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#19 Tennessee @ #3 South Carolina
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 | 3:00 PM ET | ABC
Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, SC)
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Tennessee finally showed some teeth in Athens—now they walk into Columbia where South Carolina’s depth turns one sloppy stretch into a 12–0 avalanche.
WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Tennessee: 15–5 (7–1 SEC)
• South Carolina: 23–2 (9–1 SEC), 1st in SEC
SOUTH CAROLINA IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• They score in waves: 87.9 PPG pace with multiple creators/finishers.
• Defense that travels: Auburn 51, A&M 56, Mississippi State 45 (and they weren’t sweating).
• Depth that laughs at “pace wars”: they’re comfortable playing 9–10, and the physicality doesn’t drop.
RECENT FORM (WEIGH THIS HEAVY)
South Carolina last five: W MSST 88–45, W @A&M 71–56, W @Auburn 81–51, W Vanderbilt 103–74, L @Oklahoma 82–94 (OT).
HOME COURT NOTE (THIS MATTERS)
In SEC home games they’ve already beaten Alabama (+22), Georgia (+22), Texas (+3), Vanderbilt (+29), Mississippi State (+43) — average margin about +24.
LIKELY LINEUP + ROLES (WITH MPG)
The engine room:
• Joyce Edwards — F, 6'3" (So) — 30.1 MPG: alpha scorer/connector (20.4 PPG).
• Madina Okot — C, 6'6" (Sr) — 23.7 MPG: rim + glass (13.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG).
• Raven Johnson — G, 5'9" (Sr) — 28.3 MPG: table-setter (5.3 APG), pressure + pace control.
• Tessa Johnson — G, 6'0" (Jr) — 28.4 MPG: shooter/scorer (13.6 PPG, 45.7% from 3).
The swing pieces (and the injury swing):
• Ta’Niya Latson — G, 5'9" (Sr) — 28.6 MPG: downhill scorer (15.2 PPG) — missed multiple games (lower-leg).
• Agot Makeer — G, 6'1" (Fr) — 17.8 MPG: length/defense — also out recently (lower-leg).
• Ayla McDowell — G, 6'1" (Fr) — 15.9 MPG: spot-up damage; started vs MSST, hit four 3s.
TENNESSEE CHECK-IN: WHAT HAPPENED AT GEORGIA
• Gut-check road win: Tennessee beat Georgia 82–77 in OT.
• The good: +13 offensive rebounds, 16–22 FT, and survived with 13 TO.
• The “don’t do that again”: 37 threes (12–37). You can’t live on that math in Columbia.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:
• Win the possession battle. No live-ball giveaways, and finish possessions (Okot is a problem).
• Get paint touches that matter. South Carolina’s fine with you launching quick threes—make them guard drives, cuts, and post seals.
• Survive the “avalanche stretch.” One 90-second meltdown = game.
Tennessee AVOID:
• Foul trouble up front. If your bigs are whistling, Edwards + Okot will eat.
• Thinking tempo alone wins it. South Carolina’s depth isn’t getting tired.
X-FACTOR:
• Latson’s status. If she’s back, SC adds another primary scorer; if not, Tennessee can load up more aggressively on Edwards/Tessa actions.
#19 Tennessee @ #3 South Carolina
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 | 3:00 PM ET | ABC
Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, SC)
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Tennessee finally showed some teeth in Athens—now they walk into Columbia where South Carolina’s depth turns one sloppy stretch into a 12–0 avalanche.
WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Tennessee: 15–5 (7–1 SEC)
• South Carolina: 23–2 (9–1 SEC), 1st in SEC
SOUTH CAROLINA IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• They score in waves: 87.9 PPG pace with multiple creators/finishers.
• Defense that travels: Auburn 51, A&M 56, Mississippi State 45 (and they weren’t sweating).
• Depth that laughs at “pace wars”: they’re comfortable playing 9–10, and the physicality doesn’t drop.
RECENT FORM (WEIGH THIS HEAVY)
South Carolina last five: W MSST 88–45, W @A&M 71–56, W @Auburn 81–51, W Vanderbilt 103–74, L @Oklahoma 82–94 (OT).
HOME COURT NOTE (THIS MATTERS)
In SEC home games they’ve already beaten Alabama (+22), Georgia (+22), Texas (+3), Vanderbilt (+29), Mississippi State (+43) — average margin about +24.
LIKELY LINEUP + ROLES (WITH MPG)
The engine room:
• Joyce Edwards — F, 6'3" (So) — 30.1 MPG: alpha scorer/connector (20.4 PPG).
• Madina Okot — C, 6'6" (Sr) — 23.7 MPG: rim + glass (13.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG).
• Raven Johnson — G, 5'9" (Sr) — 28.3 MPG: table-setter (5.3 APG), pressure + pace control.
• Tessa Johnson — G, 6'0" (Jr) — 28.4 MPG: shooter/scorer (13.6 PPG, 45.7% from 3).
The swing pieces (and the injury swing):
• Ta’Niya Latson — G, 5'9" (Sr) — 28.6 MPG: downhill scorer (15.2 PPG) — missed multiple games (lower-leg).
• Agot Makeer — G, 6'1" (Fr) — 17.8 MPG: length/defense — also out recently (lower-leg).
• Ayla McDowell — G, 6'1" (Fr) — 15.9 MPG: spot-up damage; started vs MSST, hit four 3s.
TENNESSEE CHECK-IN: WHAT HAPPENED AT GEORGIA
• Gut-check road win: Tennessee beat Georgia 82–77 in OT.
• The good: +13 offensive rebounds, 16–22 FT, and survived with 13 TO.
• The “don’t do that again”: 37 threes (12–37). You can’t live on that math in Columbia.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:
• Win the possession battle. No live-ball giveaways, and finish possessions (Okot is a problem).
• Get paint touches that matter. South Carolina’s fine with you launching quick threes—make them guard drives, cuts, and post seals.
• Survive the “avalanche stretch.” One 90-second meltdown = game.
Tennessee AVOID:
• Foul trouble up front. If your bigs are whistling, Edwards + Okot will eat.
• Thinking tempo alone wins it. South Carolina’s depth isn’t getting tired.
X-FACTOR:
• Latson’s status. If she’s back, SC adds another primary scorer; if not, Tennessee can load up more aggressively on Edwards/Tessa actions.
! 
