South Carolina and Dawn Staley’s Position in March Madness Bracket Predictions Ahead of SEC Tournament

In the final stretch of the regular season and just days away from the start of conference tournaments, the South Carolina women’s basketball team is poised to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Currently ranked No. 6 with a 27-3 record (15-1 in the SEC), the Gamecocks are projected to host the opening round of the tournament before moving on to play in the Birmingham Region. Interestingly, just two weeks ago, after their loss to UConn, projections had the Gamecocks heading to Spokane, Washington.

South Carolina enters the SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, with its first game slated for Friday at noon ET at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.

Here’s the latest update on where South Carolina stands in NCAA Tournament projections:

South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament Outlook

According to ESPN’s Charlie Creme, the Gamecocks are still projected as a No. 1 seed, with the first-round games to be played in Columbia within the Birmingham 4 Region. The current bracket features Illinois (No. 8), Richmond (No. 9), and the winner of a First Four matchup between UNCG and High Point (No. 16). If the Gamecocks’ projections hold, they would face either UNCG or High Point, and the winner of that game would then meet Illinois or Richmond.

South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament Résumé and NET Ranking

In terms of rankings, the Gamecocks fell to No. 2 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, with UConn overtaking them for the top spot last week. South Carolina’s impressive performance this season includes a strong 8-2 record on the road, 5-0 on neutral courts, and 14-1 at home. The Gamecocks are also dominant in Quadrant 1 matchups, boasting a 14-3 record. In addition, they are 3-0 in Quad 2, 3-0 in Quad 3, and 7-0 in Quad 4 games. Notably, South Carolina leads the nation with the most Quad 1 wins this season, having secured 11 victories over ranked opponents.

South Carolina’s Rich NCAA Tournament History

South Carolina’s legacy in NCAA basketball under head coach Dawn Staley is undeniable. The Gamecocks have captured three national championships since 2017, including a perfect 38-0 season in 2023-24. In addition, they have made six Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eight runs, and 14 Sweet 16 appearances. On the conference level, South Carolina has claimed the SEC tournament title eight times and has been crowned SEC regular-season champion eight times as well.

Stay tuned as the Gamecocks look to add another chapter to their storied program in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.