If you’re reading this between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon, I’m on a plane to NYC, sporting my Gamecock Basketball sweatshirt + a giant grin. After beating Duke the night before, in a euphoric, bleary-eyed state, I snagged my Sweet Sixteen tickets to watch Sin, Duane, P.J. + the rest of the boys take on Baylor in one of the world’s most celebrated basketball venues, Madison Square Garden.

I spent a lot of time, ahem, *working* this week, consuming every single online article, press conference, talk show, etc. that I could about our historic win against Coach K + the Blue Devils.

What really jumps out at me, besides this emotional post-victory video of Coach Martin getting doused in the locker room, are the noteworthy stats + intriguing facts surrounding the Gamecocks in the 2017 NCAA tournament:

The Gamecocks haven’t been to the NCAA tournament since 1973, and prior to this year’s first-round Marquette game, they hadn’t won a tournament game in 44 years. National media has labeled South Carolina as the Cinderella team of this year’s tournament.

On Sunday’s game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., the 7-seeded Gamecocks scored 65 points in the second half, despite shooting a mere 20% in the first half. This is the most points scored against a Coach K Blue Devils team in a single half, ever.

After the game, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski called South Carolina "the most physical team we've faced all year.” That’s a hefty compliment, coming from the five-time National Championship winner.

SEC Player of the Year, Sindarius Thornwell, was suspended earlier in this season when the Gamecocks fell to Seton Hall in pre-conference play at The Garden. He’s ready to fulfill a childhood dream tonight.

On that note, Thornwell averaged over 21 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game in 2016-2017 season play. He’s averaged 26.5 ppg in NCAA tournament play.

Freshman guard Rakym Felder returns home this evening. The Brooklyn native scored 15 points off the bench to help the Gamecocks get the W on Sunday’s game against Duke.

Big Apple ties: Yesterday, the Gamecocks held an open practice for fans at The Garden, followed by a closed practice at Xavier High School, where legendary Gamecock Basketball coach Frank McGuire went to high school.

The Gamecocks face the Baylor Bears, a team known for their strength in the paint, tonight at 7:29 p.m. in the Sweet Sixteen. Look out for the crazed fan in the gray sweatshirt, probably crying - either way the game turns out.

Whether we get a W or L this evening, we made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history, playing on basketball’s greatest stage. We can call the 2016-2017 SEC POTY our own Sindarella. Count on this program forever changed for the better under our fearless leader Frank Martin this season. It will be one talked about over River Rat brews at Thirsty Fellow for years to come.

That being said - Secure the Bag, boys.

- Beth