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South Carolina WBB’s SEC Race: Coin Toss Decides Top Seed

ByCoach

As the women’s college basketball regular season draws to a close, the race for the top seed in the SEC Tournament is heating up.

Both No. 6 South Carolina and No. 1 Texas are neck and neck with 13-1 records in conference play, each having lost only to the other.

With two games remaining for both teams, the final standings will be determined by Sunday.

The SEC Tournament, set to take place from March 5-9 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, will see fierce competition as teams vie for the top spot and a favorable tournament schedule.

South Carolina and Texas: A Tied Race

South Carolina and Texas have been dominant forces in the SEC this season, each boasting a 13-1 record in conference play. Their only losses came at the hands of each other, making this a highly competitive and exciting season for both teams.

As of now, the two teams are tied for the top spot in the SEC standings, and the tie cannot be broken until the final games are played.

The Road Ahead

South Carolina has a relatively straightforward path to maintaining its top position, with games against Ole Miss (9-5 SEC) on Thursday and Kentucky (10-4 SEC) on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Texas will face Mississippi State (6-8 SEC) on Thursday and Florida (5-9 SEC) on Sunday.

Both teams are expected to win their remaining games, which would result in them being named SEC regular season co-champions.

In the event of a tie, the No. 1 seed for the SEC Tournament would be determined by a coin flip. This information will be officially released by the league if South Carolina and Texas remain tied heading into Sunday. Read more about the tie-breaking process.

The Importance of the No. 1 Seed

Securing the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament holds significant advantages for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks would play their first game at noon on Friday against either the No. 16, No. 9, or No. 8 seeds. A win in this quarterfinals game would likely set them up against the No. 4 seed in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Potential Matchups

Should South Carolina be the No. 2 seed, their tournament run would begin at 6 p.m. on Friday against either the No. 15, No. 10, or No. 7 seeds. A win in this scenario would pit them against the No. 3 seed in the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Essentially, having the No. 1 seed would mean avoiding a potential matchup with a strong team like LSU in the semifinals, making the path to the SEC championship game slightly easier.

SEC Standings Breakdown

As the regular season winds down, the current SEC standings are as follows:

  • T-1. Texas (*) 13-1
  • T-1. South Carolina (*) 13-1
  • 3. LSU 12-2
  • 4. Kentucky 10-4
  • T-5. Alabama (%) 9-5
  • T-5. Oklahoma (%) 9-5
  • 7. Ole Miss (%) 9-5
  • 8. Tennessee 8-6
  • 9. Mississippi State (^) 6-8
  • 10. Vanderbilt (^) 6-8
  • 11. Florida 5-9
  • 12. Auburn (@) 3-11
  • 13. Texas A&M (@) 3-11
  • 14. Georgia (#) 2-12
  • T-15. Missouri (#) 2-12
  • T-15. Arkansas (#) 2-12

Explaining the projections, the SEC notes:

  • (*) Texas and South Carolina split their games and have defeated all other opponents, therefore the tie cannot be broken at this time.
  • (%) Alabama and Oklahoma have not played but both defeated Ole Miss, therefore Alabama and Oklahoma cannot be broken, but Ole Miss would be No. 7 seed.
  • (^) Mississippi State defeated Vanderbilt head to head, making the Bulldogs the No. 9 seed.
  • (@) Auburn defeated Texas A&M head to head, therefore is the No. 12 seed.
  • (#) Georgia defeated Missouri and Arkansas head to head, which makes Georgia No. 14 seed. Missouri and Arkansas have not played yet, therefore that tie cannot be broken.

What’s at Stake

The outcome of the final games will not only determine the top seed but also affect the matchups and potential paths to the championship game.

For South Carolina, securing the No. 1 seed would provide a more favorable schedule and potentially easier opponents. This could be crucial for their chances of advancing to the SEC championship game and beyond.

Final Thoughts

As the regular season comes to a close, all eyes are on South Carolina and Texas as they battle for the top spot in the SEC.

Both teams have relatively easy schedules ahead, so they will likely remain tied. This will lead to a coin flip to determine the No. 1 seed.

The SEC Tournament promises to be an exciting and competitive event, with each team vying for the championship title.

For more detailed information on the current standings and tie-breaking scenarios, visit The State.

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