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The biggest game of the year is finally here for the South Carolina Gamecocks. The #2 team in the country, with a sold-out Colonial Life Arena behind it, will be the site of what is possibly the biggest college basketball game of the season thus far - men's or women's - as the #1 UConn Huskies come into town. UConn, the three-time defending champions, are hoping to boost their record to 23-0 and continue to establish itself as the top college program in the country. The Gamecocks are looking to extend their home winning streak, the nation's longest active mark, to 46 and defeat a team that has only lost five times since the 2012-13 season.
The Gamecocks come in having won their last game over Kentucky by a count of 78-68 on Thursday. Alaina Coates ended the night with 27 points and 13 boards, while A'ja Wilson chipped in 18. Meanwhile, UConn bulldozed East Carolina 92-46 on Saturday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. Kia Nurse led the way in that one for the Huskies with 20 points, while Breanna Stewart contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds. Stewart also became the seventh player in Division 1 women's basketball history to score 2,000 points and record 1,000 rebounds, 200 assists, 200 steals, and 200 blocked shots.
#2 South Carolina Gamecocks (22-0) vs. #1 UConn Huskies (22-0)
Monday, February 8, 2016 | 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2 | Live Stream: WatchESPN.com
Commentators: Dave O'Brien (pxp); Doris Burke (analyst); Maria Taylor (reporter)
--Read our look at the Huskies and their dominance here. Also, check out our Q&A with The UConn Blog's Aman Kidwai.
Other coverage
Team previews: GamecocksOnline.com | UConnHuskies.com
The State: Game on: No. 2 South Carolina welcomes No. 1 UConn | USC hoping to take advantage of home court against Connecticut
The Post & Courier: Second-ranked Gamecocks "can't have an off night" shooting against UConn
USA Today: No. 2 South Carolina looking to slow down UConn's Stewart | For UConn and South Carolina, a two-way measuring stick