Women's Power Rankings: How the SEC is shaping the national title race

"March Madness is the big picture of the college basketball season, but the day-to-day challenges of January are key in putting that picture together. Especially in the talent-loaded SEC, which currently has nine AP-ranked teams battling each other for supremacy, while also trying to stave off upset attempts. One such powerhouse meeting comes Thursday: Texas -- coming off its first loss of the season, at LSU -- travels to South Carolina (ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET)."

"The Gamecocks then avoided consecutive losses by holding off Louisville 79-77 on Dec. 4, and have mostly cruised in their nine games since. The closest victory came by 11 points at Florida on Jan. 4. Standout guard Ta'Niya Latson (ankle sprain) was even out for three games, but returned for Sunday's 65-43 win at Georgia. South Carolina has been the dominant force in the SEC for the past decade-plus, and is once again projected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament."

"In victories last week over St. John's and Creighton, sophomore forward Sarah Strong led the Huskies with a combined 42 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists and 11 steals. The Huskies have now won 55 consecutive games against Big East opponents. Still, this week could be a little more challenging, as they face the second-best Big East team, Villanova, as well as their former "old Big East" rival Notre Dame, which has been in the ACC since 2013-14."

January conference play shapes NCAA positioning as the SEC, with nine AP-ranked teams, negotiates frequent high-stakes matchups and upset dangers. Texas, coming off its first loss at LSU, travels to South Carolina after the teams met in November’s Players Era championship. South Carolina rebounded from close losses, weathered Ta'Niya Latson's ankle absence and returned her for a dominant win at Georgia, maintaining decade-plus SEC dominance and No. 1 seed projection. UConn’s Sarah Strong produced a 42-point, 16-rebound, 11-assist, 11-steal week, as the Huskies extend Big East streaks while facing Villanova and Notre Dame.

Read at ESPN.com