GREENVILLE, S.C. — No. 3 South Carolina and No. 17 Kentucky ended the regular season with a game to aptly capture the level of competition this year in the SEC. The Gamecocks escaped by four points. But they had to withstand a furious rally that underscored the general theme of the conference this season. There’s very little opportunity to get comfortable around here. Not even for Dawn Staley and South Carolina.
Yet the Gamecocks looked comfortable as could be in a rematch during the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament on Friday. There was an element of exhaustion here, to be sure, with Kentucky playing its third game in three days and very much looking the part. But there was also just straightforward talent. South Carolina rarely makes the same mistakes twice. After needing to gut out its win over Kentucky down the stretch last Sunday, it showed that it had learned enough to put forth an overwhelming display of power on Friday, building an easy lead that it never relinquished. The 87–64 win felt almost like a reminder for the rest of the conference.
