Alicia Ratay, right, and Notre Dame face 15th-seeded San Diego in the first round.

The Notre Dame coach learned her team will enjoy homecourt advantage in the opening rounds of the tournament, which begins Friday.

McGraw said Notre Dame's No. 2 seed in the Mideast Regional came as no surprise.

"We got what we wanted and it's time to start over and focus on another whole season," said McGraw, who just finished her 14th regular season at the helm of the Lady Irish.

"This year is the highest seed we've ever had, and it's rewarding," she said.

The Irish (25-4) will host San Diego (17-12) on Friday, which is also St. Patrick's Day.

Purdue (22-7) earned an automatic bid to defend its championship when it defeated regular-season champ Penn State in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament.

But Curry wasn't sure where her 13th-ranked Boilermakers would land in the NCAA's 64-team field, whether the team would land a low enough seed to enjoy a homecourt advantage.

"Well, certainly it's quite a tradition here to stay here and play two more," Curry said. "We're very happy with a four (seed). We certainly can't complain at all. I'm happy for the kids."

"We're pretty pleased," said Notre Dame senior Danielle Green. "You always say you have to play the best to be the best. I really think we have a really good draw the first two rounds."

Notre Dame was a lock for one of the 34 at-large bids after finishing the regular season 25-4.

But, the fifth-ranked Irish lost to eighth-ranked Rutgers in the Big East tournament semifinals on Monday, placing their seeding in doubt.

"It's the first year we've been able to host," McGraw said. "Now the real season begins."

McGraw said she would search the Internet and any other information source to find out about San Diego (17-12).

"I don't know anything about them," McGraw said. If the Irish can get by San Diego, they would play the winner of the UCLA-George Washington game at the Joyce Center in the second round.

"We do know a little bit more about those two teams," she said.

McGraw said her players were also jubilant to host games as a No. 2 seed.