South Carolina Claims Fourth Straight SEC Title, Eyes No. 1 Seed in NCAA Tournament
For the fourth consecutive year, South Carolina women’s basketball has secured a share of the SEC regular season championship. The Gamecocks clinched their fifth title in six years with a hard-fought Senior Day victory over Kentucky at Colonial Life Arena. While Texas also claimed a share of the title, a conference coin flip tiebreaker awarded Dawn Staley’s squad the No. 1 seed for the upcoming SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.
Gamecocks Hold Strong in Rankings
When the AP Poll updated on Monday, South Carolina moved up one spot to No. 5. However, their NET ranking remained unchanged, with the UConn Huskies still holding the No. 1 position and USC ranked No. 2. Following them in the top five are Texas, Notre Dame, and UCLA, with Southern Cal (USC Trojans) sitting at No. 6 as another potential title contender.
The Gamecocks’ elite schedule continues to bolster their ranking. Despite having three losses, South Carolina has not lost to any team outside the NET top 5 this season, a testament to their strength of schedule.
Why NET Rankings Favor South Carolina
For those unfamiliar, the NET ranking is a key tool for the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. It evaluates teams based on:
- Team Value Index (performance, location of games, and strength of schedule)
- Adjusted Net Efficiency Ratings (how well a team performs against various opponents and locations)
At the time of writing, South Carolina leads women’s college basketball in Quad 1 victories, boasting an impressive 14 wins over top-tier teams—more than any other team. The Gamecocks also rank first nationally in combined Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins, reinforcing their case for a top seed in March Madness.
What’s Next: SEC Tournament Showdown
Thanks to their double-bye, South Carolina won’t take the court until Friday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Their opponent will be either Texas A&M, Tennessee, or Vanderbilt.
- Quarterfinal Game: Friday, Noon ET, ESPN
- Semifinals (if they advance): Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
- SEC Championship Game (if they advance): Sunday, 3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
If Dawn Staley’s team captures the SEC Tournament title, they will likely lock in a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament—a position they’ve been familiar with in recent years. A conference championship would mark their fourth in the past five seasons, adding yet another chapter to their dominant SEC run.
