First look: Team breakdown, TV times for first NCAA WBB Tournament games in Columbia

Another round of March Madness means another round of first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games at Colonial Life Arena.

South Carolina women’s basketball, the undefeated reigning national champion and No. 1 overall seed in the 68-team bracket, headlines the list of four teams playing games Friday and Sunday at the Gamecocks’ home venue.

Here’s a look at the Columbia first-round games, with information on matchups, TV times and tickets.

South Carolina also hosted first- and second-round games in 2022 at Colonial Life Arena as the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket, beating No. 16 seed Howard and No. 9 Miami en route to a national title.

No. 8 South Florida vs. No. 9 Marquette

When: 11:30 a.m. Friday

TV: ESPN2

Noting USF: The Bulls went 26-6 and 15-1 in American Athletic Conference play in 2022-23 and earned an at-large bid. … They won the AAC’s regular-season championship and earned the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament but lost to Wichita State in the quarterfinals. … USF guard Elena Tsineke (18 ppg) and forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (16.7 ppg, 12.3 rpg) were named the AAC’s co-players of the year. … Florida State transfer Sammie Puisis (15.8 ppg) was the league’s newcomer of the year, and Carla Brito (8.6 ppg) was an all-freshman team pick. … Under longtime coach Jose Fernandez, the Bulls have advanced to seven NCAA Tournaments in the past nine seasons and won 20-plus games eight of the last 11 years.

Noting Marquette: The Golden Eagles went 21-10 and 13-7 in Big East play and earned an at-large bid after advancing to a seventh-straight conference tournament semifinal. … This is Marquette’s 14th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2021. … Senior guard Jordan King (15.9 ppg) and forward Chloe Marotta (14.5 ppg) were All-Big East first-teamers. … Mackenzie Hare (7.2 ppg) and Emily La Chapell (5.1 ppg) both made the all-freshman team. … Marquette, coached by Megan Duffy, beat No. 3 Texas and No. 4 UConn this season, marking the two highest-ranked wins in program history. … The team’s won 20 or more games in six of the past seven seasons.

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Norfolk State

When: Approximately 2 p.m. Friday

TV: ESPN

Noting USC: The reigning national champion Gamecocks are 32-0 and 16-0 in the SEC. … South Carolina is the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket for the second year in a row. … Senior forward Aliyah Boston (13.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg) swept the SEC’s player of the year and defensive player of the year awards for the second-straight season. … Boston is also a finalist for the Naismith player of the year award, which she won in 2022. … Senior guard Zia Cooke (15.3 ppg) leads USC in scoring and was a first-team All-SEC pick. … Under two-time reigning SEC coach of the year Dawn Staley, USC swept the SEC’s regular-season and tournament titles for the fifth time in the last nine seasons. … The Gamecocks have what’s likely the deepest roster in the country: Outside of its usual starting five, USC has also five bench players averaging double-digit minutes per game.

Noting Norfolk State: The Spartans went 26-6 and 11-3 in the MEAC and earned the conference’s auto-bid … They beat Howard on Saturday to win their first MEAC tournament championship in 21 years and advance to their first NCAA tournament since 2002 … Forward Kierra Wheeler (16.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg) was the conference’s most outstanding player, guard Camille Downs (11.9 ppg, 3.5 spg) was the defensive player of the year and Larry Vickers was the coach of the year. … Norfolk State swept the MEAC regular season and conference tournament titles. … The Spartans lost 90-32 at Alabama on Dec. 18, their only game this year against an SEC opponent. … Norfolk State lost three games since the new year.

Sunday game information

The winners of Friday’s South Carolina-Norfolk State and USF-Marquette will meet Sunday in a second-round game. “Times for Sunday’s second-round game will be announced once all the tournament’s Friday games have been completed,” according to a USC news release.

The winner of Sunday’s second-round game will advance to the Greenville Region 1 regional round at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, home of the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. USC won the 2023 SEC Tournament championship in the downtown Greenville arena earlier this month.

How to buy tickets

Tickets went on sale to the general public Monday at 10 a.m. All tickets are mobile and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or through the Gamecock Ticket Office by calling 800-4SC-FANS from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ticket booklets, which provide admission for all three games, are going for $55 for reserved seats, $45 for upper level reserved seats and $35 for general admission. Friday session tickets range from $30 to $10, and Sunday session tickets run from $20 to $10.