No. 7 UConn vs. No. 4 South Carolina takeaways: Huskies have prime-time players like Azzi Fudd … Gamecocks not so much

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Azzi Fudd of the UConn Huskies follows through on a shot against Chloe Kitts of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second quarter at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 16, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Connecticut took advantage of its showcase on the first football-less Sunday of the year to make a statement.

The No. 7 Huskies are Final Four contenders peaking at the right time after delivering a devastating blow to reigning national champion South Carolina, 87-58, at the Gamecocks’ Colonial Life Arena.

The game between powerhouses was competitive for about seven minutes before a vintage UConn performance shut down No. 4 South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak. It was UConn’s first road win over a top-five team since December 2018 and its first 20-plus-point road win against a top five team since 2014. UConn needed a strong showing to add a flourish to its lacking resume. Its non-conference schedule, which had been so-so, is imperative without much high-level competition in the Big East.

“We had yet to play a full 40 minutes of great basketball,” UConn guard Azzi Fudd said. “And we did that today.”

South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao, in sharp contrast, said the Gamecocks “got punked” again, a phrase she used after last week’s loss to No. 3 Texas.

“It was very much embarrassing,” Paopao said Sunday.

The shocking result again mixes up the national title race, which already experienced a shake-up from the other USC, Southern Cal, on Thursday in its takedown of No. 1 UCLA. South Carolina entered Sunday the betting favorite at BetMGM to repeat as national champions, followed closely by UCLA. The last few days showcase how tenuous that spot can be with teams and their star players coming into form at the right time of the season.

There could be more upheaval by day’s end. No. 3 Texas hosts No. 5 LSU in the afternoon national TV showcase. It’s their first SEC meeting.

Here are our takeaways from a marquee day of…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-16 21:32:00

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