Greetings from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, where we’re now less than 90 minutes from tip-off between No. 1 Connecticut and No. 2 South Carolina. The place is still mostly empty, but no question, this game feels different. There are throngs of people lined up outside, have been since yours truly arrived two hours before the game. And the press room is already packed, to the point where I’ll be writing from a satellite location outside Springdale.
OK, maybe it’s not that bad. But it’s going to be a scene in here at tip off with 18,0000 people in attendance, makign this the largest crowd ever to see a women’s game at USC, and in the NCAA this year.