To be quite honest, I am not sure this Notre Dame women’s basketball team is ready to defeat Connecticut if it reaches the NCAA championship game April 7 in Tampa Bay.

I say that because I think the Fighting Irish are going to be a much better team than they are this year.

That may sound a bit funny considering the fact that Notre Dame is 33-2 heading into Friday night’s Oklahoma City Regional semifinal.

One of those two losses is to the Huskies to begin the season. I know both teams have improved since then, but I am not sure that Notre Dame has improved enough to take down Connecticut.

Having watched the Fighting Irish this weekend fend off Montana and DePaul in the first two rounds, I have a few questions and very few answers.

While Notre Dame may have the best player in the country in Jewell Loyd, she really struggled Sunday night against the Blue Demons shooting 3-of-15.

I do not know if the Fighting Irish can advance to Tampa Bay if she has one of those nights again this season.

While Michaela Mabrey lit it up from 3-point range against DePaul, she did not shoot well in the first round against the Lady Griz.

Can Notre Dame advance without her consistently knocking down shots?

The Fighting Irish inside game showed a lot of promise in the two games. Brianna Turner, Taya Reimer and freshman Kathryn Westbeld were spectacular at times.

Are they strong enough and experienced enough to hold their own against the likes of Stanford or Connecticut?

I wish I had all the answers Notre Dame fans, but I do not. I am hopeful to get some of  those this weekend.

 

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com