How to watch No. 1 South Carolina WBB vs. No. 9 LSU: TV, time, storylines
The two most recent women’s basketball national champions meet up for a regular-season showdown Thursday as No. 1 South Carolina takes on No. 9 LSU in Baton Rouge.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game, including how to watch, top storylines and more:
What channel is the South Carolina game on?
Who: No. 1 South Carolina (17-0, 5-0 SEC) vs. No. 9 LSU (18-2, 5-1)
When: Thursday, 8 p.m.
Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
TV Network: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app and ESPN.com
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Brad Muller) … See all the radio affiliates around South Carolina here.
Satellite Radio: Sirius XM Channel 83
Series History: LSU leads the all-time series 22-18, but South Carolina has won the last 14 meetings. The Gamecocks defeated the Tigers 88-64 last season in front of a sellout crowd at Colonial Life Arena.
Top storylines for the game
- ESPN’s “College GameDay” in the house: The pregame show will be in Baton Rouge for a women’s basketball game for the first time Thursday evening for the top-10 matchup. LSU will open arena doors an hour-and-a-half before the highly anticipated game so fans can settle in and watch “College GameDay” live and in person. Three-and-a-half hours before tip, LSU will host a party on the plaza outside the arena with a live DJ, food trucks and fan activities.
- Conference road test: This young South Carolina team will have to be on its best behavior as it travels to Baton Rouge to take on the defending national champions. Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said Sunday night after playing LSU at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center that the raucous crowd is worth about 8-10 points. The Tigers are averaging about 11,058 fans per home game and expect their match with the Gamecocks to sell out by tip-off.
- “The big picture is Thursday, and we’re ready for it”: Angel Reese referred to the LSU-South Carolina game as “the big picture” after the Tigers defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday. And she’s right. South Carolina and LSU have the Nos. 1 and 2 odds to win the national championship this year at plus-280 and plus-500, respectfully. Whoever wins this game will have made a big statement.
- Numbers game: Various Gamecocks and Tigers stats stack up in a really compelling way. LSU has the No. 2 rebounding margin in the nation (16), while USC’s is ranked No. 4 (15.2). Since losing to Auburn, LSU’s defense has limited opponents to under 30% shooting (Alabama shot 28.8% and Arkansas shot 27.8%), while South Carolina has the best field goal percentage in the nation at 52.57%. The Tigers’ offense ranks No. 1 in the nation with 91.6 points per game, while USC’s scoring defense ranks No. 5 in the country allowing 52.1 opponent points per game.
- Kamilla Cardoso-Angel Reese matchup: Both Cardoso and Reese are averaging double-doubles on points and rebounds this season. While Cardoso (6-foot-7) has four inches on Reese (6-foot-3), the LSU forward plays aggressive, which is something South Carolina’s center is still working on. Cardoso has started to attack the basket more diligently her last few games, though, and she’s a force on defense (see her 7.5 defensive rebounds and 2.88 blocks per game). It’ll be interesting to see how both bigs perform.
- Battle of the freshman phenoms: South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams shared the SEC’s most recent Freshman of the Week honor. Fulwiley is fresh off a career-high 21-point performance at Texas A&M, while Williams just recorded her sixth 20-point game versus Arkansas.
Point spread for USC Gamecocks vs. LSU Tigers
South Carolina is a 9.5-point favorite against LSU, according to ESPN Bet. The over/under is 151.5 points.
South Carolina WBB schedule
- Nov. 6: South Carolina 100, Notre Dame 71
- Nov. 12: South Carolina 114, Maryland 76
- Nov. 16: South Carolina 109, Clemson 40
- Nov. 20: South Carolina 78, South Dakota State 38
- Nov. 24: South Carolina 101, Mississippi Valley State 19
- Nov. 30: South Carolina 65, North Carolina 58
- Dec. 3: South Carolina 77, Duke 61
- Dec. 6: South Carolina 104, Morgan State 38
- Dec. 10: South Carolina 78, Utah 69
- Dec. 16: South Carolina 99, Presbyterian 29
- Dec. 19: South Carolina 93, Bowling Green 62
- Dec. 30: South Carolina 73, East Carolina 36
- Jan. 4: South Carolina 89, Florida 66
- Jan. 7: South Carolina 85, Mississippi State 66
- Jan. 11: South Carolina 81, Missouri 57
- Jan. 15: South Carolina 98, Kentucky 36
- Jan. 21: South Carolina 99, Texas A&M 64
- Jan. 25: at No. 7 LSU, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
- Jan. 28: vs. Vanderbilt, 3 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 1: at Auburn, 8 p.m.
- Feb. 4: vs. Ole Miss, 2 p.m. (ESPN 2)
- Feb. 8: vs. Missouri, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 11: vs. No. 17 UConn, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
- Feb. 15: at Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- Feb. 18: vs Georgia, 2 p.m. (ESPN 2 or SEC Network)
- Feb. 22: vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 25: at Kentucky, 3 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 29: at Arkansas, 9 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 3: vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m. (ESPN)
- March 6-10: SEC Tournament
This story was originally published January 24, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
Payton Titus
The State