The last two highly-ranked SEC teams to visit Columbia, SC were met with a rude welcome.
On Sunday, Jan. 12, No. 2 South Carolina embarrassed No. 7 Texas, with the Longhorns lacking the composure required to make shots for the majority of a 67-50 loss. A week later, Texas’ Red River rival, No. 15 Oklahoma, had an equally ignominious experience, lapped in a 101-60 loss. No. 5 LSU, with its sparking 20-0 mark, surely will not face a similar fate? Right? Even if they cannot emerge victorious, can the Tigers show that the Gamecocks, clearly invigorated after their lone loss to No. 1 UCLA, are not just not unbeatable, but also not invulnerable?
While the game was delayed by one day due to the wintry weather that struck the deep South, the game is on go, with the top-five SEC tilt is scheduled to tip off on Friday, Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Since Kim Mulkey took over the Tigers before the 2021-22 season, LSU has not beaten South Carolina. Staley’s squad is 4-0 against Mulkey’s team, including handing the Tigers one of their two losses during their 2023 national championship season, an 88-64 beat down in Columbia. Last season, the Gamecocks escaped Baton Rouge with a 76-70 win, the eventual national champions’ first single-digit victory. South Carolina then…
