WBB: Five Things to Watch - Mississippi State
SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
In the regular season finale, South Carolina hosts Mississippi State with the SEC regular season championship on the line.
1. SEC!
South Carolina remains a game behind Mississippi State in the standings, but South Carolina will have a shot at its fifth regular season title in the last six years when those two play to end the regular season Sunday. The SEC doesn’t break ties, so a South Carolina win would give the teams identical records, and each would get to claim the regular season championship. South Carolina is also looking to win either the regular season championship, tournament championship, or both for the sixth straight year.
2. Bracket Watch
South Carolina continues to be a four seed in the Albany region according to Charlie Creme. That leaves little room for error if South Carolina is to host the first two rounds in Charlotte. Only the top 16 seeds get to host, so South Carolina can’t afford to drop.
South Carolina has announced a pair of events leading up to the tournament. South Carolina is organizing a bus trip to Charlotte for the first two rounds if the Gamecocks do end up hosting there. Details can be found HERE.
Also, the Gamecocks announced plans for their “FAMdemonium” selection show event. It will include dinner, a photo booth, and an autograph session. Tickets are $25. Details about that can be found HERE.
3. Will Cooper play?
Te’a Cooper has played just four minutes over the last four games, missing time first due to illness and then a sprained ankle. Her ball-handling and scoring were greatly missed in the loss to Kentucky, and in the narrow win over Auburn. Cooper has played some of her best basketball in the biggest games, and she had 27 points, six assists, and five rebounds in the first game against Mississippi State.
On Friday, Dawn Staley played it coy, saying, “Has anybody put a Tweet out?” She went on to say only, that “maybe” Cooper would play and that she “is doing better.” So keep watching Twitter.
4. Senior Day Festivities
It is senior day for Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Doniyah Cliney, Alexis Jennings, and Nelly Perry and there is a smorgasbord of events planned as South Carolina is pushing for a sellout. (As I’ve noted before, South Carolina’s average attendance of 11,080 is more than Mississippi State’s all-time attendance record of 10,794, set last season against South Carolina. Just sayin’.)
The first 2,000 fans at the game will receive t-shirts with pictures of the four SEC Tournament Championship rings Cuevas-Moore and Cliney (both fifth-year seniors) have earned. Three of those rings came at the expense of Mississippi State, but I’m sure that’s just a coincidence. Senior Day festivities begin at 1:35.
Additionally, the Carolina Drumline will perform outside the arena at 1:15, and there will be poster-making stations on the concourse. Fans are invited to bring their own artwork to help make their posters. It is also the Health and Fitness game, with giveaways and information from community vendors. And lastly, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport will be giving away a free round-trip airfare to a fan.
Got all that? Me neither.
5. Scouting the Bulldogs
The book on Mississippi State has been written. Everything revolves around the big girl in the middle, Teaira McCowan. McCowan is averaging 17.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game this season, and everything Mississippi State does revolves around her. She had her way in the first game, scoring 26 points, grabbing 24 rebounds, and blocking two shots, one of which you may have seen a time or two again.
The Ws
Who: #14 South Carolina (21-7, 13-2) vs #5 Mississippi State (26-2, 14-1)
When: Sunday, March 3, 2:00 pm
Where: Colonial Life Arena
Watch: ESPN2