Champ Week has come to a close, and nearly all 31 conference tournament tickets have been punched. The highly anticipated countdown towards Selection Sunday is nearly over, much to the anxiousness for many D-I programs across the country awaiting to see if they’re extended an invitation to the dance known as March Madness.

This year’s champ week featured a top five west coast showdown, a winner take all series finale in the south, and a number of squads quenching long title droughts.

There won’t be an undefeated national champion this year, but let it be known among the 68 teams who find themselves in the big dance; the wins and losses gained to this point must be put away. What happens in the next month on the journey to Tampa counts for everything.

Here are our predictions for the top 16 overall seeds:

NUMBER ONE SEEDS

#1: South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina continues to prove they’re simply the best in the business at resetting after hard losses. Another SEC tournament championship trophy is headed back to Columbia as the Gamecocks avenged their only conference loss against Texas, who ended their 57 SEC regular season game winning streak just a few weeks ago. This victory marks the Gamecocks’ third win against a top five ranked AP opponent, among a flurry of quad one, ranked wins earned during SEC play.

#2: UCLA Bruins

They say it’s hard to beat a team three times in a row. UCLA is living proof that statement is true. After a winless, regular season record against their in-state rival USC, UCLA struck back to defeat the Trojans in the Big 10 title game, winning their first conference tournament title since 2006. A historic season accomplished by the Bruins is to say the least, who now take aim at their first national championship since the inception of the NCAA.

#3: Texas Longhorns

Texas’ inaugural year in the SEC proved to be beyond fruitful, resulting in a share of the SEC regular season championship in spite of their gauntlet of a conference schedule. Powered by SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker, the sophomore guard has led Texas to back-to-back regular season conference titles and conference tournament finals appearances. Texas has not made a Final Four appearance since 2003, and look to end a 22 year drought with a trip to Tampa, Florida in three weeks.

#4: USC Trojans

USC’s perseverance to fight on behind the record breaking season of sophomore sensation Juju Watkins helped them secure their first regular season conference title as members of the Big Ten. Watkins has shown all promise of being named AP Player of the Year in a jaw-dropping revolution of performances following a grand freshman year appearance. Although an encore performance in the conference tournament resulted in a loss to UCLA, the Trojans still lock in a number one seed, and our staff’s pick for the final number one tourney seed.

NUMBER TWO SEEDS

#5: UConn Huskies

Connecticut’s signature win of the season came back on February 16 against South Carolina in a near 30-point dredging. Since then, the Huskies have not looked back, riding a dominant ten game winning streak to claim their 23rd Big East tournament title. Another 30+ win season in books for what could be the final chapter of 2021’s Player of the Year, Paige Bueckers’, storied career as a Husky.

#6: TCU Horned Frogs

Love a good comeback story? Look no further than TCU. It was only a year ago the Horned Frogs finished last in the Big 12, a year littered with season ending injuries to most of their roster. The program resorted to walk-on tryouts just to finish the 2023-2024 regular season. Now a year later, the Horned Frogs capture a Big 12 regular season and conference title behind the talented play of senior guard and Olympic bronze medalist Hailey Van Lith. TCU will return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010.

#7: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame cruised to it’s first #1 AP ranking since 2019 behind the most dynamic backcourt play in the country, featuring this year’s ACC Player of the Year,Hannah Hidalgo, and senior Olivia Miles, a projected top five pick in this year’s WNBA draft. However, recent stumbles against Florida State at home and an early ACC tournament exit to the hands of the eventual champions Duke, sunk any Irish luck for a number one seed.

#8: Duke Blue Devils

As a fundamentally sound defensive team squad, Duke is now gaining momentum offensively which has resulted in avenging four previous losses against conference foes enroute to their first ACC title in the Kara Lawson era. The Blue Devils’ defense suffocated North Carolina State in the second half of last Sunday’s final, while tournament MVP sophomore guard Oluchi Okananwa led a fierce offensive onslaught off the bench to erase a 14-point deficit and earn Duke’s a conference title in 12 years. We project the Blue Devils will secure the final two seed, and may be one of the hottest teams heading into NCAA tournament play

NUMBER THREE SEEDS

#9: LSU Tigers

LSU seems to find themselves in a position similar to the team that won it all in 2023 with Chicago Sky forward, Angel Reese. Although the Tigers fought valiantly in a close loss to Texas in their SEC semifinal, the absence of conference first-teamers, Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow due to injury, has many questioning LSU’s offensive depth outside of the team's leading scorer Mikaylah Williams. Head Coach Kim Mulkey has made it clear everyone will be healthy and available to go for the tournament first round.

#10: North Carolina State Wolfpack

NC State features some of the most lethal, one-on-one backcourt play in the country. The Wolfpack had a solid showing the entire ACC tournament until the final 20 minutes of the championship game. The offensive weapons of Senior Aziaha James, Sophomore Zoe Brooks and senior Saniya Rivers combine for 57% percent of State’s total offensive production.

#11: Oklahoma Sooners

In a league where wins are tough to come by, Oklahoma fared its share of strong battles and hard fought victories in its first SEC season, finishing fifth in the conference regular season. Led by their All-SEC first teamer Reagan Beers, the Sooners lighting fast pace of play will more than likely result in high scoring first and second round games in Norman. The Sooners are also looking to limit their turnover problem during the tourney, as they average 19 a game.

#12: Kentucky Wildcats

In just his first year at Kentucky, Head Coach Kenny Brooks has orchestrated an impressive turnaround for a program that won only 12 games last year. SEC Newcomer of Year, Georgia Amoore, continues to show WNBA scouts why she will be a high value selection as a late first round pick. Amoore skills are highlighted with exceptional ball handling, excellent court vision and a knack for scoring during critical stretches. Kentucky’s defensive length at multiple positions have proven difficult to give some of its best conference foes, and will continue to bear down on their tournament opponents.

NUMBER FOUR SEEDS

#13: North Carolina Tar Heels

Every year, one team needs a couple of wins to get back to get back to their winning ways, and the Tar Heels are due for those wins. As our highest four seed, North Carolina has the perfect opportunity to get back on track by hosting first and second round games at Chapel Hill, and forget about dropping three of their last five games. Should North Carolina make a deep run, they’ll have to rely on their defense to get critical stops and limit opponent scoring runs to avoid large deficits.

#14: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Big 10 has had plenty of quality battles during conference play, and Ohio State has seen their fair share of highly competitive foes, old and new. Junior forward and All Big 10 First-Team member Cotie McMahon has had a strong campaign offensively for the Buckeyes all season long, but was severely limited in their semifinal loss to UCLA. Now the Buckeyes look to shake off a mediocre performance and light up the scoreboard deep into March.

#15: Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels are known to defend and force opponents to score through second and third options on a consistent basis. However, Much like Duke, Ole Miss has found a steady diet in their offensive production, led by senior KK Deans’ ability to drain from beyond the three point arc. Since their signature win against LSU in the last game of the regular season, the Rebels have reappeared in the AP top 25 rankings and look prime to host NCAA tourney play in Oxford. Ole Miss has more than enough ability to make it deep into March if they continue to match their stout defense with efficient offense.

16: Baylor Bears

Checking in as our final host seed, Baylor is another squad who’s had significant impact from the transfer portal with the addition of Senior Center Aaronette Vonleh. After a Big 12 conference title appearance loss against TCU, Baylor looks to bounce back strongly in Waco and match last year’s tournament run to the Sweet 16. Should the Bears make an Elite Eight appearance, Baylor will notch its first 30 win season, which has not happened since their national championship season in 2019.