NC State women's basketball bracketology update: Feb. 20
Sixth-ranked NC State women’s basketball heads into the final four games of its regular season slate with a 23-3 record, an 11-3 mark in conference play and a convincing case to be a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
After defeating Notre Dame on the road and gutting out a hard-fought overtime win over Georgia Tech at home, the Wolfpack heads into a two-game road trip against UNC and Duke with a chance to solidify its standing as one of the top teams in the country.
The NCAA’s first top-16 reveal tabbed NC State as the No. 6 overall seed, placing the program on the No. 2 seed line. ESPN.com’s bracketology agrees with that standing, while The Athletic still considers the Pack a No. 1 seed going into the home stretch of the regular season.
The Athletic’s Mark Schindler slotted NC State as one of the four top seeds, placing the program in the Portland 1 regional.
In the round of 64, the Wolfpack would face off against Albany— the automatic qualifier out of the America East Conference. The Great Danes are 22-3 this season with non-conference wins over UMass, Cornell and Navy.
NC State would host three other teams over the first two rounds, including Michigan State and Ole Miss in the 8/9 matchup. This bracket projection would also set up a potential Sweet 16 showdown with UConn. The Pack defeated the Huskies at Reynolds Coliseum in the second game of the regular season.
Schindler broke down why he kept the Pack on the No. 1 seed line in Tuesday’s bracket update. He praised NC State’s back court of Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Madison Hayes.
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“When looking ahead to March Madness, the guard trio the Wolfpack starts has a case as perhaps the best in the country when factoring in all facets of the game,” Schindler wrote. “They make smart decisions, defend at a high level on and off the ball, and all bring varying blends of athleticism to the table.”
ESPN.com bracketologist Charlie Creme bumped the Pack to a No. 2 seed in the Portland 4 regional. Under that scenario, NC State would face off against Southwestern Athletic Conference automatic qualifier Jackson State. The Lady Tigers are 18-6 this season and played a challenging nonconference schedule that included Texas, Kansas State and Oregon State.
This would set up a potential Sweet 16 showdown with Colorado — another rematch for NC State after the Pack defeated the Buffaloes on a neutral court earlier this year.
Both bracketologists have nine ACC teams making the tournament this year.
NC State women’s basketball NET update
After narrowly defeating Georgia Tech at home, NC State’s NET ranks No. 12 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC, trailing only No. 10 Notre Dame. The Wolfpack has defeated 8 teams in the NET’s top 50, whereas No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 45 Miami are the only teams to defeat NC State this season.
