Coaches, players and fans must be prepared for constant change in the 2020-21 women’s college basketball season. Games will be canceled, moved and rescheduled. It’s unlikely that every team will play a full complement of games, which will alter conference races and the NCAA tournament evaluation process.
That could also mean changes to the 2021 NCAA tournament format. Since no one knows exactly what the season will look like come Selection Monday, anything is on the table. With that in mind, this edition of Bracketology projects not only a 64-team field, but also condensed 48- and 16-team versions, as determined .
Bracket Watch
In the oddest of seasons, no conference exemplifies the strange quite like the ACC. This week the conference put nine teams in the field, two of which are No. 1 seeds. However, only one of the remaining seven are higher than a No. 7 seed. Of the eight teams that make up the current bubble (Last Four In, First Four Out), half are ACC teams. All at once, the conference looks great with two of the top four teams in the country (Louisville, NC State) or mediocre with so many teams hovering on the cut line.
On the Bubble
First Four Out
Last Four In
Next Four Out
64-Team Bracket
Region 1
Region 4
Region 2
Region 3
Bracket Watch
After its two-loss weekend to rival South Dakota State, South Dakota is no longer the Summit League automatic qualifier but remains in the 48-team field as one of the final at-large qualifiers. Holding onto that spot might prove difficult with no quality opponents left on the schedule, while teams just behind the Coyotes — such as Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech and Rutgers — have plenty.
On the Bubble
Last Four In (at-large)
Last Four In (auto qualifiers)
First Four Out (at-large)
First Four Out (auto qualifiers)
48-Team Bracket
Region 1
Region 4
Region 2
Region 3
Bracket Watch
UConn takes over as the No. 1 overall seed after Monday’s win over South Carolina. With only two top-100 NET teams left on the schedule, the Huskies might stay on top all the way into Selection Monday. The Gamecocks still have more quality wins than any team in the country and one of its toughest schedules. They remain a No. 1 seed but have a tougher road to the end of the season with three Top 25 opponents left.
