COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s run to a second straight Final Four will go through Sioux Falls, South Dakota – and most likely against several familiar foes.
The Gamecocks (31-1) are a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season and have been placed in a region with No. 2 seed Arizona State (25-6), No. 3 seed Ohio State (24-7), both losers to Dawn Staley’s club in November.
The fourth seed in the region, Syracuse (25-7), lost to South Carolina in a second-round NCAA matchup in Columbia last year. Also lurking are two South Eastern Conference opponents in No. 5 seed Florida (22-8) and No. 7 seed Tennessee (19-13).
The Gamecocks open play Friday night against Jacksonville (22-10), which is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
