High-stakes basketball is in full force as a number of conference tournaments have reached either their quarterfinal or semifinal rounds. The Pac-12, Big Ten and Atlantic 10 are down to four teams, while the ACC and SEC have eight remaining. That means that undefeated South Carolina will make its conference tournament debut on Friday at noon ET against Texas A&M. The Gamecocks haven’t lost a regular-season game in two years and are entering the SEC tournament undefeated for the second consecutive season. This will also be the third straight year in which the Gamecocks will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. “They share the basketball. They defend,” coach Dawn Staley said last week. “We’ve got spectacular players.”
No matter their result this weekend, the Gamecocks will almost assuredly be the No. 1 overall seed come Selection Sunday. But how they perform in the lead-up to field of 68’s announcement remains a worthwhile watch. Keep tabs on their greatness. A matchup against reigning national champion LSU might also be a few days away.
What does North Carolina’s messy loss mean to its tournament chances?
For the majority of the first half of North Carolina’s matchup against Miami, it appeared as if the Tar Heels would move on to the ACC semifinals…
