Gamecocks' victory over Vols sets stage for Super Saturday in SEC
Heading into the next-to-last weekend of SEC play, South Carolina is dreaming the Impossible Dream.
Wednesday night’s convincing 84-58 victory over Tennessee allowed the Gamecocks (23-5 overall, 10-5 SEC) to keep pace with league leader Kentucky (improved to 11-4 in SEC with 78-53 win over Alabama Tues. night) and Texas A&M (10-5) in the conference standings.
Can USC complete the miracle turnaround and, duplicating the Gamecock women’s team, win the SEC regular season title and earn the No. 1 seed for the upcoming conference tournament in Nashville?
Don’t look now, but it could happen.
Kentucky goes on the road to red-hot Vanderbilt (9-3 in last 12 SEC games after 0-3 start) Saturday and to Florida three days later. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks travel to Mississippi State Saturday and host Georgia next Thursday (March 3).
USC owns the tiebreaker over Texas A&M by virtue of their thrilling 81-78 win in College Station on Feb. 6, so the Gamecocks could be the top team in the SEC standings (No. 1 seed for conference tourney) a week from today should Kentucky drop their next two games, both on the road, and USC beats a pair of Bulldogs.
However, Saturday’s game in Starkville will be far from easy, though. Ben Howland has experienced many highs and lows coaching Mississippi State in his first season coaching in the SEC, but MSU had won three of four overall going into Wednesday night’s 68-66 loss at Texas A&M.
One of those victims was Vanderbilt, which dropped a heartbreaking 75-74 decision to the Bulldogs in Starkville nine days ago.
Thus, anybody who wrongfully thinks Mississippi State should be an easy win for the Gamecocks, think again. Easy road games in the SEC are a myth. Teams defend their home turf passionately in this conference regardless of record or sport.
With USC, Kentucky and Texas A&M all playing their next games on the road, Saturday promises to be a very intriguing day in the world of SEC basketball.
Super Saturday? Perhaps. Certainly, one of the most drama-filled days we’ve witnessed in a long time.
USC is No. 33 in the official NCAA RPI revealed Thursday morning, so they are comfortably within the range of earning an at-large bid if they do not win the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks are the third highest ranked SEC team in the ratings behind Kentucky (No. 11) and Texas A&M (No. 23).
Right now, though, Martin isn’t concerned about the RPI or how many Top 50 wins the Gamecocks own.
“There is going to be a moment when we’re going to embrace all that and be proud of it,” Martin said. “Right now, we have to stay the course. We have a chance to finish off the season the right way. You want to play your best basketball now, not in December.
“It is important we don’t get wrapped up in our successes. Over 28 games we have established ourselves as a good team. But that doesn’t change the future. We have to keep working and getting better and stay in the moment.”
SEC RESULTS (Feb. 23-24)
Kentucky 78, Alabama 53 (2/23)
Arkansas 85, LSU 65 (2/23)
Vanderbilt 87, Florida 74 (2/23)
Ole Miss 85, Missouri 76 (2/23)
Auburn 84, Georgia 81 (2/24)
Texas A&M 68, Miss. State 66 (2/24)
South Carolina 84, Tennessee 58 (2/24)
SEC SCHEDULE (Feb. 27)
Ole Miss at Georgia, noon (SEC Network)
South Carolina at Mississippi State, 2:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 4 p.m. (CBS)
Texas A&M at Missouri, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Auburn at Alabama, 5 p.m. (SEC Network)
Arkansas at Tennessee, 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Florida at LSU, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
CURRENT SEC STANDINGS: Kentucky 11-4, South Carolina 10-5, Texas A&M 10-5, LSU 9-6, Vanderbilt 9-6, Florida 8-7, Ole Miss 8-7, Georgia 7-8, Alabama 7-8, Arkansas 7-8, Tennessee 6-9, Mississippi State 5-10, Auburn 5-10, Missouri 3-12.
