Women's hoops: There's reliable … and then there's South Carolina

In the final week of the regular season for the major conferences, Iowa guard Caitlin Clark set more records, seeds were finalized for upcoming league tournaments, some fifth-year seniors suffered worrisome injuries, and the No. 2 team in the AP poll suffered a loss for the 10th time this season.

But who sits above the fray as the wire-to-wire No. 1 team as we close out ESPN’s women’s basketball Power Rankings for 2023-24? South Carolina, the same team that did so last season.

With so much going on across the country, it can be easy to take the 29-0 Gamecocks for granted simply because they’ve been so good for long. But what they’re doing now is the most impressive team feat this season in college hoops: replacing five starters and not missing a beat as Division I’s only undefeated team.

The Gamecocks have won 47 consecutive SEC regular-season games, the longest streak in conference history. They head into the SEC tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, this week as the No. 1 seed and a huge favorite.

How tough has the SEC been over the years? Only four schools have entered the SEC tournament, which began in 1980, undefeated. South Carolina (this season and last) is the only school to do it more than once. The others were Auburn in 1989, Tennessee in 1998 and Mississippi State in 2018.

The 1998 Lady Vols are the only ones of the group to go on to win both the subsequent SEC tournament and NCAA tournament titles that year. The Gamecocks won the SEC tournament last season, but then fell to Iowa in the national semifinals.

After her team’s victory Sunday over Ohio State — the latest No. 2-ranked team to fall this season — Iowa coach Lisa Bluder talked about the lessons the Hawkeyes have learned from some of their down moments.

“Bouncing back from failure is hard, but we all fail,” Bluder said, then added, “Except for South Carolina right now.”

Indeed, the Gamecocks have answered every challenge this season — when they are even challenged, that is. They tend to get stronger as the game goes on. Sunday’s 76-68 victory over Tennessee is the only game this season in which South Carolina didn’t outscore its opponent in the second half; both teams had 36 points after the break.

Tennessee pushed South Carolina in both meetings this season, but lost by 11 and eight points, prompting Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper to say the Gamecocks “just don’t have a lot of deficiencies.”

South Carolina has stayed pretty healthy this season, and that’s not easy, either. Sunday, fifth-year seniors Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana) and Molly Davis (Iowa) all suffered knee injuries, and their teams anxiously await medical reports heading into the postseason.

The bottom line for South Carolina has been excellence for a very long stretch now. Over the past 10 seasons — going back to the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2014-15 — South Carolina has gone 147-13 in SEC regular-season play, a remarkable 91.9 winning percentage in a physical, difficult league. That includes four perfect SEC regular-season records — this one in 2024 likely to earn Dawn Staley national Coach of the Year honors.

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Clark gets the award for the fourth time this season. How could she be denied? In victories over Minnesota and Ohio State, Clark had a combined 68 points, 21 assists and 16 rebounds. She tallied the 17th triple-double of her Iowa career against the Gophers, and sixth with at least 30 points. And she passed the career point totals of both Lynette Woodard and Pete Maravich, making her the Division I all-time scoring leader.

The Gamecocks defeated Arkansas and Tennessee in dominant fashion to complete their second consecutive undefeated SEC regular season. South Carolina led the league in scoring offense (84.3 PPG) and scoring defense (57.9 PPG) in its 16 conference games. The Gamecocks shot 49.1% from the field in league games, while holding their opponent to 33.3%. And they led the SEC in blocked shots (7.2 per game) and assists (18.1 per game) in league contests.

Admittedly, it’s hard to say how Sunday’s game would have turned out had Virginia Tech center Kitley not been injured in the third quarter. Still, this was an important win for Virginia. Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is in her second season trying to put the pieces back together for the Cavaliers, who have had just one NCAA tournament appearance (2018) since 2010. The ACC is a tough league to make up ground in when you’re near the bottom. But seven league victories this season is notable progress, with four coming against ranked teams.

Coach of the week: Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss

“Coach Yo” has turned around the program at Ole Miss. The Rebels cruised past Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas this past week, finishing with a program-record 12 SEC victories. A 12-4 mark is good for third place in the league. Consider four years ago — McPhee-McCuin’s second season trying to rebuild the program — Ole Miss went 0-16 in league play. Even then, though, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel. After four SEC wins in 2020-21, the Rebels have had double-digit league victories now the past three years in a row and reached the Sweet 16 last season.

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Power Rankings

1. South Carolina Gamecocks (29-0)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: vs. Mississippi State/Texas A&M winner at SEC tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

Even when the Gamecocks don’t shoot the ball well, such as in their victory over Tennessee on Sunday (33.3%), they still give themselves a lot of chances to score. They took 81 shots to the Lady Vols’ 66. Ashlyn Watkins (21 points, 11 rebounds) led the way in Thursday’s win at Arkansas, and Kamilla Cardoso (18, 14) did so against Tennessee. South Carolina’s depth is sure to scare any foe from here on out.

2. Iowa Hawkeyes (26-4)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: vs. Penn State/Wisconsin winner at Big Ten tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

Sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke didn’t get many touches in the Hawkeyes’ 108-60 romp over Minnesota on Wednesday. But she did in a hotly contested game Sunday vs. Ohio State, going 9-of-12 from the field for 23 points, plus 9 rebounds. Iowa is concerned about the status of injured guard Molly Davis going into the postseason, but Stuelke looks ready to be a force. Iowa, the Big Ten tournament No. 2 seed, is also shooting the 3-pointer well of late, with a combined 50 in the last three games.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (25-4)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: vs. Illinois/Maryland winner at Big Ten tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

The Buckeyes had won 15 in a row and clinched the Big Ten regular-season title before running into a buzzsaw on senior day at Iowa on Sunday. Still, there were good things to take away from that 93-83 loss, including Ohio State’s 14 made 3-pointers. On neutral ground at the league tournament in Minneapolis, the top-seeded Buckeyes still project as the favorite.

4. Stanford Cardinal (26-4)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: vs. California/Washington State winner at Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals (Thursday)

The Cardinal were picked to finish third in the Pac-12’s final season, and they had a few shaky games, such as their Feb. 23 loss to Arizona. But when the dust settled, they were atop the league again, one last time, claiming their 27th regular-season championship after winning 67-63 at Oregon State on Thursday. They followed that with a 76-56 win at Oregon on Saturday and head to Las Vegas as the Pac-12 tournament’s top seed. Cameron Brink dominated on the trip to her home state, with a combined 43 points, 40 rebounds and 9 assists vs. the Oregon schools.

5. Texas Longhorns (27-4)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: vs. Kansas/BYU winner at Big 12 tournament quarterfinals (Saturday)

The Longhorns appeared to have the game in hand a couple of times Wednesday at Oklahoma. But the Sooners are experts at erasing leads, plus they outrebounded Texas 47-30 in a 71-70 win. That kept the Longhorns, who then beat BYU on Saturday, from sharing the Big 12 regular-season title in their last season in the league. Texas heads to the Big 12 tournament as the No. 2 seed knowing it must rebound better and close out games to win the championship.

6. Indiana Hoosiers (24-4)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: vs. Michigan/TBD winner at Big Ten tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

Indiana wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the league tournament with victories last week over Northwestern and Maryland. But the concern is with Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana’s leading scorer and rebounder who injured her knee Sunday against the Terps. She is an irreplaceable force inside for the guard-heavy Hoosiers.

7. LSU Tigers (26-4)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: vs. Auburn/Arkansas winner at SEC tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

The defending national champion is the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament and one of the hottest teams outside of South Carolina. After losing their last two games in January, the Tigers were 8-0 in February. Angel Reese had a combined 39 points and 29 rebounds in victories over Georgia and Kentucky this past week.

8. USC Trojans (23-5)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: vs. Arizona/Washington winner at Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals (Thursday)

Speaking of strong February performances, the Trojans were 9-1 in the month and will be the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 tournament. They were tested this past week at Arizona, surviving 95-93 in double overtime behind center Rayah Marshall‘s season-high 26 points, plus 11 rebounds. The Trojans survived to win that game despite freshman star JuJu Watkins fouling out just before the end of regulation, so that is a confidence-builder for USC.

9. UCLA Bruins (24-5)
Previous ranking: 10
This week: vs. Utah/Arizona State winner at Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals (Thursday)

The Bruins had a strong regular-season finish, beating Colorado, Arizona State and Arizona this past week to wrap up the No. 3 seed in the league tournament. It was a good week for sophomore guard Kiki Rice, who had 41 points, 23 rebounds and 17 assists in the Bruins’ victories. UCLA won seven of its last eight games, with the only loss on a last-second 3-pointer at Oregon State.

10. Virginia Tech Hokies (23-6)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: vs. North Carolina/Miami winner at ACC tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

Sometimes the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat come way too close together for teams. On Feb. 25, the Hokies were flying high, having won 10 in a row to clinch the ACC regular-season title. But this past week, they lost on the road at Notre Dame and Virginia. The status of Kitley, who left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, is of much greater concern. Like Holmes for Indiana, there is no replacing Kitley for Virginia Tech.

11. UConn Huskies (26-5)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: vs. Butler/Providence winner at Big East tournament quarterfinals (Saturday)

Powered by Paige Bueckers‘ combined 48 points, UConn completed its Big East regular-season slate at 18-0 with wins last week over Villanova and Providence. The chances of the top-seeded Huskies winning the league tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena seem pretty close to 100%. The key will be UConn looking to sharpen its play as much as possible before the NCAA tournament.

12. Oregon State Beavers (23-6)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: vs. Colorado/Oregon winner at Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals (Thursday)

The Beavers fell to Stanford but beat California last week and have the No. 4 seed in the Pac-12 tournament. The return of leading scorer and rebounder Raegan Beers vs. the Bears on Saturday was the best news for Oregon State. She had been out four games — three of them losses — since suffering a broken nose Feb. 16 in a victory over UCLA, and had 14 points and 6 rebounds vs. Cal.

13. NC State Wolfpack (25-5)
Previous ranking: 13
This week: vs. Duke/TBD winner at ACC tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

After falling to Triangle rivals North Carolina and Duke the previous week, the Wolfpack needed a boost. They got it by finishing strong with an overtime win against Syracuse and a blowout of Wake Forest last week. Saniya Rivers had a combined 45 points and 9 assists in those wins, which secured the No. 2 seed for the Wolfpack in the ACC tournament.

14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (23-6)
Previous ranking: NR
This week: vs. Louisville/TBD winner at ACC tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

The Irish secured the No. 4 seed in the ACC tournament and got back into the Power Rankings with victories over Virginia Tech and Louisville to end the regular season. Freshman sensation Hannah Hidalgo had a combined 49 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 9 steals for Notre Dame, which held its last four opponents below 60 points.

15. Oklahoma Sooners (21-8)
Previous ranking: 15
This week: vs. Oklahoma State/TCU winner at Big 12 tournament quarterfinals (Saturday)

The Sooners got one of their most emotional victories in recent years last Wednesday by beating Texas 71-70 on a late 3-pointer by Lexy Keys. That secured the Big 12 regular-season title in Oklahoma’s final year in the conference. But the Sooners had a tough time Saturday at Kansas, with the Jayhawks playing for their NCAA tournament lives on senior day. OU lost 83-74, but still has the top seed in the league tournament.

16. Syracuse Orange (23-6)
Previous ranking: 16
This week: vs. Florida State/TBD winner at ACC tournament quarterfinals (Friday)

The Orange fell in overtime at NC State in their regular-season finale but hold on to the final spot in the Power Rankings as the No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament. Dyaisha Fair had 26 points against the Wolfpack and now has 3,328 for her career, which ranks fifth on the NCAA list.

Dropped out: Kansas State Wildcats