The SEC Tournament power rankings are out, and the predictions may surprise many. Heading for the championship, the rivalry between Texas head coach Vic Schaefer and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley has once again ignited a firestorm online.
As per ESPN analytics, the Longhorns have a 39% chance of winning the SEC championship as compared to the Gamecocks’ 36%. On the other hand, LSU and Vanderbilt are predicted to have 20% and 3% chances, respectively, of winning the conference tournament.
The backlash was immediate from South Carolina fans. For the Gamecocks faithful, the numbers suggest something else. Whenever Schaefer and Staley have squared off in high-stakes situations, Staley has always had the upper hand. Fans online started reacting on social media, with one fan writing:
“It’s always a great showdown, but Vic cannot beat Dawn.”
Another fan added:
“Tournament Tessa is definitely lurking 😂😂Let’s go GameCocks!!!”
This fan wrote:
“Ha ha ha. 😂. Texas winning the tourney…that’s funny.”
Another fan added:
“I’d this Tournament was back in December or January maybe Texas, but have you watched SC play lately? They are heating up at the right time and they are gonna run the table! TX is good but even their coach doesn’t believe in them, go listen to his press conferences.”
This fan said:
“Texas need to start playing bully ball they are too soft but have great players once they get there they will win the SEC title.”
Under Staley, the Gamecocks have won multiple national championships, produced some of the WNBA’s most talented players, and cultivated what is arguably the most dominant program in the modern era of women’s basketball. So, when predictions call for Texas to topple South Carolina, the fans treat it less like a sports prediction and more like a provocation.
Can the Texas Longhorns Make a Case For Winning the SEC Tournament?
The prediction for the Texas Longhorns to win the SEC Tournament isn’t without justification. Under Schaefer, Texas enters the tournament having shown the kind of grit and tactical flexibility that the tournament demands. He has built a roster around versatile perimeter defenders, a fortifying frontcourt presence, and a point guard that can manage chaos efficiently. Texas has shown how easy it can be to slow down almost any offense in the country.
The Longhorns are ranked third nationally in scoring offense, with 90.5 points per game. Simultaneously, they have posted a defensive rating of 71.6, the second-best in the country. Texas has gone 20-0 this season when holding an opponent to 59 points or fewer.
Besides all of this, Schaefer himself enters the tournament as one of the most accomplished active coaches in the game. His career record stands at .788 winning percentage, with 80 wins over ranked opponents, 35 wins over top-10 programs, and 15 wins over top-5 teams. With the Longhorns this season, he has gone 29-2 overall with a 15-1 conference record, Texas’ best since the 1987-88 season. So, have the analysts made a fluke in ranking the Longhorns over the Gamecocks? We will soon find out.
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