No. 6 South Carolina defeats No. 15 Kentucky 78-66 to secure a share of the SEC regular-season title.

In a pivotal showdown, Tessa Johnson led No. 6 South Carolina to a 78-66 victory over No. 15 Kentucky, securing a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season title. Johnson finished with 16 points, and with the win, the Gamecocks finished their conference campaign at 15-1, tying with No. 1 Texas, who also triumphed 72-46 over Florida on Sunday. While the two teams split their season matchups, South Carolina won a coin flip, earning the No. 1 seed for this week’s SEC Tournament in Greenville.

Te-Hina Paopao contributed 13 points, and Chloe Kitts posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for South Carolina (27-3). This marks the fourth consecutive year the Gamecocks have at least shared the regular-season crown.

For Kentucky (22-6, 11-5 SEC), Clara Strack led with 23 points, and Georgia Amoore added 16, but the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize on the momentum from their 82-58 win over No. 11 Tennessee earlier in the week. Down by eight at halftime, Kentucky fought back, cutting the deficit to 63-62 with seven minutes remaining on a layup by Amoore. They had a chance to take the lead but were denied when Milaysia Fulwiley blocked a shot from Teonni Key, then raced the length of the court to score, sparking a 12-2 Gamecock run that sealed the victory.

The Gamecocks dominated the glass, outrebounding the Wildcats 44-28. Kentucky struggled from beyond the arc, making just 6 of 23 three-pointers.

With just five minutes left and the Gamecocks leading by three, Paopao nailed a crucial three-pointer to push South Carolina’s advantage.

Looking ahead, Kentucky earns its first double bye in the SEC Tournament since 2020. The Wildcats have reached the quarterfinals in 14 of the last 15 seasons and will enter this year’s tournament with a .500 record (44-44) in SEC postseason play. This will be the first year the SEC Tournament will feature a 16-team format.

Kentucky’s first game in the tournament is set for Friday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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Kyle Kennard Discusses How South Carolina Prepared Him for the NFL

The highly anticipated NFL Scouting Combine has officially kicked off, marking the biggest pre-draft event of the offseason. Before taking part in individual drills on the field, players have the opportunity to speak with the media, as was the case with former South Carolina Gamecock Kyle Kennard.

Kennard, who transferred from Georgia Tech to South Carolina as part of the 2024 transfer class, had a standout year in the garnet and black. While his on-field performance has certainly contributed to his rise as a top prospect, Kennard shared with the media just how much the Gamecocks program has helped him off the field.

“They kind of helped me with the seriousness of it,” Kennard explained. “They helped me get my mind orchestrated. They helped me with communications with the media and other things that you need to be ready for at this stage.”

As players like Kennard prepare for the upcoming draft in April, they will go through a series of team and media interviews. The development of their communication skills and professional media training plays a significant role in boosting their draft prospects.

The reigning Nagurski Trophy winner is expected to be picked within the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.