No doubt about it
From The GIST College Sports (hi@thegistsports.com)
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— South Carolina women’s basketball head coach (HC) Dawn Staley, on Tennessee HC Kim Caldwell, who returned to the sidelines on Monday just one week after having her first baby. The Gamecocks won the game 70–63, but with a new addition at home, Caldwell’s certainly a winner, too.
Women’s basketball
🏀 Conference call
The GIST: Over halfway through the season, the ACC and the SEC boast the most top 25 women’s hoops teams out of any conference, while the Big Ten is home to the No. 1 squad. Which conference reigns supreme? Let’s discuss:
ACC features seven top teams, including No. 3 Notre Dame: With junior Ta’Niya Latson and No. 25 Florida State working their way into the top 25 this week, the ACC officially has seven ranked squads.
- The No. 3 Fighting Irish lead the way with an 8-0 conference record, while the remaining six teams have at least one loss. That parity makes things extra competitive — truly anything could happen.
SEC claims most ranked teams in the country: Eight top-25 teams come from the SEC, including three top-10 squads in No. 2 South Carolina, No. 5 Texas, and No. 7 LSU. Not to mention, the last three national titles have been won by an SEC contender. Question is: Will a team step up to make it four in a row?
No. 1 UCLA highlights Big Ten’s three top-10 teams: The top-ranked Bruins, who are 20-0 for the first time in program history, headline the Big Ten’s top-25 teams with No. 4 USC and No. 8 Ohio State rounding out the rest of the top-10.
- The conference gained a major boost from realignment as both the Bruins and the Trojans were in the Pac-12 last season. Their additions, plus longtime members No. 14 Maryland and No. 16 Michigan State holding steady, make this a talent-packed battle. Just the beginning.
Men's basketball
🏀 Ballin’ like March Madness
The GIST: With less than two months to go until March Madness, the men’s hoops picture is starting to take shape. Some storylines were expected (hi, projected No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg), while others have come as a surprise (Sorry, UConn fans). Here’s what’s happening on the hardwood:
Cooper Flagg and No. 2 Duke continue to dominate: The Blue Devils held on for a dramatic 74–64 win over NC State on Monday as Flagg finished with 28 points, his third straight game dropping at least 24 points. Duke’s now 18-2 overall and undefeated in the ACC — we’ll undoubtedly be speaking plenty of these Blue Devils.
SEC is the king of the conferences: Much like in women’s hoops, the SEC is balling out, with 10 teams in the top 25, including No. 1 Auburn, No. 4 Alabama, and No. 5 Florida featuring in the top-five. Is it conference tourney time yet?
No. 25 UConn’s three-peat bid continues to sputter: The two-time defending champ Huskies are 14-6 overall and 6-3 in the Big East after Saturday’s 76–72 loss to Xavier, their third L in their last five games. Help may be on the way, though, as star freshman Liam McNeeley, who’s been out since January 1st with an ankle injury, is expected to return any day now.
Together With The GIST
👀 A fan-favorite returns
The GIST’s best-selling crewneck is back and better than ever. After selling out in 24 hours in 2020, this smash hit has been refreshed with a new design while keeping the same ultra-soft, wear-everywhere comfort you loved.
- Perfect for cozy season and ideal for showing your support of leveling the playing field in sports, this crew is a must-have.
🥎 Maya Brady and other recent NCAA softball stars eligible for tonight’s inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) draft
The two-time All-American and former UCLA standout agreed to join the groundbreaking AUSL yesterday, making her eligible for tonight’s 8 p.m. ET draft. The AUSL is part of the successful, innovative AU network, offering a more traditional team-based league and future landing spot for the plethora of college softball talent. If you build it.
🤸 Livvy Dunne calls out “concerning state” of gymnastics
No. 3 LSU’s gymnast and social media star Dunne recently posted about the lack of fans at meets this season, calling out harsh officiating as the reason why. The season’s opening week notably saw no perfect 10s awarded, the first time that’s happened in nearly four years. Watch this space.
🏈 Penn State defensive coordinator signs historic $4M contract
Jim Knowles recently signed with the Nittany Lions after three seasons with the reigning national champs, Ohio State. With bonuses, Knowles is expected to make $4M annually, the highest salary in the country for an assistant coach. Defense doesn’t just win championships…it also pays the bills, apparently.
Giveaway Alert
The volleyball world is in the midst of its biggest boom spike yet and we just can’t get enough of the action. That's why we want to send you and your pals to the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) Championship weekend, May 9th through 11th.
The winning prize pack includes:
- 🎟️ Four tickets to the PVF championship
- 💰 $1,500 cash to cover travel and accommodations for your trip
All that's left to do is enter to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Aces.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
💊 How to tackle tummy trouble
With Alaya Naturals’ Advanced Synbiotic, which provides three-in-one gut support, helping you to feel your best. Oh yeah, and it’s 40% off. Regularity, incoming.*
📖 What to read
“Onyx Storm” — the third book in Rebecca Yarros’ beloved “Empyrean” fantasy series has finally arrived.
🎥 What to watch
“Pitino: Red Storm Rising.” VICE Sports goes behind the scenes with head coach Rick Pitino and the St. John’s men’s basketball team in this six-part series premiering February 11th.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. It's a gut feeling.Today’s email was brought to you by Eden Laase and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Lindsay Jost. Fact checking by Mikaela Perez. Ops by Marga Sison and Elisha Gunaratnam. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of Content Ellen Hyslop.