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NCAAW Update: No. 1 South Carolina Survives Test
Five of the top 10 teams in the country tasted defeat last week and that led to a shakeup in the national polls. South Carolina solidified itself as the best team in the country with a win on the road against No. 9 LSU.
There are six games between ranked teams this week and that could impact the NCAAW odds moving forward.
When looking at the standings in the major conferences, the ACC might have the most intriguing conference to monitor with five teams within a game of the lead. In the Big Ten, Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana are tied for the conference lead while Stanford leads Colorado by a game in the Pac-12.
No. 1 South Carolina has opened up a two-game lead in the SEC while Kansas State leads the Big 12 by 1½ games.
The Gamecocks are still listed by our Women’s college basketball futures lines with the best odds of winning the NCAAW Championship. After South Carolina’s +325 championship odds are defending national champion LSU at +450 and Iowa at +900.
Heated Rivalries Revisited
South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley was asked about the reception she received from the LSU crowd after Thursday’s 76-70 win. With her tongue planted firmly in her cheek, she said she thought it was a wonderful welcome with so many calling her “Boo.”
She wore a sweatshirt with the word “Boo” on it in South Carolina’s next game.
No team in recent years has enjoyed more success against UConn than Notre Dame. That became the top rivalry in the sport when they were conference rivals, often colliding in the Final Four.
Notre Dame proved it still knows how to take down the Huskies with an impressive 82-67 win at UConn on Saturday behind 34 points from freshman Hannah Hidalgo.
The Fighting Irish finished the game on a 22-7 run after UConn point guard Nika Muhl fouled out with 9½ minutes left to play.
Dawn Staley sported a “Boo” hoodie today in their game against Vanderbilt.
They played “My Boo” after South Carolina won 91-74.
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) January 28, 2024
UConn still holds a two-game lead in the Big East while Notre Dame is sitting in sixth place in the ACC.
It is not a good sign that three matchups between ranked teams (Syracuse-Louisville, Indiana-Ohio State, Kansas State-Texas) are not on national television this week.
Pac-12 Leading the Way
When it comes to conference bragging rights, the edge goes to the Pac-12.
Based on the current NET rankings posted on the WarrenNolan.com site, the Pac-12 has the best conference NET ranking followed by the Big 12 and the SEC.
The Pac-12 is aided by three top-10 teams and five teams in the top 18.
South Carolina leads the Team NET rankings. Stanford, UConn, Texas and Iowa round out the top five.
A Look at the Polls
South Carolina remained the unanimous No. 1 team in the Associated Press women’s basketball poll.
Kansas State and Iowa both moved up two spots to No. 2 and No. 3 followed by Stanford and North Carolina State. They remain among the teams to beat according to the women’s college basketball betting lines
UCLA fell from No. 2 to No. 7 while UConn dropped out of the top 10 as the Huskies are currently ranked 11th.
Oregon State was the biggest riser, moving up seven spots to No. 18.
Game of the Week
No. 7 UCLA Bruins at No. 4 Stanford Cardinal
- Sunday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
UCLA has dropped two of its last four games and now comes a tough test with a trip to Palo Alto to face Stanford.
It will be the first game back at Maples Pavilion for UCLA sophomore center Lauren Betts. She was a top recruit who was a reserve for Stanford as a freshman before transferring to UCLA. Betts leads the Bruins in both scoring (15.4 points) and rebounds (8.6).
Junior Kiki Iriafen is averaging 28 points and 11.7 rebounds in Stanford’s current three-game winning streak.
Stanford, which is 12-0 at home, has a one-game lead on Colorado in the Pac-12 standings with UCLA 2½ games back
.
Player of the Week
Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
After being held to a season-low six points in a loss to Duke and then missing the win against Clemson, Georgia Amoore returned with a vengeance.
Amoore had 24 points and 13 assists in a win over visiting Georgia Tech. She followed that impressive effort with 29 points in a win over a Syracuse team coming off a win over Notre Dame.
Amoore was 6-for-6 from the line over the last 1:12 to quell any thoughts of a Syracuse comeback.
Team of the Week
South Carolina Gamecocks
It wasn’t easy as the Gamecocks trailed by as many as 11 points on the road against LSU before rallying for the 76-70 in the matchup of top-10 teams.
All five starters scored in double figures, led by freshman Chloe Kitts, while junior Bree Hall had a pair of huge 3-pointers as top-ranked South Carolina remained undefeated.
South Carolina followed up that win by topping Vanderbilt 91-74 as the Gamecocks improved to 9-0 at home.
Kamilla Cardoso had 23 points as South Carolina improved to 19-0. The Gamecocks lead LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee by two games in the SEC standings.
Nationally Televised Top 10 Games
- No. 9 LSU at Mississippi State, Monday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- Wisconsin at No. 8 Ohio State, Thursday, 6 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
- No. 24 North Carolina at No. 5 North Carolina State, Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
- No. 15 USC at No. 4 Stanford, Friday, 10 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network)
- No. 3 Iowa at Maryland, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Ole Miss at No. 1 South Carolina, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- Florida at No. 9 LSU, Sunday, 2 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
- No. 2 UCLA at No. 6 Stanford, Sunday, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Questions Of The Day
Who is the favorite to win the national title?
Undefeated South Carolina continues to be the team listed by the BetUS sportsbook with the best odds of winning the national title.
What is the first game this week between teams both ranked in the top 25 in the Associated Press poll?
No. 21 Syracuse will play at No. 16 Louisville on Thursday night followed by matchups between No. 24 North Carolina and No. 5 North Carolina State and No. 13 Texas meeting up with No. 12 Baylor.
