Texas Longhorns Stun South Carolina Gamecocks in Thrilling Rematch
Sunday’s big game lived up to the hype. No, not that big game — the top-5 women’s college basketball matchup between Texas and South Carolina. This was a clash that had fans on the edge of their seats, and it certainly delivered on all fronts.
In a stunning turn of events, the Texas Longhorns, who were overwhelmed by 17 points in their first meeting with South Carolina last month, managed to turn the tables in the rematch. They emerged victorious with a score of 66-62, handing the Gamecocks their first regular-season SEC loss in 57 games. While Texas never trailed, South Carolina stayed within 5 points over the last 15 minutes of game time, making it a nail-biting finish.
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley commented on the atmosphere, saying, “Great atmosphere. It’s great for women’s basketball, probably great for TV. Close game, great for our game. It’s just unfortunate somebody had to lose.”
So, what does this mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the new rankings and see how this game has shaken things up.
New this week:
- Creighton
- Baylor
Out:
- California
- Vanderbilt
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 1
2024-25 record: 23-0
Stat to know: Despite scoring a season-low 62 points Sunday against Oregon, UCLA posted its 23rd straight win, the longest active win streak in Division I and the longest to open a season in program history.
What’s next: Thursday at No. 6 USC, 10 p.m., Peacock
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 3
2024-25 record: 21-2
Stat to know: Notre Dame won its past two games (vs. Clemson and Cal) by a combined 88 points. It marked the first time the Irish have won back-to-back games by 35 or more since Jan. 31 and Feb. 3, 2019.
What’s next: Thursday at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., ACCN
3. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 4
2024-25 record: 24-2
Stat to know: In Sunday’s win over South Carolina, Texas became the first team to win an AP top-5 matchup without making a 3-pointer since UConn went 0-for-9 in a win over Oklahoma in the 2002 national championship game.
What’s next: Thursday at No. 8 Kentucky, 7 p.m., ESPN2
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
Previous ranking: 2
2024-25 record: 22-2
Stat to know: In both of its losses this season, including Sunday at Texas, South Carolina did not hold a single lead. Previously, South Carolina had not had a wire-to-wire loss since the 2019 Sweet 16 against Baylor.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Florida, 7 p.m., SECN
5. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 6
2024-25 record: 25-1
Stat to know: In Sunday’s win over Tennessee, Kailyn Gilbert scored 15 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter. Gilbert had scored a total of 25 points over the previous seven games since scoring 22 in the first meeting against the Lady Vols.
What’s next: Sunday at No. 3 Texas, 3 p.m., ABC
6. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 7
2024-25 record: 21-2
Stat to know: Kiki Iriafen, JuJu Watkins and Kennedy Smith all had double-doubles against Ohio State on Saturday, the first time a team has had three players do that against a top-10 team since Notre Dame did it against UConn in the 2019 Final Four.
What’s next: Thursday vs. No. 1 UCLA, 10 p.m., Peacock
7. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: 5
2024-25 record: 22-3
Stat to know: In UConn’s loss at Tennessee on Thursday, the Huskies gave up a season-high 42 points in the paint and shot just 26.7% from outside the paint.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. St. John’s, 7:30 p.m.
8. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 11
2024-25 record: 19-2
Stat to know: Kentucky is second in the country with 6.7 blocks per game, with sophomore Clara Strack (2.3) leading the way.
What’s next: Feb. 10 at Ole Miss, 7 p.m., ESPN2
9. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 8
2024-25 record: 20-3
Stat to know: After entering the week 20-1, Ohio State lost at UCLA and USC by an average of 17 points.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., Peacock
10. NC State Wolfpack
Previous ranking: 14
2024-25 record: 19-4
Stat to know: NC State’s 23-point win at then-No. 22 Florida State was its largest road win over a ranked team since defeating No. 15 South Carolina 90-65 during the 1989-90 season.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Miami, 6 p.m., ACCN
As we look at the rankings, it’s clear that the Texas Longhorns’ victory over South Carolina has caused a significant shake-up. The Longhorns have climbed to the third spot, while the Gamecocks have dropped to fourth. This game was a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of college basketball, where anything can happen on any given day.
With the new rankings, we see Creighton and Baylor making their way into the top 25, while California and Vanderbilt have fallen out. The competition is fierce, and every game counts as teams vie for a spot in the NCAA tournament.
As the season progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling matchups and potential upsets. The excitement of college basketball is palpable, and this week’s games are sure to keep us on the edge of our seats.
Originally Written by: ESPN
