Good morning. And welcome to March! We’re kicking this month off with the same big energy Gamecock baseball started the season with by bringing you an epic double feature exclusively on Gamecocks+!

Don’t miss the trailer for The Follow: Season 2: It All Starts Here, then head on over to Gamecocks+ to enjoy the full episode and the latest edition of Changing Expectations.

What else is mixed into today’s Brew? ⤵️

🔁 On repeat
🏈 A’ja Wilson comes home
🤙 And much, much more

🎥 GAMECOCKS+

Move aside Barbenheimer because we’re bringing you the hottest double feature in recent memory: the premiere episode of The Follow: Season 2 and an all-new edition of Changing Expectations, both streaming now on Gamecocks+! 🔥 

The Follow: It All Starts Here (S2, Ep1): It was an exit in the Super Regionals for a team that many in the national landscape said overachieved in 2023. But that was last year, and this team knows they’re contenders year in and year out. With a stacked lineup and a pitching staff hungry to prove themselves, Omaha is the only goal for Mark Kingston’s Gamecocks. As “The Follow” returns for Season 2, go behind the scenes and into the minds of your favorite players as we take you through the biggest moments of the 2024 season. The road to Omaha, the chase for glory, a shot at redemption: It all starts here.

Changing Expectations: Chapter 6: As we near March, and a possible tournament bid, everyone knows it takes every player and coach on the team to make a deep run-- but what if it takes even more than that? A name many Gamecock fans might be familiar with is back with the team, and might be even more valuable now than in the 90s when he was known as "The Captain." In our latest chapter of Changing Expectations, the team hits their first real speed bump, but between the veteran players, seasoned coaches, and the man affectionately called "The Godfather of South Carolina Basketball," they're back on track and poised to make a run.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 SEC Season. It’s conference time for both Gamecock men’s and women’s tennis! No. 16 South Carolina men’s tennis will open its SEC slate at home this weekend with a pair of Top-25 match-ups, first taking on No. 25 LSU this afternoon at 3:00pm ET, then battling No. 12 Texas A&M on Sunday at noon.

Meanwhile, No. 14 South Carolina women’s tennis hits the road to open its conference schedule, taking on No. 21 Texas A&M in College Station today at 6:00pm ET, then battling No. 63 LSU on Sunday at noon.

🔼 28-0. Another opponent down for South Carolina women’s hoops! The top-ranked Gamecocks downed Arkansas, 98-61, last night in the team’s final regular season road game of the year. Ashlyn Watkins stole the scoring show for the Gamecocks, posting a double-double with 21 points and 11 boards — the first time in her Garnet & Black career that she scored 20+ points — while MiLaysia Fulwiley (17), Tessa Johnson (12), Kamilla Cardoso (11), and Chloe Kitts (10) all finished in double digits.

🔼 Best There Is. One basketball analyst has a clear candidate in mind for men’s basketball’s National Coach of the Year.

🔼 Welcome Home. South Carolina announced the hiring of Mike Furrey this week as Gamecock football’s new wide receivers coach. Furrey comes to Columbia after spending the last two seasons as the head coach of Limestone University where he piloted the Saints to back-to-back 8-4 seasons with consecutive Division II playoff appearances. Furrey also spent four seasons coaching wide receivers at the next level with the Chicago Bears, including during Chicago’s 2018 NFC North title season and 2018 and 2020 playoff appearances.

🔼 Summer Football. And speaking of South Carolina football, the SEC announced the schedule for SEC Football Kickoff Media Days presented by Regions later this summer. Media Days will run from July 15-18 in Dallas. Coach Beamer is scheduled to appear during the event’s first day on July 15. More details here.

🔼 On Repeat. Don’t expect any changes to South Carolina’s starting rotation as Gamecock baseball gets ready to battle Clemson. Coach Mark Kingston confirmed that Eli Jones will take the mound on Friday, Dylan Eskew will get the nod on Saturday, and Roman Kimball will start on Sunday.

🔼 Coming Home. A’ja Wilson is heading back to Columbia! The former Gamecock superstar and the Las Vegas Aces will play a preseason game against the Puerto Rico National Team at Colonial Life Arena on May 11. Don’t miss this incredible chance to see two-time WNBA MVP Wilson and the back-to-back WNBA champion Aces in our own backyard. Tickets start at $20 and go on sale on March 3 at 12:00pm ET. 

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

Ranked & Ready. South Carolina women’s tennis checked in at No. 14 in the latest ITA Team Rankings. It’s the program’s highest ranking since what season?

Got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the right answer!

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📬 A LOOK AHEAD

Friday 3/1

🐎 Equestrian vs. SDSU @ 10:00am ET

🥎 Softball vs. Kennesaw State @ 12:30pm ET (Orlando, FL)

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. LSU @ 3:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🎾 Women’s Tennis @ Texas A&M @ 6:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🥎 Softball @ UCF @ 6:00pm ET on ESPN+ (Orlando, FL)

⚾ Baseball vs. Clemson @ 7:00pm ET on SEC Network+ | Tickets

Saturday 3/2 - Sunday 3/3

🏊 Swimming & Diving (Swim Only) @ UGA Last Chance Invitational

Saturday 3/2

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Florida @ 12:00pm ET on ESPN | Tickets

🥎 Softball vs. Bethune-Cookman @ 3:00pm ET (Orlando, FL)

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Chattanooga @ 11:00am ET

⚾ Baseball vs. Clemson @ 4:00pm ET on ACC Network (Segra Park)

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Coastal Carolina @ 5:00pm ET

Sunday 3/3

🥎 Softball vs. Princeton @ 9:00am ET (Orlando, FL)

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. UNCW @ 11:00am ET

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Tennessee @ 12:00pm ET on ESPN | Tickets

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Texas A&M @ 12:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🎾 Women’s Tennis @ LSU @ 12:00pm ET | Live Streaming

⚾ Baseball @ Clemson @ 2:00pm ET on ACC Network 

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. College of Charleston @ 5:00pm ET

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: The No. 14 ranking marks the program’s highest rank since the start of the 2020 season.

The Gamecocks are the only team in the nation with two players ranked in the Top 7 in the ITA singles rankings - Sarah Hamner at No. 6 and Ayana Akli at No. 7.

🤙 Have a good Friday, y’all.