South Carolina Dominates Texas in SEC Title Game, Vic Schaefer Questions Tournament Location
The South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team clinched another SEC Tournament championship, defeating the Texas Longhorns 64-45 on Sunday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. While the venue is technically a neutral site, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer had a different perspective, calling it South Carolina’s “home floor” and implying the Gamecocks had an unfair advantage.
The record-breaking crowd of 13,532 fans was overwhelmingly in favor of South Carolina, creating an electric atmosphere that Schaefer compared to Texas playing in San Antonio.
The Greenville Debate: Home Court Advantage?
Located just two hours from Columbia, Greenville has become the unofficial home of the SEC Women’s Tournament, hosting four straight years and six of the last seven. In October 2024, the SEC extended its contract with Greenville for another three years, meaning the earliest the tournament could move elsewhere is 2029.
The last time the tournament wasn’t held in Greenville was 2022 in Nashville, where Kentucky upset South Carolina in the final. Other past host cities include Memphis, North Little Rock, Duluth, and Jacksonville.
Schaefer’s Struggles Against Staley
Schaefer, who is now 0-5 against South Carolina in SEC Tournament championship games (dating back to his time at Mississippi State), voiced his frustration after the loss.
“When you’re playing South Carolina at home in front of their own fans, it’s a road game,” Schaefer said postgame. He added that the crowd played a major role in USC’s dominant second-quarter run.
However, some argue Schaefer’s complaint is less about location and more about history. South Carolina has dominated him regardless of the venue—including wins in Jacksonville (2016) and Nashville (2018).
Is the Venue Really the Problem?
If South Carolina hadn’t appeared in 10 straight championship games, would this even be a discussion? Would Schaefer be complaining if he hadn’t lost five title games to Dawn Staley’s squad?
As Mike Uva put it:
“The common denominator isn’t where the tournament is being held…”
