PETE IACOBELLI
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, right, greets fans as the team returns to the team's hotel following the Women's Final Four NCAA basketball tournament, Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Minneapolis. South Carolina defeated UConn earlier in the night to win the national championship. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
South Carolina's Dawn Staley becomes force on, off the court

By Pete Iacobelli Apr. 07, 2022 12:48 PM EDT
Dawn Staley swore over and over again during her playing days she would never become

Chattanooga head coach Lamont Paris waves the basketball net after his team defeated Furman in an NCAA college basketball championship game for the Southern Conference tournament, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Lamont Paris takes over Gamecocks after leading Chattanooga

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 24, 2022 01:34 PM EDT
Lamont Paris believes he's the perfect coach to bring South Carolina back to the NCAA

Chattanooga head coach Lamont Paris waves the basketball net after his team defeated Furman in an NCAA college basketball championship game for the Southern Conference tournament, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
AP source: Chattanooga’s Paris to coach South Carolina

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 22, 2022 12:41 AM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina and Chattanooga's Lamont Paris have reached a

Miami players hug during the second half of a college basketball game against Auburn in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Miami dominates No. 2 seed Auburn 79-61 to reach Sweet 16

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 20, 2022 10:36 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Miami showed there's still a place for old-school basketball

Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga watches during the second half of a college basketball game against Southern California in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 18, 2022, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Auburn's NBA talent vs Miami's experience for Sweet 16 spot

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 19, 2022 05:12 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — It's Auburn's young roster of future NBA players against

Southern California head coach Andy Enfield reacts to a referee's call during the second half of a college basketball game against Miami in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
USC's Enfield: Refs got it wrong on late out-of-bounds call

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 18, 2022 08:28 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Andy Enfield had no problem with the foul call that sent

Southern California reacts during their loss against Miami during the second half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 18, 2022, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Moore's foul shots lift Miami to 68-66 NCAA win over Trojans

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 18, 2022 06:27 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Charlie Moore used all the focus he'd learned at California,

Auburn guard K.D. Johnson, center, battles for a loose ball between Jacksonville State forward Kayne Henry, left, and guard Darian Adams during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 18, 2022, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Smith leads Auburn to 10th straight NCAA opening win, 80-61

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 18, 2022 03:14 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Jabari Smith couldn't wait for his first NCAA Tournament game

FILE - Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. Pearl is the The Associated Press coach of the year in the Southeastern Conference, announced Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Bruce Newman, File)
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl seeking another Final Four run

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 17, 2022 04:04 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is grateful he can joke about his

South Carolina head coach Frank Martin directs his players against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA men's college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
South Carolina fires Martin after 10 seasons as men's coach

By Pete Iacobelli Mar. 14, 2022 03:26 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina has fired coach Frank Martin after 10 seasons

South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston (4) dribbles against Auburn forward Jala Jordan (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
SEC This Week: Preview of SEC tournament semifinals?

By Pete Iacobelli Feb. 25, 2022 03:49 AM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A look at weekend action around the Southeastern Conference:

Clemson guard David Collins (13) fouls Duke forward Wendell Moore Jr (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Clemson, S.C., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Collins was ejected. Duke beat Clemson 82-64. (Ken Ruinard/The Independent-Mail via AP)
Clemson struggling to win games after NCAA Tournament bid

By Pete Iacobelli Feb. 18, 2022 12:24 PM EST
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson hoped to use its run to the NCAA Tournament last year

Clemson forward Naz Bohannon (33) drives around Duke forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Clemson, S.C., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Duke won 82-64. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Keels double-double leads No. 7 Duke to 84-62 win at Clemson

By Pete Iacobelli Feb. 10, 2022 10:27 PM EST
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Duke went from the high of battering rival North Carolina last

Kentucky guard Kellan Grady goes up for a dunk during the first half against South Carolina in an NCAA college basketball Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Tshiebwe, No. 5 Kentucky top South Carolina 86-76 for 20th W

By Pete Iacobelli Feb. 08, 2022 09:23 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Kentucky coach John Calipari has his eyes on March. And that's

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) dribbles the ball against South Carolina guard James Reese V (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Zeigler's 18 lead No. 22 Vols to 81-57 win over Gamecocks

By Pete Iacobelli Feb. 05, 2022 03:13 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Zakai Zeigler found his hot spot in the second half against

Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper yells to her players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 86-83 in overtime. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
No. 1 Auburn looks to keep rolling at Georgia in SEC play

By Pete Iacobelli Feb. 04, 2022 02:12 AM EST
A look at the weekend action around the Southeastern Conference: GAME

Auburn forward Walker Kessler (13) elevates for a dunk against South Carolina forward Wildens Leveque, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. Auburn won 81-66. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
No. 9 Auburn wins 10th straight, 81-66 over South Carolina

By Pete Iacobelli Jan. 04, 2022 08:39 PM EST
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Wendell Green Jr. is proving once he enters a game for Auburn,

North Carolina's RJ Davis (4) brings the ball up as College of Charleston's Osinachi Smart (33) trails during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Bacot rallies No. 18 North Carolina past Charleston 94-83

By Pete Iacobelli Nov. 16, 2021 11:14 PM EST
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — First-year coach Hubert Davis thinks his North Carolina

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2021, file photo, South Carolina coach Frank Martin talks to players during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Martin thinks he’s bounced back from the worst season of his career. He believes his Gamecocks are ready for the same thing this year. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
South Carolina, Martin want to be physical hoops team again

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 21, 2021 11:22 AM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Frank Martin has bounced back from

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell answers a question during NCAA college basketball Atlantic Coast Conference media day, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Clemson, Brownell look to keep ACC momentum growing

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 20, 2021 10:38 AM EDT
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson's Brad Brownell acknowledged the water took a lot