Even though the spring semester at Texas doesn’t begin until Monday, members of the UT women’s basketball team have a huge test scheduled for Sunday.
Texas will close out its weekend with a visit to South Carolina. In addition to being the NCAA’s defending champion, South Carolina has won 53 of its last 54 games.
How marquee is this matchup? South Carolina (15-1, 3-0) and Texas (16-1, 3-0) were picked to finish first and second in the Southeastern Conference’s preseason poll. South Carolina and Texas are currently the No. 2 and No. 6 teams in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll. Texas and South Carolina currently boast the No. 1 and No. 2 NET rankings.
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Texas will be looking for its first victory over a top-two team since it beat No. 2 Kansas State on Feb. 4, 2024. The Longhorns last beat the NCAA’s defending champion when it topped Stanford during the 2021-22 season.
What channel is Texas vs South Carolina?
TV Channel: ESPN
Radio: 103.1 FM
What time does Texas women’s basketball play?
Date: Jan. 12
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.
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With a win, Texas guard Shay Holle will make history
On Sunday, fifth-year guard Shay Holle will play in the 150th game of her collegiate career. That is already a school record for the program’s NCAA era, but Holle is now on the verge of becoming the program’s all-time winningest player.
Texas is 125-33 in Holle’s five seasons with the team. That ties her with Andrea Lloyd (1983-87), Beverly Williams (1984-88), Michele Eglinger (1984-85, 1986-88) and Yulonda Wimbish (1984-88) for the most wins for a Texas player.
More: Texas basketball: Off-court bond helps Rori Harmon, Madison Booker readjust to each other
While averaging 6.8 points per game and shooting 25.9% from behind the 3-point line, Holle’s offensive production has dipped from where she was during the 2023-24 season. Texas coach Vic Schaefer acknowledged those struggles this week, but he quickly added that Holle would remain a factor for the Longhorns.
“Yeah, I’m concerned about it. That’s a kid that works really hard and she’s got some little nagging things going on, too, that she doesn’t talk much about. I think they’re affecting her a little bit,” Schaefer said.
“But her and (Madison) Booker, I’m going to that well every night. Both those kids have been to the wars and those are two of the most consistent players I’ve ever coached in my life. So I’m going to them a bunch.”
Texas performing well on defense
Texas is coming off an impressive showing against No. 19 Alabama on Thursday. In an 84-40 win, Texas forced 20 turnovers and held Alabama to a .268 shooting percentage.
This season, Texas is allowing 54.9 points per game. That is the No. 22 scoring defense in college basketball. In the SEC, only Ole Miss (49.1 points per game) and South Carolina (54.9) are allowing less offense.
More: Texas basketball: What will 5-star guard Aaliyah Crump bring to the Longhorns in 2025?
South Carolina’s Dawn Staley has beat Texas as a player and coach
In her 25-year coaching career at Temple and South Carolina, Dawn Staley has gone 627-187 and won three national championships. Two of those wins came against Texas as South Carolina beat the Longhorns during a 2016 nonconference game and again in the Elite Eight round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Staley was also 2-0 against Texas as a player. While starring at Virginia in 1990 and 1991, Staley led the Cavaliers to 80-74 and 77-47 wins over Texas. As a junior, Staley recorded 10 points and six assists while playing just 15 minutes during a trip to Austin. One year later, Staley scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting in a 30-point rout.
“Dawn Staley is the best player in the game; I’ve said that before tonight,” UT coach Jody Conradt said after that 1991 game. “In my estimation, the best players are the ones who make everyone else better, and she makes everyone around her better.”
Texas vs. South Carolina prediction
South Carolina.
Texas just beat a top-25 team by 44 points, so it is tough to pick against the Longhorns. But it is tougher to pick against South Carolina at the house since the Gamecocks last lost a home game on Dec. 3, 2020.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas basketball vs South Carolina: TV channel, time, game preview
