2025-26 ACC/NCAA Scores/News
- Thread starter Carolina151
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I think that means our friends in the small gym are down to 10 players on their roster for this season.
I may hate the peckers as much as anyone else (or more!) but I wish the young woman well and hope that she gets whatever it is figured out.
Was just about to post this. Never wanna see a player go through anything bad- best of luck to her.
but again; the small gym is legit 2 injuries away from having to have open tryouts with their student body. I have no clue why any coach would willingly keep 11 or less on a team for the year.
It blows my mind how good Audi is for her size. Incredible hands, footwork, and ability to get position.
McGhee was expected to be a starter for UVA going into this season, after starting half of the games last year
Best wishes to "O" for a complete and uncomplicated recovery from this surgery.
Brutal news for ND as KK Bransford is probably done for the year. ND only plays 7 players in contested games. She’s one of just 5 players that have played for them
ND is down to just 10 players and that includes 2 walks ons and 2 MMs with little to no impact. No clue what Niele did in the offseason
For reference:
Notre Dame:
In:
Notre Dame:
In:
- Duke transfer Vanessa De Jesus: 3.1 ppg
- WF transfer Mickayla Cowles: 9/5
- Kansas State transfer Gisela Sanchez: 4.2 ppg
- Vandy transfer Iyanna Moore: 12.8 ppg
- Loyola transfer Ratigan; avg 8.4 ppg in 23-24; she was out last year with season-ending injury
- FR Leah Macy (#22in ESPN)- rumored to be out for season
- Kate Koval: 5/5
- Emma Risch: 5.7 ppg
- Kylee Watson 6/5
- Olivia Miles: 15.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.8 apg
- Citron: 14.1 ppg
- King: 11.5 ppg
- Westbeld 7.4 ppg
- Karlen: 5.3 ppg
Yeah I think all of that Miles/Hidalgo drama turned off some potential transfers ND could have had. Missed out on big names early so Niele had to dive deep to even court a team. Still feel like with HH they can finish top 6-ish. If this were any other year could be a disastrous season, but realistically even with such a limited lineup and number of players I’d still bet on HH and ND before Cal, BC, Pitt, SMU, Wake, Uva, VT, Clemson, GT, and FSU.
That’s at least 10 wins that I’d really consider ND heavy favorites. The acc really is going to be that bad this year I fear. Even without conference play really starting, only UNC, Louisville, State, ND, Duke, and Stanford are probably going to make the tournament. Syracuse and Miami are interesting/bubble teams but weak. All in all, Niele picked a good year to really not try in the offseason lol
That’s at least 10 wins that I’d really consider ND heavy favorites. The acc really is going to be that bad this year I fear. Even without conference play really starting, only UNC, Louisville, State, ND, Duke, and Stanford are probably going to make the tournament. Syracuse and Miami are interesting/bubble teams but weak. All in all, Niele picked a good year to really not try in the offseason lol
Article by the On3 ND site on 5-11 wing KK Bransford's injury and potential impact (written before it was announced her season was over.)
www.on3.com
Team leader and one of only 3 women who returned with significant contribution last season or before. She was slightly leading the team in MPG before this early exit impacted her average.
Just a reminder that they have been running a 7 player rotation that is now down to 6. Here is the rest of their bench:
that leaves 6-3 Grad senior Malaya Cowles as their only backup getting real minutes so far this season. She was a full-time starter on a bad WF team two years ago, but only a part0time starter for WF last season (she got Lanie Grant level minutes at WF as a Senior.)
Will they add a 7th player into the rotation? None of the 4 above look ready. Ratigan is the most likely add, but ND will be pretty tiny at the wing with that 7: 5-6 Hidlago, 5-8 DeJesus, 5-8 Moore, 6-3 Prosper, 6-4 Sanchez starting, and 6-3 Cowles and 5-8 Ratigan off the bench. That is basically 3 PG-sized women on the court at all times. And Ratigan is not bringing significant speed or skill to compensate for that height deficiency. A player like Nivar or Brooks should tear them up at the 3-spot.
Side note: Hidalgo is in a bad shooting slump so far this season: 19.6% from three.
And they are not a good rebounding team. Hidalgo is their leading rebounder and they just lost their 2nd best. Here is the rebound differential against P4 opponents:
#6 Mich: -22 (L)
#16 SoCal: +2 (W)
#17 Ole Miss: -15 (L)
#106 FSU: +9 (W)
The fallout, outlook after the KK Bransford injury: What's next for Notre Dame women's basketball?
It's not known what Notre Dame guard KK Bransford's injury status is moving forward, but it didn't look good when she went down Thursday.
Team leader and one of only 3 women who returned with significant contribution last season or before. She was slightly leading the team in MPG before this early exit impacted her average.
Just a reminder that they have been running a 7 player rotation that is now down to 6. Here is the rest of their bench:
- 5-8 Junior Kelly Ratigan - started most games at Loyola (MD) for two years before missing last year with a a patellar tendon tear. She is a ND legacy but what not offered out of HS. She is a 3 pt shooting specialist with ball handling skills; I would compare her to our Barker.
- 5-6 grad Jordyn Smith - 4 year starter at Holy Cross where she was a solid role player on a bad team. has only played in blowout games only 2 FGs made this year in 7 games, averaging 4 min on those games.
- 5-10 soph Luci Jensen - walk-on only played in blowout games 1 FG made this year.
- 6-3 grad Bell Tehrani - a former ND Volleyball player who never played in 3 seasons, Switched to WBB last season (so effectively a walk-on) and has only appeared in 3 games this year, all scrub minutes in blowouts.
6-2 frosh Leah Macy- bluechip freshman recruit but out injured with knee surgery early this year, likely out for the entire season.
that leaves 6-3 Grad senior Malaya Cowles as their only backup getting real minutes so far this season. She was a full-time starter on a bad WF team two years ago, but only a part0time starter for WF last season (she got Lanie Grant level minutes at WF as a Senior.)
Will they add a 7th player into the rotation? None of the 4 above look ready. Ratigan is the most likely add, but ND will be pretty tiny at the wing with that 7: 5-6 Hidlago, 5-8 DeJesus, 5-8 Moore, 6-3 Prosper, 6-4 Sanchez starting, and 6-3 Cowles and 5-8 Ratigan off the bench. That is basically 3 PG-sized women on the court at all times. And Ratigan is not bringing significant speed or skill to compensate for that height deficiency. A player like Nivar or Brooks should tear them up at the 3-spot.
Side note: Hidalgo is in a bad shooting slump so far this season: 19.6% from three.
And they are not a good rebounding team. Hidalgo is their leading rebounder and they just lost their 2nd best. Here is the rebound differential against P4 opponents:
#6 Mich: -22 (L)
#16 SoCal: +2 (W)
#17 Ole Miss: -15 (L)
#106 FSU: +9 (W)
They are basically at the point of hoping for a mid-year addition.Article by the On3 ND site on 5-11 wing KK Bransford's injury and potential impact (written before it was announced her season was over.)
The fallout, outlook after the KK Bransford injury: What's next for Notre Dame women's basketball?
It's not known what Notre Dame guard KK Bransford's injury status is moving forward, but it didn't look good when she went down Thursday.
Team leader and one of only 3 women who returned with significant contribution last season or before. She was slightly leading the team in MPG before this early exit impacted her average.
Just a reminder that they have been running a 7 player rotation that is now down to 6. Here is the rest of their bench:
So there is an assumption that 6th woman 5-8 grad guard Iyana Moore moves into the starting lineup. She was the second best player on a mediocre Vandy team (7 seed in NCAAT) over the last two seasons (behind NCSU's Pierre). A good player, but after an off season injury her stamina is a little bit in question, kind of like our Kelly or Thomas. She was averaging 20 MPG, can she handle 32 or so that a 6 player rotation requires?
- 5-8 Junior Kelly Ratigan - started most games at Loyola (MD) for two years before missing last year with a a patellar tendon tear. She is a ND legacy but what not offered out of HS. She is a 3 pt shooting specialist with ball handling skills; I would compare her to our Barker.
- 5-6 grad Jordyn Smith - 4 year starter at Holy Cross where she was a solid role player on a bad team. has only played in blowout games only 2 FGs made this year in 7 games, averaging 4 min on those games.
- 5-10 soph Luci Jensen - walk-on only played in blowout games 1 FG made this year.
- 6-3 grad Bell Tehrani - a former ND Volleyball player who never played in 3 seasons, Switched to WBB last season (so effectively a walk-on) and has only appeared in 3 games this year, all scrub minutes in blowouts.
6-2 frosh Leah Macy- bluechip freshman recruit but out injured with knee surgery early this year, likely out for the entire season.
that leaves 6-3 Grad senior Malaya Cowles as their only backup getting real minutes so far this season. She was a full-time starter on a bad WF team two years ago, but only a part0time starter for WF last season (she got Lanie Grant level minutes at WF as a Senior.)
Will they add a 7th player into the rotation? None of the 4 above look ready. Ratigan is the most likely add, but ND will be pretty tiny at the wing with that 7: 5-6 Hidlago, 5-8 DeJesus, 5-8 Moore, 6-3 Prosper, 6-4 Sanchez starting, and 6-3 Cowles and 5-8 Ratigan off the bench. That is basically 3 PG-sized women on the court at all times. And Ratigan is not bringing significant speed or skill to compensate for that height deficiency. A player like Nivar or Brooks should tear them up at the 3-spot.
Side note: Hidalgo is in a bad shooting slump so far this season: 19.6% from three.
And they are not a good rebounding team. Hidalgo is their leading rebounder and they just lost their 2nd best. Here is the rebound differential against P4 opponents:
#6 Mich: -22 (L)
#16 SoCal: +2 (W)
#17 Ole Miss: -15 (L)
#106 FSU: +9 (W)
#2 Texas destroys #13 Baylor 89-54. Is Texas the best team in the country? They certainly have the best resume at the moment.
Our 15 point loss certainly looks better than a 35 point loss.
I think UCONN is the best team right now and Texas is number 2. Sarah Strong is probably the best player in college right now. If JuJu was not hurt than it would be between her and Strong. Booker is the 3rd best player IMO.
#7 Maryland's Bri McDaniel has officially redshirted this current season. Her recovery from a January ACL surgery is ongoing. She was planning to play this season, but I guess her last assessment was not what they had hoped. Next year will be her senior season instead.
Maryland now has 4 guards officially out for the year with knee issues: Lea Bartelme (freshman started 1st 4 games this year), Kaylene Smikle (B1G 1st team 2025), Ava McKennie (rotational reserve) and McDaniel (2024 B1G HM).
The cupboard is not bare at Guard: dook transfer Okananwa (teams leading scorer) and freshman Addi Mack (3rd in scoring, 1st in assists) have been playing well. Their other two guards Walker and Welson both play double digit minutes. (Welson has also not been 100%, similar to our Kelly. her shooting is bad)
I don't think MD is in trouble, but they cannot absorb additional injuries.
Maryland now has 4 guards officially out for the year with knee issues: Lea Bartelme (freshman started 1st 4 games this year), Kaylene Smikle (B1G 1st team 2025), Ava McKennie (rotational reserve) and McDaniel (2024 B1G HM).
The cupboard is not bare at Guard: dook transfer Okananwa (teams leading scorer) and freshman Addi Mack (3rd in scoring, 1st in assists) have been playing well. Their other two guards Walker and Welson both play double digit minutes. (Welson has also not been 100%, similar to our Kelly. her shooting is bad)
I don't think MD is in trouble, but they cannot absorb additional injuries.
Vols fans should be thankful they’re not in this weak ACC after an L to State and getting ran out the gym today
We’re fine financially donor wise at the moment. Those numbers are for this academic year.
The AP will not release a new poll this week- usually on Mondays- that negates a potential Top 25 match up with Stanford on Sunday. The Cards were the 2nd-most team RVs for the last rankings. A really good, but young team coming to Carmichael.
Something to watch for Sunday. Stanford starter and leading 3-point shooter is OUT at State today. The Cardinals avg just 5 3-pointers per game with her. She’s hit 20 of their 72 on the year through 14 games.
And down go the Irish. 95-90 GT. A quad 3 loss as GT was ranked #112 in the Net. ND plays just 6 people- 5 player 38+
Stanford’s Chloe Clardy did not make the trip across the country due to sickness. Unless they fly her privately across the country, she will be out Sunday as well. Wear them down with our depth.
We need to take it to Stanford at the beginning of the game. The same way that NC State did them.