NC State women's basketball bracketology update: March 13
NC State women’s basketball wrapped up its ACC Tournament run over the weekend with a championship game appearance. The Wolfpack remains a No. 3 seed in bracketology projections by ESPN.com and The Athletic, which means the program would host the first two rounds.
Notre Dame prevailed in the conference title bound, but NC State maintained its NCAA Tournament standing thanks to its prior wins over Duke and Florida State — two programs that sit just outside of the Associated Press top 25 and will comfortably make the field of 68.
ESPN.com projects NC State as the third-seeded squad in the Portland 4 regional. USC is the top program in the region, followed by No. 2 seed Texas. NC State’s first round matchup against Chattanooga at Reynolds Coliseum would be filled with intrigue.
Head coach Wes Moore coached for the Mocs from 1998 to 2013 before taking the job with the Wolfpack. During his time there, he won 12 Southern Conference regular season championships and claimed 9 league tournament titles. This would be Moore’s third time coaching against his former program at NC State. The Wolfpack won each of the prior matchups.
Chattanooga is the No. 14 seed in this bracket after winning the Southern Conference regular season and conference championships and securing an automatic big.
The Mocs are 28-4 overall this season and won a notable high major game against Mississippi State. If NC State won that game, it would play the winner of No. 6 seed West Virginia and No. 11 seed Green Bay in Raleigh.
The Athletic also placed NC State in the Portland 4 region. Stanford is the top seed alongside No. 2 seed Texas. NC State would match up against No. 14 seed Jackson State in the round of 64 in Raleigh. The Tigers have not yet secured their automatic bid but go into the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 23-6 overall record.
Jackson State lost to Oregon State, Texas and Kansas State during its non-conference slate. It also played Miami within 7 points. The winner of that matchup would face either No. 6 seed Ole Miss or No. 11 seed Marquette in Reynolds. Last season, Ole Miss upset top-seeded Stanford to advance to the Sweet 16.
Both ESPN and The Athletic project nine ACC programs will make the tournament this year. The SEC is in second place with 8 bids. Both publications have Miami on the right side of the bubble.
Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 17, with ESPN’s broadcast starting at 8 p.m.
