One of the early games in the Big 12/SEC Challenge has a chance to be the most compelling matchup of the day when No. 14 Texas Tech travels to play South Carolina on Saturday in Columbia, S.C.
The Gamecocks (13-7), fresh off a 77-72 victory on the road against No. 20 Florida, can add another bullet-point win to their NCAA Tournament credential as they host the Red Raiders.
Or Texas Tech (16-4) can make a case for getting back in to the Top 10 and add to its already long list of RPI Top 100 victories.
Throw in that South Carolina coach Frank Martin and Texas Tech coach Chris Beard are good friends, and the two programs got a look at each other when both played in the Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden in November in New York, and it equals a rich brew of subplots.