South Carolina clinched the SEC regular season championship with wins over Ole Miss and Kentucky. We look at the clutch players, burning questions, and favorite play from the end of the regular season.<\/p>\n
Three Clutch Players<\/strong> Kitts had a sensational week, registering a triple-double on Thursday and then following up with \u201conly\u201d a double-double. She set new career highs for minutes played, assists, and steals.<\/p>\n Sania Feagin<\/em> Feagin was unstoppable against Ole Miss. She tied her previous career-high in the first half alone and finished with 22 points on 10-13 shooting. Feagin added five emphatic blocks for good measure.<\/p>\n MiLaysia Fulwiley<\/em> Fulwiley was a defensive menace against Kentucky. Her four steals all came in the fourth quarter, but she harassed Georgia Amoore off-and-on throughout the game. When Fulwiley plays defense like that, scoring is a bonus.<\/p>\n Two Burning Questions<\/strong> 2. Does South Carolina need to win the SEC Tournament?<\/em> One Favorite Play<\/strong>
Chloe Kitts<\/em>
Vs Ole Miss: 34 minutes, 16 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals<\/em>
Vs Kentucky: 34 minutes, 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist, steal<\/em><\/p>\n
Vs Ole Miss: 27 minutes, 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks<\/em>
Vs Kentucky: 25 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks<\/em><\/p>\n
Vs Ole Miss: 21 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds<\/em>
Vs Kentucky: 23 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks<\/em><\/p>\n
1. Is it Tournament Tessa Time?<\/em>
Tessa Johnson was arguably South Carolina\u2019s best player in last year\u2019s postseason. She didn\u2019t look like the same player for much of February, averaging just 5.6 points. But it\u2019s March now, and Johnson scored 16 points against Kentucky, one less than she scored in the previous four games combined. She was 2-2 from three and 7-9 overall, plus she grabbed four rebounds. Is it the springboard she needs for another big postseason? She didn\u2019t get to cut down the net in Greenville last season, and I know she wants to experience it.<\/p>\n
Probably not, but it would be nice. A run to the title game is probably enough to clinch a one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winning the title, presumably over Texas, could bump the Gamecocks up to the first or second overall seed, depending on what else happens. On an intangible level, you feel a lot more confident going into the NCAA tournament if you play well in Greenville.<\/p>\n
With all due respect to Chloe Kitts\u2019 triple-double, that wasn\u2019t one play. This block-turned-layup by MiLaysia Fulwiley was one ten-second sequence. She\u2019s one of the few people in the country who could do this:<\/p>\n