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Quotes from Mark Kingston on the lineup, James Hicks on how he felt and Will McGillis on his home run as South Carolina grabs a win in its NCAA Tournament opener.

Up next: NC State

The last number I heard was 12. Don't know what that includes. Heard of a situation prior to the Derby.

I am not knowledgeable but, felt confident in the sport's integrity. For that reason, this concerns me. Many are not familiar with 'a day at the races' but what a wonderful way to spend a beautiful afternoon and go to the track! You're in the Shade, you can have a beer or a Julipe. You're outside so, cigars, cigarettes, pipes and blunts are tolerated. Put your racing form, newspaper, hat or whatever, on YOUR SEAT and it WILL BE THERE when you get back from placing your bet, saving your seat.

I enjoy the track. Unfortunately, they're closing all over the country. I guess air conditioned casinos deliver a similar rush.

Well, it all comes down to this.

NCAA Tournament time at Founders Park, where the No. 1 seed in the Columbia regional South Carolina (No. 15 seed overall) will get it going tonight in the double-elimination bracket against Central Connecticut State. NC State took out Campbell 5-1 in the early game here, so the Gamecocks will face the Wolfpack in the winner's bracket tomorrow if they win here, but face the Camels in an elimination game if they lost.

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South Carolina should shorten this game this evening with the ten run rule. Central Connecticut State played Louisiana State twice this season and lost by a combined score of 38 to four or something like that. South Carolina's bats should explode and put up so many numbers that will overwork the scoreboard. South Carolina's starting pitcher should be able to pitch a complete game.

A look across the country here:

James Hicks is making the start. CCSU is not throwing their ace. I'll have a full game preview up by the morning.

Hearing from Mark Kingston, Jack Mahoney and Cole Messina the day before the regional starting at noon.

We have one quarter of South Carolina's football schedule with times set for the season:

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The portal opened yesterday for undergraduates. The portal is always open for graduate players, like Kevin Madden. Madden left the team in March to enter the portal before the rash of infield injuries hit. Had he stuck around he likely would have started the last month of the season.

Nonetheless, expect Carolina to be very active this cycle, assuming a coaching change isn't made. Mark Kingston knows that taking 10 players from the portal every season is not going to lead to sustained success but there aren't a lot of guys in the incoming recruiting class that are expected to contribute right away. South Carolina's 2024 and 2025 classes appear to be stronger Top 10-15 type classes at this point.

Some comments from Mark Kingston, Ethan Petry and James Hicks today on the regional broken into a couple stories.

On the draw:

Onn the injury situation:

First football time of the season is locked in. The week 1 and 2 games are supposed to be released tomorrow.

Blanca Thomas is the 10th overall recruit in the 2024 as rated by HoopGurlz. She's headed to UNC. Don't get too worried about these missed recruits because Dawn and Co. are still involved with about 10 players inside the HoopGurlz top 30. Obviously they aren't going to sign all of them.

How'd OUR golf and tennis teams fare?

I don't want to bury the lead here. I do not believe that South Carolina will be selected as regional host. I also don't believe they deserve it. They had opportunity after opportunity to lock in a hosting spot and couldn't get it done.

Carolina lost four of their last five of their last six SEC series. They also lost two of three in Hoover. USC is only 5-13 in their last 18 games. Seven SEC teams are likely ahead of the Gamecock in terms of hosting. Florida, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Arkansas are going to be national seed. In addition, Auburn, Kentucky, and Alabama are all likely locks for national seeds. I don't think committee is going to give the SEC 8 host sites.

If the committee goes strictly be computer metrics then the Gamecocks are a host. South Carolina has 18 Quad I wins, tied for 5th most. Their RPI is currently 8th and they've played the 4th most difficult schedule. South Carolina went 8-7 against the likely National Seeds.

I believe that 14 of the 16 host sites are locked in:

1. Wake
2. Florida
3. Vandy
4. Arkansas
5. Clemson
6. Stanford
7. LSU
8. Virginia
9. Miami
10. Ok St
11. Coastal
12. Auburn
13. Alabama
14. Kentucky

Oklahoma State and Alabama were on the bubble. Oklahoma State is in the finals of the Big12 tournament and Alabama had a strong showing in the SEC Tournament.

I believe that the last two spots will come down to Carolina, ECU, Campbell, Southern Miss, Boston College, Maryland, Indiana State, Dallas Baptist and UConn.

Uconn lost twice in the Big East Tournament to Xavier. The Musketeers were a bubble team entering the week, but their wins over UConn will knock the Huskies down to the bottle of the list.

ECU also lost twice this week in the American Tournament with Tulane upsetting the Pirates in the finals. I think that will take care of ECU's as a host.

That leaves the Gamecocks, Campbell, Southern Miss, BC, Maryland, and Indiana State. The resumes are as follows:

Carolina: See above. 15-15 vs Quad 1.
Indiana State: The Sycamores have an RPI of 9. They won the Missouri Valley Tournament. SOS 43. Quad 1 Record 2-9.
Campbell: RPI 15. Won the Big South Tournament. SOS 87. Quad 1 Record: 9-5
Southern Miss: RPI 21. Won the Sun Belt Tournament. SOS 46. Quad 1 Record: 10-5
BC: RPI 18. SOS 31. Quad 1 Record: 13-14
Maryland: RPI 37 (this will probably knock them out). SOS 70. Up 4-0 in the B10 Tournament late. Quad 1 Record: 5-4
Dallas Baptist: RPI 13, SOS 71. Lost to the Gamecock killing Charlotte 49ers 5-2 in the CUSA Finals. Quad 1 Record 2-7. Charlotte is going to steal a bid.

Charlotte beating Baptist likely eliminated them from the hosting discussion.

I believe that the committee is deciding between Carolina, Indiana State, Campbell, BC, and Southern Miss for the final two spots. I don't know how much this will help, but Will McGillis' father is the AD of San Diego University and he is on the selection committee. Coastal AD, he has a fancier title than AD now, is also on the committee. Hogue's profile on Coastal's website says he is a South Carolina Graduate. I have no idea if that will matter.

My guess for the final two spots: BC and Campbell. With the Gamecocks headed to Campbell's regional.

I'm just guess'n' fines, suspensions, jobs are forthcoming.

DAMMIT NO WRECKS!!! (Y'all KNOW I didn't really mean that) DAMMIT!!!

The D1 staff does a great job but they aren't factoring economics in to this. If the committee is presented with the option of putting a regional in Terra Hutte or Columbia, I still like the Gamecocks chances.

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The Sycamores draw well under 1,000 in paid attendance. Dallas Baptist and Oklahoma State are the other two to watch for the last two hosting spots.