The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
South Carolina
Women’s Basketball preview: vs. (1) South Carolina
03.29.2021 | Women's Basketball
The sixth-seeded Longhorns continue their run through the NCAA Tournament with an Elite 8 matchup on Tuesday.
(6) Texas (21-9; 11-7 Big 12) vs. (1) #6/5 South Carolina (25-4; 14-2 SEC)
Where: San Antonio, Texas
Arena: Alamodome (South Court)
Date: Tuesday, March 30
Time: 6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN (Beth Mowins, Debbie Antonelli, LaChina Robinson)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Craig Way, Eryn McMahan)
All-time Series: Texas leads, 2-1
• SETTING THE STAGE: Texas continues its impressive run through the NCAA Tournament with an Elite 8 matchup against No. 1 seed South Carolina on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT. In its first three games of the tournament so far, the Longhorns have bested No. 11 seed Bradley, No. 3 seed UCLA and No. 2 seed Maryland. The latter two were both consensus top-10 teams in both national polls entering the tournament.
• NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: With three wins this year, Texas is now 45-31 (.592 win pct) all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Twenty-eight of those wins have come by at least 15 points, including a 19-point win over Bradley last week. This year marks Texas' 16th all-time appearance in the Sweet 16, 10th appearance in the Elite 8 and the first time UT has made it to the Regional rounds as a No. 6 seed or lower.
• TURNING THEM OVER: Texas' pressure defense has made an impression on the national and Big 12 scene this year under head coach Vic Schaefer. Led by season-high efforts of 35 and 34 turnovers forced against SMU (Nov. 25) and at Kansas State (Dec. 21), respectively, Texas leads the Big 12 in turnovers forced per game (19.00) and turnover margin (+5.21). Both marks rank in the top 40 nationally this season.
• CREATING OFFENSE FROM DEFENSE: Texas is utilizing its defense to create offense this season, as the Longhorns has scored at least 20 points off turnovers in 14 games this season. The Longhorns posted a season-high 39 points off turnovers in the season opener versus SMU, and hit the 30-point mark in three-straight outings against Drake (33 points), at Kansas State (38 points) and against Lamar (32 points). Texas is 13-1 when scoring at least 20 points off turnovers this year.
• CHASING CHARLI: Charli Collier, a Lisa Leslie Award finalist (nation's top center) and Second Team AP All-American this season, has been one of college basketball's top performers as a junior. Entering the NCAA Tournament, she was averaging 20.1 points (No. 26 nationally/No. 3 Big 12) and 11.7 rebounds (No. 12/No. 2) per game. In addition, nationally she ranks third in double-doubles (17), 11th in field goals made (194), 12th in final points (542), seventh in free throws made (141), ninth in offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and third in total rebounds (315).
