Women’s basketball bracketology: Upset costs South Carolina a seed line

GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 08: The Arkansas team celebrates after the victory over South Carolina during the SEC Women's basketball tournament between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the South Carolina Gamecocks on March 8, 2019, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 08: The Arkansas team celebrates after the victory over South Carolina during the SEC Women's basketball tournament between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the South Carolina Gamecocks on March 8, 2019, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Note: Bracket is complete through games played Friday night. Saturday’s early results will be reflected in Sunday’s bracket.

The Gamecocks are still a safe host

Conference tournament time. It’s the easiest week of the year to move up in the bracket…or fall with a bad loss. South Carolina got the wrong end of it on Friday with an upset loss to Arkansas. While the Razorbacks likely still need the autobid to get in, the Gamecocks are still safe in the field and still a safe bet to host.

Except now, it’ll likely be done as a 4 seed with a brutal 4-5 second round matchup potentially in the way of a return to the Sweet 16.

Syracuse replaced the Gamecocks on the 3 line, and yes, I know the Orange lost Saturday afternoon. But it was to Notre Dame, so don’t expect them to drop much, if at all. The other switch: Oregon State fell to a 4 with a loss and Iowa State jumped up, for now. They face Kansas in the Big 12 tournament today.

Bracket breakdown:

Last Four In:

Clemson
BYU
Miami (OH)
Tennessee

First Four Out:

Auburn
Kansas State
TCU
Butler

No procedural bumps

Five Games to Watch Today (all times Eastern):

NC State vs. Louisville, 2:30 p.m.
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m.
Rutgers vs. Iowa, 7:30 p.m.
UCLA vs. Oregon, 9 p.m.
TCU vs. Texas, 9:30 p.m.