31 Points: Hidalgo's Sweet 16 Performance Sets Tone for November Slate

Hannah Hidalgo recorded 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals, and seven assists in last season's Sweet 16 victory over Tennessee. The 67-64 win for Notre Dame serves as the baseline for the upcoming ACC/SEC Challenge, where the Fighting Irish will face the Commodores again.

The November and December nonconference schedules feature multiple rematches from last season's postseason. The most high-profile contest is scheduled for Nov. 24. Preseason No. 1 South Carolina will play second-ranked UConn at Mohegan Sun. This date falls two days before Thanksgiving.

Attention will likely focus on the coaches during the pregame and postgame handshakes. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley last met in the Final Four. Auriemma's outburst in the handshake line during that game is well documented. The two coaches have since appeared to resolve their differences publicly.

International action continues with a women's basketball doubleheader in Paris. The event marks the fourth consecutive year that a game is held in the city. It is the second time South Carolina has participated. This contest follows a men's and women's doubleheader in Rome, where Villanova and No. 13 Notre Dame open their seasons.

JuJu Watkins of Southern California returns to the national stage after missing all of last season to recover from a torn ACL. The AP Player of the Year winner will travel across the country to face South Carolina in Greenville. The team is described as ready for her return.

Further matchups include Duke and UConn meeting in Boston. UConn has won the last 11 meetings between the schools, with the previous contest occurring in the 2023-24 season. Duke coach Kara Lawson previously served as an assistant for the NBA's Celtics.

The season concludes early with the second annual Players Era tournament in Las Vegas. The first night features a national championship rematch between UCLA and South Carolina. Notre Dame will face USC, a game pitting Hidalgo against Watkins. The second night includes a Final Four rematch between Texas and UCLA, along with games involving Duke, Notre Dame, and South Carolina.