South Carolina women's basketball: First look at the other teams playing in Columbia
The brackets are out, and we know the three teams that will join the Gamecocks in Columbia. Get to know South Carolina’s 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 (made three AIAW Elite Eights)
The Golden Eagles are coached by former Ole Miss player Kim Rosamond. They cruised through the Ohio Valley Conference and haven’t lost since January 9, but it was a weak schedule. The Golden Eagles didn’t play a Quad 1 or 3 game and were 0-2 in Quad 2 games. Everything else was Quad 4.
Tennessee Tech relies on balanced scoring. Six players average at least 9.6 points, led by Reghan Grimes’ 12.9 points.
#8 Utah Utes (22-8, 13-5) NET: 26
All-time series: 1-0; Tournament series: Never met; Best tournament finish: 2006 Elite Eight
Utah already faced a rebuilding season after losing Alissa Pili to the WNBA, but then the Utes lost head coach Lynne Roberts to the WNBA four games into the season (Roberts was hired by the LA Sparks). Gavin Peterson took over and steadied the ship, including a stunning upset of Notre Dame in November.
Gianna Kneepkens leads Utah with 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. She is shooting 45% from three.
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#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: 2021 Elite Eight
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Indiana lost one of its all-time greats, Mackenzie Holmes, to the Seattle Storm. Without Holmes, Yarden Garzon (14.5 points) and Sydney Parrish (11.9 points) have taken on bigger roles. Parrish gave South Carolina fits last season, scoring 21 points to lead the Hoosiers’ comeback attempt.
Indiana struggled mightily at the beginning of the season, losing to Harvard and Butler, among others. But the Hoosiers improved since then and notched a win over no. 8 Ohio State while giving Southern Cal a couple of scares.
Other teams to watch:
If everything goes chalk, South Carolina is looking at a potential Sweet 16 game against #4 Maryland or #5 Alabama.
South Carolina beat Alabama 76-58 earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, and Dawn Staley has never lost to the Crimson Tide. Maryland started the season 14-0 but got hit hard by injuries in January and finished the season 9-7.
