South Carolina’s Trio Aims for Third National Title in Four Years as March Madness Begins

Tennessee Tech’s women’s basketball team has shared a heartwarming moment this week. Their official X account posted a photo featuring head coach Kim Rosamond with her dogs, Dolly and Dean, alongside personalized NCAA nameplates for each of them. Also included in the photo was a nameplate for Dawn Staley’s dog, Champ.

At Thursday’s media session, Staley’s nameplate was placed next to her own, though Champ remained mostly hidden behind the desk. Staley expressed her appreciation for the gesture, calling it “a pretty cool gesture” and adding, “I’m super happy for her and I’m over the top that she would extend such a nice gift to my boy.”

In other basketball news, Petersen reflected on his success in taking over the Notre Dame program. After leading his team to a 78-67 victory against Notre Dame on November 30, Petersen commented, “I think I hit the lottery in that regard in terms of taking over a program where they were ready to go.”

Stay tuned for more updates on the NCAA Women’s March Madness bracket, accessible through this link: AP March Madness bracket. For continuous coverage and poll alerts, visit AP March Madness.

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Possible defensive starter absent on South Carolina’s first day of spring practice

South Carolina football kicked off its spring practice on Wednesday morning, but there was a notable absence on the field. Defensive back Vicari Swain was not participating in practice, according to a USC spokesperson. The spokesperson clarified that while Swain is still with the team, he is currently addressing an academic issue.

Despite this setback, if Swain resolves the matter soon, he could still play a significant role on the Gamecocks’ defense. Although he wasn’t expected to start in 2024, the former 4-star recruit proved valuable last season, rotating in behind starters O’Donnell Fortune and Judge Collier. With Fortune aiming for the 2025 NFL Draft, Swain was one of the frontrunners to step into a starting role alongside Collier.

Swain had a solid redshirt freshman campaign in 2024, appearing in all 13 games. He racked up 13 total tackles, including a strip sack against Kentucky, and even knocked away a pass. Swain played 314 snaps, the sixth-most among South Carolina’s secondary players, solidifying his position as the team’s top backup in the defensive backfield. Given that the Gamecocks often deploy five defensive backs, Swain was a key contributor, coming in as a reliable reserve.

Looking ahead, regardless of Swain’s status, South Carolina’s secondary will see some changes this fall. With Fortune and safety Nick Emmanwori heading to the NFL, two starting spots are now up for grabs. Judge Collier (cornerback), DQ Smith (safety), and Jalon Kilgore (nickel/safety) are expected to start, but the competition for the remaining spots will be fierce throughout the spring and summer. For more on these battles, GamecockCentral’s Wes Mitchell has the inside scoop, breaking down the competition here.