Ali Patberg
Ali Patberg is about to play in her third NCAA Tournament as an Indiana Hoosier, but for the first of those three times, she’ll be able to play on her home court in front of her home fans.
The top four seeds in each region of the women’s tourney — 16 in all — get to host first- and second-round games. IU is a No. 3 seed and will host No. 14-seed Charlotte at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Assembly Hall.
“We weren’t thinking about the matchups and certain teams we were playing, but I do think we were thinking about hosting and being a top-four seed,” said Patberg, a graduate student from Columbus North. “That was a goal of ours. So I think that part, I was following a little. I know that we wanted that a lot.”
Patberg is in her seventh year of college. She spent two years at Notre Dame, playing in the NCAA Tournament her second year there. After sitting out a year as a transfer to IU, she and the Hoosiers played two games at Oregon in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, falling to the host Ducks in the second round.
The 2020 tournament was canceled because of COVID. Last year’s tourney was played entirely in Texas, also because of COVID concerns, and IU reached the Elite Eight.
“I remember my first season, we were at Oregon, and I vividly remember just thinking after we lost in the second round how much of an advantage it was for Oregon to play on their home court with their fans,” Patberg said. “That’s why we play all season — to get to the NCAA Tournament — but also, we wanted to host, and that was a goal of ours.”
All five Hoosier starters are averaging in double figures, with Patberg scoring 11.8 per game. She ranks second on the team with 3.5 assists and also averages 3.4 rebounds.
If it wins on Saturday, IU would host the winner between No. 6-seed Kentucky and No. 11-seed Princeton on Monday at a time to be determined following all the first-round games. The Hoosiers could face No. 2-seed Connecticut in the regional semifinals in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and No. 1-seed North Carolina State in the regional final.
Although coach Teri Moren and the Hoosiers aren’t looking that far ahead and are focused on Saturday’s matchup with Charlotte, Patberg thinks last year’s tournament run will benefit them in this year’s tourney.
“It will help us a lot,” Patberg said. “Winning to get to the Elite Eight, I think all of us remember that feeling. It’s been driving us in the offseason and this season. I also remember losing in the Elite Eight, so just the feel of the stage we were on, we know what that feels like. But I think also, this has really helped us experience and adversity that we’ve been (through), the different ways that we’ve played, the different ways that we’ve played. I’m really, really excited. I know we’re ready.”
