The SEC, where it just means more; including the hate...or does it? We’ve got four teams duking it out for the coveted conference championship that will be awarded to my Gamecocks on Sunday (feel free to hate if I’m wrong) and some repeat haters, which leads me to ask; is the hate going stale? For me, no, and I’ll explain why. I’ll also follow up with fans at the stadium later today and do a temperature check.

Our favorite “will they, wont they?” situation with the “they” being LSU getting a win. We got the highly anticipated first meeting on Valentine’s Day, ironically, and I’d say it delivered all the goods. Both teams played hard and well, giving us a close and competitive game. Mulkey crashed out, giving us the epic catchphrase “who can guard Tessa?!” My team won, giving me the satisfaction of acting superior. What has me keeping a close eye on this one, in all seriousness, is the response by LSU after losing, again. 

Flau’jae Johnson was clearly upset giving us another viral moment of the four goin up. Her mom then took to social media in a weird, inappropriate and quite frankly unnecessary rant about how her daughter is “winning at life.” I say all of that to say this might be Johnson’s absolute last chance to beat South Carolina. 

Then we have Milaysia Fulwiley, back home again in the place where she won a bunch of them thangs. She had a less than stellar showing in the first matchup, helping South Carolina off the bench like old times more than anything. She has the opportunity to get her lick back in the most majorest of ways. They can say it dosen’t matter all they want but this opportunity is grand. Nobody’s beaten South Carolina in the Staley Eastern Conference championship since Rhyne Howard’s Kentucky in 2022. LSU getting their first win against USC since before AOL was created in USC’s backyard would be a major win for the program and really give this “rivalry” some legitimacy. Need to see them have that first from the opening tip. This might be Grace Knox’s time to shine. 

This battle will be won at the press conference more than anything else. You have two very outspoken coaches capable of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. 

Last night, after upsetting Vanderbilt, Ole Miss head coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin said something that made me raise an eyebrow adn you can hear that comment and the rest on our Youtube channel! But anyway, she said the wants her her team to know they belong and not get imposter syndrome. I’m sorry but why would that happen????  Coach Yo also discussed how she went from going 0-16 in the conference to winning in the Sweet 16 (an absolute banger of a bar) so she’s seen it all. And therein lies why I’m so critical of her. I remember her team participating in the WNIT and I also remember them upsetting Stanford. Ole Miss has grinded and are consistently in conversations when discussing dangerous teams. I believe it’s time for Ole Miss to take that leap and really show the conference they’re a top dog and not to be played with. I need that same energy in the presser and on social media. 

This is also my issue with one Victor Schaefer. Texas is a Final Four team with the potential to win it all and we still get crying in the press conferences, WHY? Why are you doing this, Victor?

What we have is two gritty teams that hang their hats on playing strong defense ready to get active. I just ask that their coaches don’t piss me off in the pressers! 

The Gamcocks and Tigers do battle at 4:30 p.m.  EST, with the Longhorns and Rebels hitting the floor after at 7 p.m.