Highlighting an exciting NCAA basketball weekend filled with surprises, South Carolina suffered their first defeat since the 2023 Final Four on Sunday. The Gamecocks were defeated 77-62 by then-No. 5 UCLA, ending a 43-game winning streak in the largest loss by an AP No. 1 team since 2020.
“I thought our kids fought, but we ran into a buzzsaw today,” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley after the game.
After taking a commanding 43-22 lead at halftime, UCLA’s defense stepped up to counter the defending champions’ comeback attempt in the second half and secure the win. The Bruins forced the Gamecocks to commit 13 turnovers, equal to their assists, while also out-rebounding them 41-34.
South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao led all scorers with 18 points, but UCLA showcased a team effort, with five Bruins scoring in double digits in their first-ever victory over the Gamecocks.
Notre Dame starts NCAA basketball upset trend
Underdogs prevailed in both of the weekend’s Top-10 matchups, with then-No. 6 Notre Dame defeating then-No. 3 USC 74-61 on Saturday.
Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo delivered a standout performance with 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Alongside star teammate Olivia Miles, who contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, the Irish silenced a strong USC lineup featuring players like JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen.
“Big-time player, big-time stage,” said Fighting Irish head coach Nielle Ivey about Hidalgo. “Not at all shocked by what she did today.”
NCAA upsets reshuffle AP poll
Following their historic win over 2024 champions South Carolina, UCLA claimed the No. 1 spot in Monday’s AP Top 25 for the first time in school history. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks dropped to No. 4 after holding the top position in 61 of the last 62 polls.
“We came here with the goal of becoming an elite basketball program, and to be among the 26 programs ever to be ranked No. 1 is significant,” UCLA coach Cori Close remarked after the AP standings were announced. “I’m grateful.”
Notre Dame and USC swapped rankings entirely after the Irish’s victory, with Notre Dame at No. 3 and USC at No. 6 at the start of Week 4 in the NCAA season.
Elsewhere, strong defense propelled WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s former school, Iowa, into the AP poll at No. 22, while in-state rival Iowa State suffered a seven-spot drop to No. 15 after losing to unranked Northern Iowa 87-75 last week.
While most of the top 25 teams in college basketball experienced minor one-spot shifts, No. 2 UConn was one of four teams to remain unchanged, continuing their program’s legacy of success under the winningest NCAA basketball coach in history, Geno Auriemma.
