Who: #6 South Carolina (25-3, 13-1) at Ole Miss (18-8, 9-5)

Time/TV: 9:00 pm streaming on ESPN

Line: SC -10.5. Total: 130.5

History: South Carolina leads 31-17 overall and 11-8 in Oxford. Carolina is 21-2 against the Rebels under Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks have won the last 19 meetings including the last nine on the Rebels home court. South Carolina has not lost at Ole Miss under Dawn Staley. Ole Miss's last win in the series was in the 2010 SEC Tournament by a score of 64-63. Both the losses to the Rebels during the Dawn Staley tenure were by a single point.

Last Meeting: February 4, 2024. Carolina 85-56. South Carolina overcame one of their worst three-point shooting performances of the season thanks to a balanced scoring effort that saw six Gamecocks in double-figures with Kamilla Cardoso leading the way with 17 points.

South Carolina’s last trip to Pavilion at Ole Miss resulted in a nail-bitting overtime 64-57 win for the Gamecocks. Ole Miss took the lead with 1:24 remaining. South Carolina was only able to tie the game in the last 84 seconds as Aliyah Boston went cold from the foul line converting only 1-of-4 attempts. Carolina's defense dominated in the overtime period as the Gamecocks outscored the Rebels 9-2 in the extra time.

Ole Miss is currently second in the SEC in defense, surrendering just 55.8 points per game. Ole Miss is also second in the league in terms of allowing the fewest rebounds, second in turnover margin and third in assist to turnover ratio. The Rebels use those turnover to create points in transition averaging 23.5 point off of turnover for the season.

Like the Gamecocks, Ole Miss doesn't have a go-to scorer. (MiLaysia Fuliwey and Joyce Edwards are in the process of changing that narrative). The Rebs have four players averaging double-figures. Three of their top five players are playing in their fifth or sixth season of college basketball. Madison Scott is the leading the scorer at 12.2 ppg. Scott had a game-high 17 points for the Rebels last season in Columbia. The future for the Rebels is in the hands of freshman Sira Thienou. The 6'0 guard out of Mali is averaging 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.2 assists per game. Thienou is also Mississippi's best 3-point threat- shooting 35.4% from long range.

The Rebels have lost eight games and they've been competitive with everyone they've played. Ole Miss has losses to Southern Cal, UConn, NC State, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. They were also upset by Texas A&M in January. Their best win was a 9-point home win over Kentucky. Ole Miss's last time out they snuck by a very average Missouri. The Rebels are a team that you won't want to see in your bracket come March.

Prior to tonight's action the NCAA Tournament Committee will unveil their top 16. South Carolina is thought to be on the #1 line with UCLA and Texas. Southern Cal, Notre Dame and UConn are three teams contending for the other #1 seed. #22 Creighton is at UConn tonight but the Huskies are 22-point favorites. Notre Dame hosts the nation's leading scorer Ta'Niya Latson and the #24 Seminoles at 8:00 pm tonight. The Irish are 16.5 point favorites.

In regards to the SEC race for the #1 seed in the conference tournament- Texas is at Mississippi State in the Vic Schaefer return game. The Horns are 14-pt favorites in that one. The game tips off at 8:00 pm. With Texas closing their season at home against Florida, this is the only moderately losable game left. LSU is currently a game behind both Texas and South Carolina. The Tigers are at Alabama tonight also at 9:00 pm, the Tigers are only 1.5 point favorites. If the Gamecocks and Longhorns win out- remember a coin flip will decide the #1 seed in Greenville.

South Carolina fans should be pulling for Creighton, FSU and Alabama while they wait for the late tip-off.