Top storylines as South Carolina-Tennessee game comes with big SEC implications
The No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball team is generating plenty of buzz before Sunday’s highly anticipated matchup against No. 12 Tennessee. ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to town, the game is getting an ABC broadcast and Colonial Life Arena was sold out as of Friday.
“I think it’s exciting for all of us,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “I hope that all of women’s basketball is excited because of what’s coming to our town. I know our FAMs are excited. I know our players are excited. I know Tennessee’s gonna be excited about being in this atmosphere.”
On the court, the Gamecocks are competing for more than just a 13th straight SEC victory on Sunday. The SEC regular-season title and No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament are both on the line with a win over the Lady Vols.
Four USC seniors will also be honored in the home regular-season finale, and national Player of the Year candidate Aliyah Boston could tie an SEC record in consecutive double-doubles against Tennessee.
Here are the main storylines to know ahead of the game.
SEC milestones on the line
The Gamecocks would be guaranteed at least a share of the 2021-22 SEC regular-season crown with a win over Tennessee on Sunday.
Two conference games remain for a one-loss South Carolina after its matchup with the Lady Vols. With tiebreaker wins over LSU and Florida, which both have three losses in conference play, South Carolina would clinch the No. 1 seed in the SEC tournament with a win over the Lady Vols.
In a situation where the Gamecocks beat Tennessee but drop their final two games — and either LSU or Florida win out — that team and USC would be named SEC regular-season champions.
Staley said the players know what’s on the line, but she hasn’t had any extra conversations about handling pressure. The Gamecocks would be checking a box with this win, and Staley said winning the SEC is a big step toward USC’s ultimate goal of winning the national championship.
“Quite honestly, if you can win this league, you’ve got a really good shot at winning the national championship,” Staley said. “We’ve felt that way for a very long time, but we surely feel it this particular year because our league is much more competitive than it’s been. The competition is at an all-time high.”
Tennessee lost to Alabama by 10 points Thursday, adding pressure for the Vols in their Sunday trip to Colonial Life Arena. Should Tennessee also lose to South Carolina, its shot at the SEC regular-season title would be gone.
The Lady Vols’ leading scorer, Jordan Horston, left the Alabama game with an elbow injury in the fourth quarter. With Horston’s status uncertain heading into Sunday, Staley said the Gamecocks have practiced as if she’s going to play.
“Jordan, if they give her to the go to play, she’s gonna play,” Staley said. “So we were preparing as if she’s going to be a big part of what they do.”
The Vols were once positioned atop the SEC with an undefeated conference record — South Carolina dropped its first SEC matchup to Missouri on Dec. 30, its only loss of the 2021-22 season — but have dropped three conference games since Jan. 27 (Auburn, Florida and Alabama).
Tennessee is dealing with injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear to Keyen Green in January. Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper told reporters on Jan. 25 that Green’s injury was a “gut punch.” Staley said her injury made an impact on the Vols’ season.
“(Green) was their glue,” Staley said. “She wasn’t overly like a stat filler, but she was probably main chemistry (and) glue of their particular basketball team. ... You just have to make adjustments. I think they were making adjustments to not having her, but this league is unforgiving.”
Aliyah Boston could tie SEC record
Boston’s double-double streak is nearing a conference record.
The Gamecocks’ national Player of the Year candidate has tallied 18 consecutive double-doubles in a streak dating back to the Nov. 29 game against Elon.
LSU’s Sylvia Fowles counted 19 consecutive double-doubles in the 2005-06 season. If Boston advances her streak on Sunday, she would tie the SEC record. Boston has already eclipsed the South Carolina record.
But Boston said after the Gamecocks’ most recent win over Auburn that she isn’t thinking about the double-double record, as she has fully bought into the team’s sole goal: winning games.
“Coach Staley just emphasized keeping the main goal the main goal,” Boston said. “All the other stuff is kind of just extra, and that’s not really what I’m focused on. The main goal is just coming here, winning every game and making it all the way. So that’s what I want to do.”
Gamecocks to honor four seniors Sunday
South Carolina will send off its four seniors — Destanni Henderson, Destiny Littleton, Victaria Saxton and Elysa Wesolek — before the Tennessee game in annual senior day ceremonies.
All four players will have the option to return for a fifth year in Columbia due to COVID-19 relief given to athletes for the 2019-20 cancellation.
Staley said there haven’t been any decisions made around anyone’s future with the program, though Henderson and Saxton could consider heading to the WNBA draft after the 2021-22 season.
“That’s an end-of-the-season question,” Staley said. “I would probably bank on definitely Henny and V being the ones that want to get to that next level.”
Graduate LeLe Grissett won’t be honored in Sunday’s ceremonies, as she went through senior day last season and opted to return for an extra year with the Gamecocks.
How to watch SC vs. Tennessee women’s basketball game
Who: No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks (24-1, 12-1 SEC) vs. No. 12 Tennessee Lady Volunteers (21-5, 10-3 SEC)
When: Sunday at 1 p.m.
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.
Watch: ABC
This story was originally published February 19, 2022 at 6:40 PM.
