South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - Selection Sunday

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South Carolina learns its tournament seeding Sunday, with a watch party for fans.

1. Who’s number one?

South Carolina’s loss to Kentucky opened up room for debate over who gets the top overall seed. The consensus is that three teams have separated themselves from everyone else: South Carolina, Stanford, and NC State. Stanford hasn’t lost since falling to the Gamecocks and has an argument as the hottest team. NC State has a couple of bad losses and is generally seen as the third of the three. The fourth could be up for grabs, with Louisville and Baylor the main candidates. 

There really isn’t another candidate for the top seed unless someone is just trying to stir debate: South Carolina’s claim is still the strongest. With a handful of games left to be played Sunday, South Carolina has the fewest losses of any team in the country, is ranked first in the NET, has the toughest strength of schedule, and played in the toughest conference. The Gamecocks also have at least 19 wins over 15 NCAA Tournament teams (plus a couple more over bubble teams), including Stanford and NC State.

It’s a good time to go back to the preseason when Dawn Staley explained her scheduling philosophy. 

“We want to be the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament,” she said before the season. “I would like to be that, just so we are putting ourselves in the best chance of winning the championship, and the way you do that is in November and December.”

2. Location, location, location

The NCAA seeds on an S-curve, meaning the top seed is paired with the lowest two seed, and so on. That’s why the top overall seed matters. But location also matters, arguably more than the seed. This year, South Carolina wants to play in the Greensboro region. The other four regions are Wichita, Spokane, and Bridgeport, CT. That bodes well for South Carolina. 

Teams like Baylor, Texas, Iowa, and Iowa State want to be in Wichita. Louisville wants to be in Greensboro, but the Cardinals don’t appear to be in the running for a number one seed, and certainly won’t overtake the Gamecocks. Stanford wants to be in Spokane, so the Cardinal may be the primary competition for the top overall seed, but they aren’t in competition with the Gamecocks for location.

That leaves the Wolfpack. NC State obviously wants to be in Greensboro as well, and the Wolfpack is a consensus top-three team. NC State is ranked second in the NET, and third in strength of schedule. But the Wolfpack plays in a weaker conference – the ACC is ranked fourth – and has lost more games, including that head-to-head matchup to open the season.

Do the Gamecocks need to be concerned about the Wolfpack swiping their region? Maybe a little, but the Greensboro games are on March 25 and 27 and tickets are on sale.

3. First Four

As part of its effort to remedy the inequalities faced by the women’s tournament, the NCAA has expanded the women’s tournament to 68 teams. Unlike the men’s tournament, which plays all four opening-round games (commonly known as the play-in games) at one site in Dayton, Ohio, the women’s opening-round games will be played at four of the top-16 host sites. 

South Carolina will likely play one of the First Four teams in the first round. It’s unclear now if Colonial Life Arena will also host the play-in game. We should find out by Sunday night at the latest.

4. Shirzees!

It’s NIL working for the fans and the players. The women’s basketball team is the first South Carolina team with a group licensing agreement that allows fans to buy replica jerseys featuring current players. Well, shirzees. Under Armour is selling jersey-styled t-shirts with player names and numbers for all 16 players. 

According to a press release, the agreement is the first of its kind in women’s basketball and the decision to release “shirzees” instead of replica jerseys was made in order to rush production in order to be available for the NCAA Tournament.

The shirzees can be ordered on UA.com beginning March 15. 

My two cents: The relationship between the women’s basketball program and Under Armour has been mixed. Several years ago Under Armour made a determined commitment to women’s sports, trying to become the primary brand for women. That included signing former Gamecock Tyasha Harris to a sponsorship deal and including her in commercials. Then Under Armour hit bad times financially and that carried over to the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks haven’t worn pink in several years and the last time they did they were using previous generation uniforms, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan’s name was rendered three different ways on white, garnet, and black uniforms, they once had to wear several-year-old uniforms because those for the current season weren’t ready, and this season’s garnet alternates are the first new uniforms in many years. Someone close to the program once told me, “We just wear what Under Armour sends” when a mistake was pointed out. That being said, Under Armour has repeatedly given the Gamecocks the newest shoes and provided the alternates this season. The shirzees suggest Under Armour understands what a valuable property it has in South Carolina women’s basketball (y’all FAMs is crazy), which is good for them, good for the players, and good for the fans. I still want my Devan Downey jersey, though. 

5. Selection Show Fan Event

From South Carolina:

 South Carolina women’s basketball invites fans to join the team at Colonial Life Arena for an open practice and to watch the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal on Sunday, March 13.

Head coach Dawn Staley and the team are excited to return to watching the Selection Show with their FAMS again after a two-year absence from hosting an in-person event. The team will practice 6-7:30 p.m. with commentary from the staff, and a few Gamecock alumnae will take the court with Staley for some games and a Q&A session leading into the Selection Show’s start at 8 p.m.

Fans should RSVP to the event, which will also register them to win one of several prizes that will include NCAA Tournament first/second round tickets and seats on an upcoming fan bus trip among other items. Register at: https://universityofsouthcarolina-yrckc.formstack.com/forms/2022_ncaaw_selection_show; must be present at the event to win.

Admission to the event is free, and the main entrance of Colonial Life Arena will open at 6 p.m. The same Clear Bag Policy as for games will be in effect.

Seating will be first-come, first-served in Sections 104-107, and The Grill will be open to purchase food and drinks.

The Ws

• What: NCAA Tournament Selection Show
• When: 8:00 pm
• Watch: ESPN