive record (25-2, 16-1 Pac-12) played a pivotal role in their climb, while South Carolina’s (25-3, 15-1 SEC) recent blowout loss to UConn, where they fell by 29 points, significantly impacted their standing. Committee chair Derita Dawkins noted that the loss altered their seeding criteria, emphasizing the need for teams to remain competitive even in defeat.
UCLA continues to hold the designation of the No. 1 overall seed, while Texas has moved to No. 2. Notre Dame remains at No. 4 following their own conference loss. The top 16 seeds will host the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament, laying the groundwork for the remainder of the competition.
Additionally, Tennessee enjoyed a notable rise in rankings, leaping from No. 16 to No. 12 after a four-game winning streak, showcasing their resilience in a tough SEC landscape. Meanwhile, Kansas State slipped from No. 12 to No. 15 following losses, as the bottom teams in the rankings face pressure to improve their standings ahead of tournament play.
As the season nears its climax, teams like South Carolina, with challenging matches ahead, have the opportunity to secure their spots and bolster their resumes. The coming weeks promise pivotal showdowns, particularly among teams from North Carolina’s "Triangle" region, making for an exciting conclusion to the regular season.
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