Ladies’s faculty basketball energy rankings: How far does Notre Dame drop after tough week?

For quite a few packages throughout the nation, Thanksgiving Feast Week was celebratory. At a few of the annual November showcases, trophies had been handed out. Recollections had been made within the Cayman Islands, Cancun and Las Vegas. However as I pinch-hit for Sabreena Service provider for this week’s energy rankings, I’m starting with one of many faculties that stumbled: Notre Dame.

The Combating Irish had been No.1 in final week’s energy rankings (for good motive, after selecting up a standout win at USC). However Notre Dame struggled in its ensuing two contests, dropping video games to TCU and Utah this week. In each cases, sub-par fourth quarters sunk the Irish. In opposition to the Horned Frogs, Notre Dame was outscored 31-12. At some point later, Utah outscored Notre Dame by six within the ultimate 10 minutes.

🚨UTES UPSET 🚨@UTAHWBB takes down No. 3 Notre Dame, 78-67 !#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/1zEuZuBl34

— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessWBB) December 1, 2024

The Irish’s lack of depth was obvious. It was particularly seen with freshman middle Kate Koval’s struggles. Koval, a top-five recruit within the Class of 2024, has already gained nationwide Freshman of the Week. But, towards the Horned Frogs and Utes, she missed all 12 of her photographs, recorded 9 turnovers, dedicated eight fouls and grabbed solely 10 rebounds.

Stars Olivia Miles, Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron may draw extra headlines for Notre Dame this season. However maintain a watch out on the Irish frontcourt. Notre Dame’s ceiling may depend upon how effectively its bigs play.

With that, right here’s the place issues stand:

Dropped out: Illinois (16), Alabama (18), Oregon (25)

Virtually well-known: Illinois, Louisville, Stanford, Oregon

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Sparty continues development

The Spartans had been among the many faculties that took house {hardware} throughout Thanksgiving week. To win the Acrisure Traditional, they first overcame a five-point second quarter (and 16-point deficit) towards Cal and one other fourth-quarter deficit towards Vanderbilt. Michigan State (8-0) tied a document for the most effective begin in class historical past.

Sparty continues to point out important enchancment in coach Robyn Fralick’s second yr. Though final yr, Michigan State ranked seventh in offensive score however No. 137 nationally in defensive score. The Spartans’ offense has remained environment friendly, however their protection has stiffened and entered Thanksgiving week ranked first nationally in factors per 100 possessions. Although it has slipped to tenth, Michigan State nonetheless averages almost two extra blocks and 6 extra steals per recreation than final season. Once they power turnovers, they’re efficient in changing on the additional alternatives, averaging 22.6 fastbreak factors and 32.3 factors off turnovers per recreation — each of that are high 10 nationally.

“It takes our TEAM.”

After two gritty wins in Cali, we transfer to 8-0 on the season😄#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/iss0guWzto

— Michigan State Ladies’s Basketball (@MSU_WBasketball) November 29, 2024

Profiting from simple possibilities has been key as MSU is normally extra lively and reliant on the offense glass than its opponents. The Spartans common 16.1 second-chance factors per recreation, up six factors from final season. Key to that distinction has been the addition of two-time all-Pac-12 honorable point out ahead Grace VanSlooten. A switch from Oregon, VanSlooten has scored in double-digits in all seven video games with MSU. She’s pulled in at the least seven rebounds in all however one recreation and located immediate chemistry with redshirt senior guard Julia Ayrault.

Fralick spent the earlier 5 seasons at Bowling Inexperienced. It’s early, but it surely appears as if the Spartans may very well be headed for consecutive NCAA Match appearances for the primary time since 2016-17.

What’s completely different at Kentucky?

Kenny Brooks has proven he can nonetheless coach outdoors the state of Virginia. In his first season at Kentucky, the Wildcats gained their two video games within the Music Metropolis Traditional, with an emphatic assertion victory over Illinois. Main by solely six factors getting into the fourth quarter, Kentucky’s protection was relentless because it went on an 18-0 run to blow open the top-25 matchup.

Improved protection has been vital to the Wildcats’ 7-0 begin. A yr in the past, they had been 332nd nationally, permitting greater than 103 factors per 100 possessions. They’re now twentieth, permitting simply over 75 factors per 100 possessions. The distinction stems largely from their added dimension — UK leads the nation in blocks per recreation (10.3). Six-foot-5 middle Clara Strack and 6-4 ahead Teonni Key transferred from Virginia Tech and UNC, respectively, and every averages greater than 2.9 blocks per recreation. Reserve freshman middle Clara Silva has been used sparingly, however at 6-7, she’s additionally had immediate presence, averaging 2.1 blocks per recreation. The forceful trio enhances 5-6 guard Georgia Amoore, who darts across the perimeter.

Brooks remains to be leaning on his starters — Amoore, as an illustration, leads all energy convention gamers with 37 minutes per recreation — however utilizing standout rim defenders is a carryover from his time with Virginia Tech. Kentucky has one other robust check when it performs at UNC on Thursday.

Who’s Ohio State’s newest freshman star?

It didn’t take lengthy for Jaloni Cambridge to make her imprint at Ohio State. In her debut, the No. 2 recruit within the Class of 2024, scored 31 factors, flashing her explosiveness. She has continued excelling, most lately scoring all 19 of her factors within the first half of Ohio State’s blowout win over Ohio.

Just like current seasons, the Buckeyes depend on depth — 10 gamers common at the least 14.6 minutes per recreation — however Cambridge has been as impactful as anybody, main OSU in complete factors, assists, steals and free-throw makes an attempt. She already is without doubt one of the sport’s best scorers, averaging 16.1 factors in solely 23.5 minutes per recreation on 47.7 capturing. She is dynamic in transition, averaging 4.3 factors per recreation on the break, and fearless attacking the basket, drawing 4 fouls per recreation, in response to CBB Analytics.

Spin Cycle 🔄@JaloniCambridge | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/2ko6vZPDgr

— Ohio State Ladies’s Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) November 28, 2024

Come March, Ohio State will likely be trying to make its third Candy 16 in 4 years. And although Cambridge is new to the school scene, one of many program’s greatest stars in current reminiscence is already heaping reward on the freshman who may assist the Buckeyes make a deep run.

“She’s particular,” mentioned Jacy Sheldon, the Dallas Wings guard and new OSU director of participant improvement. “You guys already see what she’s about, and she or he’s received a lot extra potential, too. She’s solely going to proceed to get higher daily, however an incredible participant. I believe her velocity is one thing that makes her so good and in a position to be that quick and to cease on a dime, only a few gamers can do this.”

Since 2013, Georgia Tech has been ranked within the AP High 25 in just one season (2021-22). However the Yellow Jackets are poised to be ranked once more, doubtlessly as quickly as this week after beating No. 21 Oregon to stretch their successful streak to seven.

Successful the possession battle has been vital for the Yellow Jackets. Though towards Oregon, each groups completed with 14 turnovers apiece, however Georgia Tech had 15 extra offensive rebounds, resulting in 24 extra photographs. The Yellow Jackets’ 18.3 second-chance factors per recreation ranks No. 8 nationally, and almost 1 / 4 of their factors come after offensive rebounds.

Kara Dunn, an All-ACC second-team guard, has been particularly efficient crashing the glass, having hauled in 5 or extra offensive rebounds thrice this season regardless of being solely 5-foot-11.

Her teammates have been efficient in different facets. Sophomore guard Tonie Morgan took house event MVP honors after averaging 15.5 factors and eight rebounds in Georgia Tech’s Hawaii North Shore Showcase victory. Freshman guard Dani Carnegie, a top-30 recruit, leads Georgia Tech with 14.3 factors per recreation. The three guards present the Yellow Jackets with continuous playmakers, making them tough to cease.

Backcourt battle must-watch in SEC-ACC Problem

This week’s SEC-ACC Problem includes a collection of intriguing video games. Among the highlights embrace:

Wednesday

Oklahoma at Louisville, 5 p.m. (ET), ESPN2

Florida State at Tennessee, 7:15 p.m., SEC Community

Thursday

Kentucky at North Carolina, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Ole Miss at NC State, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Duke at South Carolina, 9 p.m., ESPN

However the headliner of the problem will likely be Thursday in South Bend at 7 p.m. (ET), when Texas faces Notre Dame. The matchup options two of the most effective backcourts within the nation: Texas leaning on Rori Harmon and Madison Booker, and Notre Dame on Miles and Hidalgo.

Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey depends closely on her guards, typically taking part in them collectively. They common greater than 31 minutes per recreation collectively and have confirmed disruptive (their final two losses however). Texas coach Vic Schaefer has performed his duo far much less, because it averages round 18 minutes per recreation this season. A part of that could be on account of scheduling variations (the Combating Irish, as an illustration, performed USC this season), whereas Texas performed its first ranked opponent on Sunday. Nonetheless, it’s price watching to see how a lot Schaefer performs Harmon and Booker collectively on this high-profile contest or how a lot he staggers them.

Not solely does this matchup characteristic 4 of the most effective guards within the nation, but it surely additionally entails backcourts that took related paths to their success. Booker and Hidalgo took on bigger roles and excelled as freshmen on account of their backcourt mates’ accidents. The expertise accelerated their particular person improvement but in addition helped their respective packages contend nationally.

Keep watch over the turnover differential as a figuring out issue. Getting into Sunday, Texas averaged 28.2 turnovers per recreation (third nationally), whereas Notre Dame compelled nearly 10 fewer giveaways per contest. Whether or not one backcourt can disrupt the opposite will go a great distance in figuring out the winner.

(High photograph of Olivia Miles: Jeffrey Brown / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)