South Carolina Women’s Basketball: An Early Preview of the Teams Competing in Columbia

The brackets are officially out, and the three teams joining South Carolina in Columbia are now known. Let’s break down the Gamecocks’ upcoming opponents.

Schedule:

– #8 Utah vs. #9 Indiana – 1:30 ET, Friday, March 21 (ESPN2)
– #1 South Carolina vs. #16 Tennessee Tech – 4:00 ET, Friday, March 21 (ESPN)

#16 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (26-5, 18-2) NET: 128

– All-time series: 4-2
– Tournament series: 0-1 (Tennessee Tech won 77-73 in 1989)
– Best tournament finish: Second round (three AIAW Elite Eight appearances)

Coached by former Ole Miss player Kim Rosamond, the Golden Eagles cruised through the Ohio Valley Conference, and have not lost since January 9. However, their schedule was relatively weak, with no games in Quad 1 or 3 and a 0-2 record in Quad 2 matchups. Their other matchups were against Quad 4 teams. Tennessee Tech is known for its balanced scoring attack, with six players averaging at least 9.6 points per game, and Reghan Grimes leading the way with 12.9 points per game.

#8 Utah Utes (22-8, 13-5) NET: 26

– All-time series: 1-0
– Tournament series: Never met
– Best tournament finish: Elite Eight in 2006

Utah faced a major challenge this season after the loss of Alissa Pili to the WNBA. Then, head coach Lynne Roberts left just four games in to take a job with the LA Sparks, handing over the reins to Gavin Peterson. Under his guidance, the Utes have managed to stay competitive, including a shocking upset of Notre Dame in November. Gianna Kneepkens has been a standout for Utah, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 45% from three-point range.

#9 Indiana Hoosiers (19-12, 10-8) NET: 35

– All-time series: 4-2
– Tournament series: 1-0 (South Carolina won 79-75 in 2024)
– Best tournament finish: Elite Eight in 2021

The Hoosiers, dealing with the loss of Mackenzie Holmes to the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, have relied heavily on Yarden Garzon (14.5 points per game) and Sydney Parrish (11.9 points per game). Parrish notably gave South Carolina trouble last season, scoring 21 points to fuel a comeback attempt. Despite a rough start to the season with losses to Harvard and Butler, Indiana has improved significantly, including a notable win over 8 Ohio State and a couple of near upsets against Southern Cal.

Other teams to keep an eye on:

If things go according to plan, South Carolina could face either #4 Maryland or #5 Alabama in a potential Sweet 16 matchup. The Gamecocks already defeated Alabama 76-58 earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, and Dawn Staley has an undefeated record against the Crimson Tide. Meanwhile, Maryland started the season strong with a 14-0 record, but injuries hit them hard in January, and they finished the season 9-7.

Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as we head into the tournament.