Around the SEC and the NCAA: Everything you might have missed and what to look forward to
South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC Standings • NCAA Polls • Scholarship Chart
The regular season has ended, so now the drama picks up. Catch up on everything you might have missed and what to look forward to in Around the World.
Recapping Last Week
SEC Game of the Week
#1 South Carolina 76, Tennessee 68 – The Gamecocks became the first team in league history to go 16-0 in the SEC in back-to-back seasons, and the first team to have back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. Five players scored in double figures, led by Kamilla Cardoso’s 18 points and 14 rebounds, to overcome Rickea Jackson’s 29 points.
SEC Players of the Week
Player of the Week Ashlyn Watkins – Watkins scored a career-high 21 points against Arkansas and then scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter against Tennessee. Watkins’ award is the sixth weekly award of the season for a gamecock, tying a program record. She is the fourth different player from the same team (joining Kamilla Cardoso, Te-Hina Paopao, and Raven Johnson) to win SEC Player of the Week, setting a league record. MiLaysia Fulwiley was also named freshman of the week.
Co-Freshman of the Week Essence Cody – Cody helped the Crimson Tide win both of their games last week to clinch the fourth seed and a double-bye.
Co-Freshman of the Week Khamil Pierre – Pierre and Vanderbilt won both games to complete a shocking turnoaround. Picked to finish last, the Commodores went 9-7 in the SEC and earned a six seed in the tournament.
SEC ICYMI
South Carolina guard Te-hina Paopao walked on Senior Day Sunday, then announced Monday she will return next season for her Covid year. … Mikaylah Williams did not play against Kentucky with a foot injury. … Florida had a chance to move out of the bottom four but lost both games last week by three points. …
National Game of the Week
#20 Oklahoma 71, #3 Texas 70 – Texas led by 13 in the third quarter, but Oklahoma battled back to take the lead in the fourth. Texas retook the lead and went up three with less than a minute to play. The Sooners got a free throw and then a game-winning three from Lexy Keys, who had just missed two attempts, with four seconds left. The win clinched the Big 12 title for Oklahoma.
National ICYMI
Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitely, three-time ACC Player of the Year, suffered a leg injury against Virginia on Sunday. … Indiana’s leading scorer and rebounder Mackenzie Holmes left Sunday’s game with a left knee injury. … There is no update on either player, which could shake up not just the conference tournaments but the NCAA Tournament. … Iowa starter Molly Davis injured her right knee against Ohio State and returned to the bench in a wheelchair. Her injury is not season-ending, according to Iowa, but there is no timetable for her return. … Oregon State center Raegan Beers missed almost three weeks with a broken nose but returned Sunday.
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Looking Ahead
SEC Games to Watch
The most important games are on Thursday when the bubble teams play. Texas A&M and Mississippi State start the day at noon and could be playing for an NCAA tournament bid. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Auburn would all feel a lot better about their chances with another win.
Key SEC Storylines
Texas A&M’s Endyia Rogers had knee surgery on February 20. The Aggies hope she will play again this season, whether it is this week, in the NCAA Tournament, or the WNIT. … ESPN and The Athletic both have Texas A&M as one of their first four out. … ESPN has Mississippi State and Vanderbilt among the last four in. The Athletic has them among the last four byes along with Auburn. … The Athletic also has Alabama (8), Ole Miss (8), LSU (3), South Carolina (1), and Tennessee (9) in the tournament. … ESPN has Alabama (8), Ole Miss (7), LSU (2), South Carolina (1), and Tennessee (8) in the tournament. … It’s no secret Kim Mulkey disdains conference tournaments. LSU looks ripe for an “upset” by Auburn or Ole Miss.
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National Games to Watch
ACC Tournament (March 6-10; ACC Network, ESPN)
Big Ten Tournament (March 6-10; Peacock, BTN, CBS)
Pac-12 Tournament (March 6-8, 10; Pac-12 Network, ESPN)
Ivy League Tournament (March 15-16; ESPN+, ESPNews)
Key National Storylines
All those injured players listed above are on teams that are comfortably in the tournament. They have a decision to make about rushing back to maybe move up a seed if they are lucky, or getting an extra week of rest. … The general consensus seems to be that whoever does better in the Big Ten Tournament, Ohio State or Iowa, gets a one seed. … The Pac-12 Tournament likely decides the other two top seeds. Stanford has some margin for error (and South Carolina is a lock for the top overall seed). … The ACC tournament probably won’t change much on the top two lines, but it could have a massive effect on the four seeds and who hosts. … Annual reminder: Being a top seed is a nice feather in the cap for the four teams, but the real drama is for teams on the four/five bubble and hosting or traveling for the first two rounds. Keep an eye on teams like Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Indiana, Syracuse, Kansas State, and Colorado that are on that borderline. … The Ivy League Champions could be a bid stealer. Princeton and Columbia finished tied atop the standings, but Princeton (NET 31) is good enough to get an at-large bid. Columbia (NET 57) may not be.
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