It’s finals week at many colleges and universities across the country, which means the pickings for great games are slim during the week because coaches try to let their athletes focus mostly on the classroom.
Then again, the one notable weekday game is so good, this entire column could be just about it.
Thursday night we’ll get the latest chapter of Connecticut-Notre Dame, the single best rivalry in women’s hoops over the last two decades. These programs do not like each other and aren’t shy about saying it out loud, which makes every matchup more fun.
There’s also a new chapter of one of the oldest rivalries in college hoops to look forward to.
On second thought, it’s a better week than we realized — good games and soon, no school for at least a few weeks. Maybe we’ll even get to see someone throw down again, like South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins did last week.
No. 2 Connecticut at No. 9 Notre Dame
Thursday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
This one lost a little of its luster with the news that UConn guard Azzi Fudd suffered a minor knee sprain and is likely to miss the game, but that just means there’s more spotlight for UConn’s Paige Bueckers (18.9 ppg, 4.8 apg), the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. Husky freshman Sarah Strong (16.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) will get her first taste of this rivalry and do so against the best backcourt duo in the country in Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo (24.6 ppg, 4.1 spg) and Olivia Miles (17.2 ppg, 6.6 apg). Irish guard Sonia Citron (14.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) can’t be overlooked, either.
Stanford at California
Friday, 10 p.m. ET on ACC Extra
Here’s a fun bit of trivia: According to the history books, the first women’s college basketball game ever recorded took place in the Bay Area between Stanford and Cal. That was back in 1896 and Stanford won, 2-1; the 2024 version is likely to have considerably more scoring as these two fringe top 25 teams look to establish themselves in a new conference. Stanford has long dominated this Bay Area rivalry, but this will be the most even matchup in years. Nunu Agara (18.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Stanford will have to slow a balanced Cal scoring attack that features five players averaging 11 points or more, led by Lulu Twidale (16.1 ppg 3.6 rpg).
No. 24 Iowa at No. 19 Michigan State
Sunday, noon ET on Big Ten Network
Calling it now: The Spartans are going to do some damage in March. Michigan State’s defense is downright scary when the Spartans turn it on, holding opponents to less than 34% from the field and turning them over more than 25 times per game. Plus they’ve got two players in Julia Ayrault (16.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and Grace VanSlooten (15.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg) who love to work in and outside of the paint. Meanwhile, Iowa is still trying to find its footing without Caitlin Clark — especially when it’s being pressed — but Hannah Stuelke (13.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg) establishing herself inside early always helps.
No. 20 North Carolina State at Louisville
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+
This is a matchup of two talented teams still trying to figure it out. Louisville got punched in the mouth by UConn last week but the advantage of having a freshman as a key piece of your roster is that rookies typically have a short memory. So don’t be surprised if freshman guard Tajianna Roberts (11.4 ppg, 1.4 spg) goes off in this women’s Jimmy V Classic showcase. On the other end, NC State needs veteran guards Aziaha James (16.2 ppg, 2.7 apg) and Saniya Rivers (10.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) to be more consistent on the offensive end, especially early.
Georgia Tech at No. 14 North Carolina
Sunday, 2 p.m. ET on ACC Network
Alyssa Ustby (11.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.1 apg) can do everything for the Tar Heels but she’s going to need help, probably from guard Lexi Donarski (9.4 ppg) in order to keep Kara Dunn (13.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Georgia Tech at bay. Georgia Tech has been flirting with jumping into the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll Top 25 and a win over a ranked team would help solidify its place among the best in women’s hoops.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball schedule: UConn-Notre Dame leads top games to watch
