College Basketball
N.C. State, UNC and Duke women all in NCAA field
Mar 16, 2010
North Carolina State is back in the NCAA tournament under first-year coach Kellie Harper. The Wolfpack earned a No. 9 seed and will travel to Minneapolis to face UCLA on Sunday in the Kansas City regional. N.C. State (20-13) is in the tournament for the 21st time, but it had missed the tournament the past two seasons since reaching the round of 16 in 2007.
Harper and her players gathered at a Raleigh restaurant to watch the selection show Monday night with fans, who gave a huge cheer
when N.C. State's name came up on the board.
Harper says she felt good about her team's chances of making the tournament after their unexpected run to the Atlantic Coast
Conference tournament championship game.
North Carolina managed to return to the NCAA tournament despite its late-season struggles. The Tar Heels earned a No. 10 seed and will travel to Seattle to face Gonzaga on Saturday night in the Sacramento regional.
North Carolina (19-11) has reached the tournament for nine straight years, but its fate was in question as losing seven of eight games coming down the stretch.
North Carolina helped itself by upsetting Duke in the season finale, but it lost to Maryland in the first round of the Atlantic
Coast Conference tournament a few days later. The Tar Heels were ranked as high as fourth early this season.
Junior Cetera DeGraffenreid said it was "pretty nerve-racking" waiting to find out if the Tar Heels would get in the tournament.
Duke has claimed the No. 2 seed in the Memphis Regional of the NCAA tournament. The sixth-ranked Blue Devils learned Monday night that they will play 15th-seeded Hampton on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a first-round matchup.
Duke (27-5) assured itself of a spot in the 64-team bracket after winning its first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title since 2004, and knew it wouldn't have to leave home until next week because it is hosting to a four-team subregional.
The other teams in Duke's pod are No. 7 seed LSU and No. 10 seed Hartford. The Blue Devils, who are making their 16th straight NCAA appearance and 17th overall, are seeded No. 2 for the first time since 2005.
They claimed No. 1 seeds three times from 2006-09.
Check out the interactive bracket here
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
RE: N.C. State, UNC and Duke women all in NCAA field
Girls basketball has come a long way. Until you have gone to game and watched them play, don't put them down. They play as a team. Most guys teams, play for "me me me". Go watch the girls play then tell us "who cares".
Go Wolfpack Ladies!!
- Posted by Shelly21760
Well said, Shelly. One of the best Bball games, men or women I have EVER been to was State girls vs Virginia girls back in early 90s in Reynolds. Before the game ended, Reynolds was packed. Game went to 3 overtimes before Va girls won 123-120. Dawn Staley was AA guard for Va. We had a girl, can't remember name, known as the female Michael Jordan. The girl's game ROCKS!!!
RE: N.C. State, UNC and Duke women all in NCAA field
Girls basketball has come a long way. Until you have gone to game and watched them play, don't put them down. They play as a team. Most guys teams, play for "me me me". Go watch the girls play then tell us "who cares".
Go Wolfpack Ladies!!
RE: N.C. State, UNC and Duke women all in NCAA field
Unbelievable finish to a challenging year for the Wolfpack! Congrats to all the girls and coaching staff. Go Wolfpack!!!
- Posted by tommybrownnc
Agreed, congratulations, Wolfpack. Coach Harper has them playing terrific basketball -- keep it up!
RE: N.C. State, UNC and Duke women all in NCAA field
Glad State got in, but who honestly cares about woman's basketball?
- Posted by c.whit
Not so fast, my friend! No reason to minimize their talent and commitment. The girls sometimes play a truer, better, more pure, game than the men. Until recently, there was no dunking. Girls have to perfect the basics on defense. They are a lot of fun to watch when both teams are talented.
RE: N.C. State, UNC and Duke women all in NCAA field
Glad State got in, but who honestly cares about woman's basketball?
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