Aug. 9, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Southeastern Conference (SEC) coaches have selected No. 24 South Carolina to finish second in the SEC Eastern Division this year along with Georgia, the conference office announced Thursday. The Gamecocks are coming off the first SEC regular season title in program history after winning a program-best nine conference games last season (9-2-0) and a berth in the NCAA Second Round.
Florida was selected as the favorite to win the SEC title this year with 10 of 14 first-place votes cast for the Gators in the new-look SEC. Newcomer Texas A&M earned the other four first-place votes for the overall title. In the Eastern Division race, the Gators earned 12 first-place votes, and South Carolina earned the other two first-place votes.
In the East, No. 21 Florida was followed by No. 24 South Carolina and Georgia in a tie for second, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Texas A&M was the favorite to win the west, followed by LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Points were compiled on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division, though each coach was not allowed to vote for their own team.
In addition, the SEC announced four Gamecocks on the conference’s inaugural Preseason Watch List. Gamecocks selected to the list were juniors Danielle Au and Elizabeth Sinclair, sophomore Sabrina D’Angelo and freshman Stevi Parker.
No. 24 South Carolina takes on No. 2 Duke in a free exhibition at Stone Stadium tonight (Thursday), August 9 at 6 p.m. The regular season begins next Friday, August 17, at UW-Milwaukee. Season Tickets for the 2012 season are currently on sale. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $10 for youth. They can be purchased at GamecocksOnline.com or by calling (800) 4SC-FANS.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll (First place votes in parenthesis)
Eastern Division
Florida, (12), 90 points
South Carolina, (2), 70 points
Georgia, 70 points
Kentucky, 56 points
Missouri, 42 points
Tennessee, 38 points
Vanderbilt, 19 points
Western Division
Texas A&M, (12), 89 points
LSU, (2), 74 points
Auburn, 73 points
Alabama, 53 points
Ole Miss, 44 points
Arkansas, 29 points
Mississippi State, 23 points
