COLOMBIA – South Carolina stumbled at the end of the regular season, but regained its dominance in yet another SEC Tournament championship.
The Gamecocks (22-4) defeated Alabama, No. 14 Tennessee and No. 16 Georgia to take their sixth crown in seven seasons and, conversely, climbed into the AP Women’s Top 25. USC is the country’s No. 5 team in the new survey.
There will be one more vote before the start of the NCAA Women’s Tournament on March 21, and Gamecocks have been inactive until then. Several other conference tournaments will be held this week and will end on March 14, in time for the March 15 tournament key to be revealed.
The USC hopes that its championship will be enough to maintain the number 1 position in the bracket when it is launched.
Women’s Top 25 AP
1. Connecticut
2. Stanford
3. NC state
4. Texas A&M
5. South Carolina
6. Baylor
7. Louisville
8. Maryland
9. Indiana
10. UCLA
11. Arizona
12. Georgia
13. Michigan
14. Tennessee
15. Arkansas
16. Gonzaga
17. West Virginia
18. Kentucky
19. Rutgers
20. USF
21. State of Missouri
22. Ohio State
23. Oregon
24. Florida Gulf Coast
25. State of South Dakota
Also receiving votes: Marquette 52, Stephen F. Austin 34, Oregon State 22, Oklahoma State 15, Georgia Tech 11, Virginia Tech 10, Iowa 5, DePaul 5, UCF 2
David Cloninger’s female top 25
1. Connecticut
2. NC state
3. Stanford
4. South Carolina
5. Louisville
6. Texas A&M
7. Baylor
8. Maryland
9. Indiana
10. UCLA
11. Arizona
12. Michigan
13. Georgia
14. West Virginia
15. USF
16. State of Missouri
17. Gonzaga
18. Kentucky
19. Rutgers
20. State of Ohio
21. Oregon
22. Florida Gulf Coast
23. Stephen F. Austin
24. State of Oklahoma
25. Tennessee
Clemson continues to receive votes
Clemson’s men’s basketball team is lurking outside the Top 25 for the second week in a row. The Tigers received 25 votes, or 29 in the vote.
The Tigers (16-6) went 1-1 last week and start the ACC tournament on March 10 against the winner of Pitt / Miami. Clemson is considered to be a blockade to the NCAA Tournament.
Top 25 Male AP
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. Alabama
7. Houston
8. Arkansas
9. State of Ohio
10. West Virginia
11. Kansas
12. State of Oklahoma
13. Texas
14. Villanova
15. State of Florida
16. Virginia
17. Creighton
18. Loyola (Ill.)
19. State of San Diego
20. Texas Tech
20. Purdue
22. Virginia Tech
23. Colorado
24. Southern Cal
25. Oklahoma
Also receiving votes: BYU 93, Oregon 67, Connecticut 53, Clemson 25, Wisconsin 24, Tennessee 14, Wichita State 13, St. Bonaventure 11, Winthrop 7, Virginia Commonwealth 4, LSU 2, San Diego 1, Michigan State 1, UC Santa Barbara 1
David Cloninger’s men’s top 25 AP
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. Alabama
6. Houston
7. Iowa
8. Texas
9. State of Oklahoma
10. West Virginia
11. State of Ohio
12. Kansas
13. Arkansas
14. State of Florida
15. Villanova
16. Texas Tech
17. Loyola (Ill.)
18. Oklahoma
19. Virginia Tech
20. Virginia
21. State of San Diego
22. Creighton
23. BYU
24. Clemson
25. Winthrop
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.