South Carolina vs. Arkansas: Key Factors to Watch in SEC Tournament Opening Round

South Carolina Faces Must-Win Game in SEC Tournament Opener

It’s crunch time for South Carolina. The Gamecocks (12-19, 2-16 SEC) will face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first round of the SEC Tournament at 1 p.m. today, live on SEC Network. With a loss, South Carolina’s season will come to an abrupt end.

Here’s a look at the key points to watch as the Gamecocks prepare for their high-stakes matchup in Nashville.

How Will the Previous Meeting Impact This Game? Just 10 days ago, South Carolina stunned Arkansas with a dominant 72-53 victory in their only regular-season meeting. The Gamecocks, who were fresh off just one SEC win at the time, smothered the Razorbacks defensively. Arkansas struggled to find any rhythm, shooting below 30% from the field, including a dismal 12.5% in the first half, where they made only three shots.

Collin Murray-Boyles starred in that game, pouring in a career-high 35 points, while Nick Pringle contributed 18 points and nine rebounds, just shy of a double-double. Jordan Butler also stepped up off the bench, scoring nine points, including two three-pointers.

Given how recent that win was, it certainly feels like a favorable matchup for South Carolina. However, don’t expect Arkansas to come in unprepared. The Razorbacks will likely make adjustments, learning from their previous shortcomings. But, as always, South Carolina will be ready for whatever tweaks Arkansas may implement.

Is This Murray-Boyles’ Final Game? There’s a real possibility that Wednesday could mark the final game for Collin Murray-Boyles in a Gamecocks uniform. Whether or not South Carolina advances depends on today’s outcome, but the sophomore forward has been a standout this season, and many are speculating he could declare for the NBA Draft this summer.

Murray-Boyles hasn’t made a decision yet, but he’s focused solely on the game ahead, as he told reporters on Tuesday. Given his stellar performances recently—averaging 23 points over the past five games—it wouldn’t be a surprise if he takes the leap to the professional ranks. If this is indeed his last game, he leaves behind an impressive two-season run at South Carolina.

Arkansas Still Missing Key Players The Razorbacks will be without two of their top scorers once again, Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland. Both have been sidelined due to injuries for quite some time now, with Thiero last playing on February 22 and Fland not seeing action since January 18. Neither player was available when Arkansas was routed by the Gamecocks earlier this month, and their absence gave South Carolina a major advantage, particularly in the paint for players like Murray-Boyles and Pringle.

Game Details:

• Who: South Carolina (12-19, 2-16 SEC) vs. Arkansas (19-12, 8-10 SEC)
• When: Wednesday, March 12 at 1 p.m.
• Where: Bridgestone Arena (20,000)
• How to Watch/Listen: SEC Network/107.5 The Game

ESPN gives South Carolina a 32% chance to win

Stay tuned as the Gamecocks look to extend their season in a high-stakes showdown!