Show Me My Opponent, 2023-24: South Carolina, Part Two
One final storm of sand
Well, it’s the big one. Existing around this game is a very simple equation: Tennessee wins and they’re outright SEC champions, to go with the obvious 1 seed in the SEC Tournament. South Carolina wins and they’ve still got a wobbly-but-capable path to an SEC title of their own. The whole thing can still go to Saturday, but the odds shift most dramatically around this specific game. A title for each would be historic: Tennessee’s second of any kind since 2008/first outright since then; South Carolina’s first of any kind since 1997.
This is also a massive deal on a national scale. Tennessee is in a heated battle with Arizona and supposedly North Carolina for the final 1 seed. South Carolina isn’t, but a win here would go a long way in giving them a real shot at a 4 seed, which is statistically pretty key to Tournament success.
All you can ask for in March is for games to truly matter, which this one does. It’s highly important to both teams, it’ll feature a charged-up atmosphere in theory, and both teams stand to benefit quite a bit from a win. A loss also doesn’t really kill the loser, but, uh, just win.
BEHIND THE WALL ($): More logic from the brilliant(?) mind of Al Davis