South-Carolina
SEC Power Rankings: South Carolina women’s basketball set to dominate new era of conference
SEC women’s basketball is back in more ways than one.
With newcomers Texas and Oklahoma, the SEC is looking stronger than ever, and it shouldn’t really be a debate about if it’s the best conference anymore. The last three national championships were won by SEC teams, including South Carolina going 38-0 last season, and the conference is only going to get more dominant.
Now, onto the preseason power rankings:
1. South Carolina
What to know: Dawn Staley’s daycare has a year of experience – and by experience, I mean an undefeated national championship run – to their credit. I have no reason to doubt the Gamecocks here.
2. LSU
What to know: Kim Mulkey’s strategy of pulling big names out of the portal has worked, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work once again, especially with Flau’jae Johnson leading the charge.
3. Texas
What to know: I’m high on Texas as Vic Schaefer returns to the SEC, but he has to face Staley and the Gamecocks twice. Just ask him how that went when he was at Mississippi State.
4. Oklahoma
What to know: The Sooners have enough redshirt seniors to fill a starting lineup, and with their experience, they’ll make a splash their first year in the SEC.
5. Ole Miss
What to know: Coach Yo has turned the Rebels into a solid SEC program, which makes it all the more confusing why she was desperate enough to hire someone on staff who would only pass an Ole Miss basketball background check.
6. Kentucky
What to know: Kentucky is ranked this high purely because of Georgia Amoore. No, I will not be explaining further.
7. Alabama
What to know: Alabama brings back all but one of its starters, so if it can’t keep its place in the upper half of the SEC, things are looking bleaker in Tuscaloosa than I thought.
8. Tennessee
What to know: There’s a new kid on the block – well, actually, make that two – at Tennessee, which is about to find out if going young and bold is the path to national relevance again.
9. Auburn
What to know: Johnnie Harris’ defense paired with a pure scorer in Taliah Scott? Yeah, sign me up. Don’t be surprised when Auburn wins some big games this season.
10. Florida
What to know: The Gators have always been a middle of the pack, not horrible, but not great, type of team, and that hasn’t changed under Kelly Rae Finley. Here’s to hoping her talented youngsters can shake things up in a good way.
11. Vanderbilt
What to know: Everyone messed around and let Shea Ralph get a roster with more depth than she has ever had at Vanderbilt. Women’s basketball might be on a Vandy football vibe this season.
12. Texas A&M
What to know: The Aggies never really reached their full potential last year and lost two starters. I can’t guarantee they’ll be exciting, but I’ll bet Joni Taylor’s defense will still give a lot of teams problems.
13. Mississippi State
What to know: I can count on one hand how many returners Mississippi State has. And maybe that’s a good thing based on how last season ended.
14. Georgia
What to know: Georgia was abysmal last season and didn’t add the players to make me believe it will be any better this season in a loaded SEC.
15. Arkansas
What to know: Mike Neighbors went international to fill some holes left by a mass exodus after last season. That’s one way to not have to deal with NIL, I guess.
16. Missouri
What to know: Missouri went from being the last team to hand South Carolina a loss in SEC play to last in the conference in two seasons. My, how times have changed and the coach hasn’t.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
South-Carolina
ICE agents will be stationed outside Marine Corps graduation events in South Carolina
WASHINGTON — ICE agents will be stationed outside graduation events for the nation’s newest Marines to identify whether any of their family members are undocumented, according to the Marine Corps.
As the U.S. continues the war in Iran, the Marine Corps has boosted protection measures on bases, requiring everyone to present REAL IDs, U.S. passports or U.S. birth certificates to access any sites.
Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for federal REAL IDs and don’t have U.S. passports or birth certificates. So people without identifying documents who arrive at the gate of Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina, for recruit family days and graduation events this week may now have to answer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, the Marine Corps said.
Because of “increased force protection measures” at the recruit depot, “federal law enforcement personnel will be present at installation access points to conduct enhanced screening and lawful immigration status inquiries during recruit family and graduation days,” a message on the Parris Island website read.
While sometimes family members don’t have proper documentation, it wasn’t clear why ICE had decided to target Parris Island. A spokesperson for ICE didn’t immediately reply to a message seeking comment.
Graduation is Friday morning, but family members are invited to visit the base and celebrate their sons’ and daughters’ completion of the grueling training beginning Wednesday. Marine recruits aren’t allowed to see their families during the 13-week boot camp.
“While the Marine Corps routinely coordinates with federal partners on security matters, this is the first time in recent memory that federal law enforcement agencies have supported base access operations at Parris Island in this capacity,” according to a spokesperson for MCRD Parris Island.
The spokesperson encouraged all visitors to be prepared for additional screening measures.
“To help ensure a smooth and timely process, guests should bring proper identification and limit the number of items they carry onto the installation,” the spokesperson said.
Marine Corps recruits have trained at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island since November 1915. It has graduation ceremonies about 46 weeks of the year, according to a spokesperson.
It’s not clear whether ICE will be at the gate to Parris Island for the foreseeable future or whether the ICE involvement could expand to other bases.
Players to watch in the 2026 Women’s NCAA March Madness Tournament
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg and Meghan Hall give a few of their favorite players they will be keeping an eye on in the women’s March Madness tournament.
Sports Seriously
South Carolina and TCU will battle in the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Sacramento, California.
The No. 1 Gamecocks are the top seeded team in the Sacramento 4 regional and aiming to make their sixth consecutive Final Four appearance under coach Dawn Staley. South Carolina, winner of three national championships under Staley, won the SEC regular season title but fell in the title game of the conference tournament to Texas.
The Gamecocks advanced to the Elite Eight by beating Oklahoma 94-68 behind 28 points from Ta’Niya Latson. Sophomore forward Joyce Edwards has powered the Gamecocks this season with 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
No. 3 TCU is in the Elite Eight for the second straight season under coach Mark Campbell. The Horned Frogs won the regular season title in the Big 12, but fell in the title game of the conference tournament to West Virginia.
TCU advanced to the regional final by defeating Staley’s alma mater, Virginia, 79-69 on Saturday night behind a career-high 33 points from Marta Suarez. Notre Dame transfer Olivia Miles has been the bus driver for TCU this season, averaging 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game.
A victory for TCU would mark the program’s first trip to the Final Four. TCU has not played a team from the SEC this season.
The winner of this matchup will advance to the Final Four in Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 1.
What time is South Carolina vs. TCU Elite Eight NCAA game?
- Date: Monday, March 30
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California
The South Carolina Gamecocks play the TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, March 30 in Sacramento, California.
South Carolina vs. TCU: TV, streaming
The No. 57 Razorbacks move to 11-10 (2-9) on the season after picking up a win against No. 27 South Carolina 9-10 (2-9).
The Hogs won the doubles point. No. 39 Carolina Gomez and Anet Koskel defeated No. 9 Helena Buchwald and Lauren Friedman, 6-3. Jimena Gomez and Alexandra Panagiotidou took down Sara Borkop and Jane Dunyon, 6-1.
The Razorbacks stayed hot during singles. No. 39 Carolina Gomez defeated No. 56 Kaitlyn Carnicella 7(7)-6(1), 3-6, 6-3 to seal the win. Alexandra Panagiotidou took down Taylor Goetz, 6-3, 6-3. Jimena Gomez defeated Jane Dunyon, 7-5, 6-3. Brooke Schafer fell to No. 52 Helena Buchwald, 7(7)-6(3), 6-2.
The Hogs will be back in action on Friday in Colombia, MO when they take on Missouri at 11:30 a.m.
Results from the match will be available on the women’s tennis schedule page.
For the latest information on all things Arkansas Women’s Tennis, follow the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Women’s Tennis) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackWTEN).
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