South Carolina and Dawn Staley’s Position in March Madness Bracket After Vanderbilt Victory

In the latest NCAA Tournament projections, South Carolina women’s basketball is still slated as a No. 1 seed, with the No. 6 Gamecocks (25-3, 13-1 SEC) expected to host the first round of play in Columbia and compete in the Birmingham Region once again. Despite a setback against UConn, which briefly shifted projections toward Spokane, Washington, ESPN analyst Charlie Creme now has the Gamecocks back in the Birmingham Region.

After securing two recent wins against Arkansas and Vanderbilt, Coach Dawn Staley’s squad now prepares for their final regular-season games—Ole Miss on Thursday at 9 p.m. (ESPN) and Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN).

According to the latest projections, South Carolina will host a First Round game against either UNCG or High Point, with the winner moving on to face Illinois or South Dakota State.

Charlie Creme’s most recent bracket analysis places South Carolina in the Birmingham 3 Region, with a match-up against the winner of a First Four game between UNCG and High Point and eventual competition against either Illinois or South Dakota State.

The Gamecocks are currently ranked second in the NCAA’s NET rankings, as UConn took over the No. 1 spot last week. South Carolina has been impressive on the road with a 7-2 record, 5-0 on neutral courts, and 13-1 at home. They’ve also excelled in Quad 1 games with an 11-3 record, while maintaining perfect records in Quads 2 (4-0), 3 (3-0), and 4 (7-0).

Historically, South Carolina has been a powerhouse in NCAA women’s basketball. The Gamecocks have won three national championships under Dawn Staley since 2017, including their most recent undefeated season in 2023-24, where they went 38-0. With six Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eight finishes, and 14 Sweet 16s, South Carolina has firmly established itself as a dominant force in women’s college basketball. Additionally, they have claimed the SEC tournament title eight times and are an eight-time SEC regular-season champion.

A SPECIAL BOND—The special connection between MiLaysia Fulwiley and Joyce Edwards continues to evolve into one of South Carolina’s strongest assets on and off the court.

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Paul Mainieri Optimistic About Close Wins to Begin South Carolina Baseball Season

South Carolina’s head coach Paul Mainieri is feeling positive about the Gamecocks’ early challenges on the field. Though the team remains undefeated, their performance hasn’t been flawless. The Gamecocks had a close call against Winthrop, which left some fans scratching their heads, even after dominating Sacred Heart in the season opener. But for Mainieri, the tight game is no cause for concern. He values these gritty victories, a perspective he’s held for years thanks to advice from his father.

“I remember my dad vividly saying to me on the phone, ‘Hey, don’t ever be upset about winning close games, because you’re better off having those kinds of games. Your team will grow from it. They’ll learn how to be composed and poised at the end of the game. Down the road when they need to win that close game against a really tough opponent, they’ll have been there and done that, and that makes their confidence even that much better,’” Mainieri reflected.

The Gamecocks aren’t alone in facing tough matchups. Even the no. 8 Georgia Bulldogs experienced struggles, losing to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, only to later pull off a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against Kennesaw State. Not every team, however, has had the dominance displayed by Tennessee, who easily handled both Hofstra and UNC Asheville with lopsided victories.

Looking ahead, the Gamecocks are aiming to continue their perfect streak, with a weekend series against the Milwaukee Panthers on the horizon as they strive for a 6-0 record.