Women’s Basketball Bracketology: Examining the roads from a 2 to a 1 seed

PALO ALTO, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Stanford guard Kiana Williams (23) during the women’s basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 22, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Waco:

1. Baylor (Big 12)
16. New Mexico State (WAC)

8. Missouri
9. Michigan

Syracuse:

5. Drake (Missouri Valley)
12. Quinnipiac (MAAC)

4. Syracuse
13. Maine (America East)

Despite losing this week to Notre Dame, Syracuse gets the nod as the final host team (16th true seed overall). To be honest, it was a razor-thin line between the Orange, Florida State, and South Carolina. With Syracuse and FSU tied in the ACC standings, the challenge got even tougher. Fortunately, those two play Thursday night. For now, tie goes to the team with the best RPI.

Coral Gables:

6. South Dakota State (Summit)
11. Tennessee

3. Miami
14. UT Arlington (Sun Belt)

Palo Alto:

7. Michigan State
10. UCF

2. Stanford
15. Mercer (Southern)

Stanford has been locked in to the No. 7 overall spot the last couple weeks, and with two regular season games remaining against sub-100 RPI competition, the Cardinal probably won’t move out of it. Here’s the good news: A Pac-12 tournament title, if Stanford could get it, would likely involve beating three projected NCAA Tournament teams in the process, including fellow 1 seed candidate Oregon.