Following a pair of hard-fought victories last week, one at home and one on the road, the Gamecocks men’s team is up a spot to no. 17 in the latest AP poll and up two spots to 16 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
Meechie Johnson was pivotal in both wins, scoring 22 points at Texas A&M, Wednesday, and 25 points in USC’s comeback victory against Florida, Saturday. After struggling with his shot against LSU and Ole Miss, Johnson rediscovered his stroke, hitting 5 of 13 from the 3-point line and 17 of 29 overall last week.
South Carolina (24-5,12-3) has now won three straight heading into Wednesday’s showdown with first-place Tennessee. The Volunteers, who held steady at no. 4 in both polls, are looking to hold on to the top seed in the approaching conference tournament. The Gamecocks have a chance to take first place with a victory, having already knocked off the Vols in Knoxville, Tn., at the end of January. Ta’lon Cooper led USC with 18 points in that game and knocked down 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Cooper’s shooting hasn’t slowed down as the transfer guard is hitting 46% of his 3-pointers this season.
Tennessee has been a tear recently, winning its last six games by an average of 19.8 points. Included in the streak are wins over 13th-ranked Auburn and 16th-ranked Alabama. Tipoff between USC and Tennessee from the Colonial Life Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday.
Following its loss at Notre Dame, Clemson failed to garner any AP votes this week.
The Gamecocks women’s team is again a unanimous selection at no. 1 in the final AP poll of the regular season. USC (29-0, 16-0) will now await the winner of Mississippi State and Texas A&M in the SEC Women’s Tournament tipping off this week at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville. South Carolina will see its first action at noon, Friday.
AP men’s Top 25
1. Houston (26-3)
2. UConn (26-3)
3. Purdue (26-3)
4. Tennessee (23-6)
5. Arizona (23-6)
6. Iowa State (23-6)
7. North Carolina (23-6)
8. Marquette (22-7)
9. Duke (23-6)
10. Creighton (22-8)
11. Baylor (21-8)
12. Illinois (22-7)
13. Auburn (22-7)
14. Kansas (21-8)
15. Kentucky (21-8)
16. Alabama (20-9)
17. South Carolina (24-5)
18. Washington State (23-7)
19. Gonzaga (24-6)
20. BYU (21-8)
21. San Diego State (22-7)
22. Utah State (24-5)
23. Saint Mary’s (24-7)
24. South Florida (22-5)
25. Dayton (22-6)
USA Today Coaches Poll
1. Houston (26-3)
2. UConn (26-3)
3. Purdue (26-3)
4. Tennessee (23-6)
5. Arizona (23-6)
6. Iowa State (23-6)
7. North Carolina (23-6)
8. Duke (23-6)
9. Marquette (22-7)
10. Creighton (22-8)
11. Baylor (21-8)
12. Illinois (22-7)
13. Kentucky (21-8)
14. Auburn (22-7)
15. Kansas (21-8)
16. South Carolina (24-5)
17. Alabama (20-9)
18. Gonzaga (24-6)
19. San Diego State (22-7)
20. Washington State (23-7)
21. Saint Mary’s (24-7)
22. Utah State (24-5)
23. BYU (21-8)
24. South Florida (22-5)
25. Florida (20-9)
AP women’s Top 25
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Iowa
4. Ohio State
5. USC
6. Texas
7. UCLA
8. LSU
9. UConn
10. NC State
11. Virginia Tech
12. Indiana
13. Oregon State
14. Notre Dame
15. Gonzaga
16. Kansas State
17. Baylor
18. Colorado
19. Oklahoma
20. Syracuse
21. Creighton
22. Utah
23. UNLV
24. Louisville
25. Fairfield