The drastic increase in recognition of women’s college basketball will be on full display in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday.

At 7 p.m. C.T. No. 9 ranked LSU Tigers will be welcoming the top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks to town; a matchup full of prominent players, coaches and personalities. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN.

An hour before the game starts, ESPN will be holding its College Gameday show in the arena. This is the first time in Mulkey’s coaching career that College Gameday has been to one of her games.

“I think it sends a message to the LSU administration. You’re getting a return on your investment,” Mulkey said. “Scott [Woodward] needs to poke his chest out and say, ‘I’m doing right, I’m doing right by females and I’m doing right by this institution.”

Along with College Gameday making an appearance, ticket sales are as high as what would be an expensive ticket for the College Football Playoff National Championship. According to Seat Geek, tickets are being sold for prices as high as $4,224. This priced ticket is right next to LSU’s tunnel entrance to the court.

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If this doesn’t reveal the growth of women’s basketball compared to as recent as two years ago, there might not be much that can reveal it.

South Carolina is undefeated once again; it’s in a similar spot to what they were in last year when the Tigers and the Gamecocks squared off. In that matchup, the Gamecocks dominated, winning the game 88-64.

While both teams were very different at the time, and the game was played in a different place, there are familiar faces. One of those familiar faces from South Carolina is 6-foot-7 center, Kamilla Cardoso.

Cardoso’s role on the team increased significantly from last season. Last season, she was the team’s third leading scorer, and was second on the team in rebounds per game. She also didn’t average in double figures for either category.

This season, Cardoso averages a double-double. She’s the team’s leading scorer with 13.3 points per game, along with 10.7 rebounds per game. She’s also third on the team in assists with 2.4 per game and almost three blocks per game. Being that she’s a center, she gets involved all-around in the offense.

The Angel Reese vs. Cardoso matchup will be arguably one of the most looked at in Thursday’s matchup. While Cardoso has the height advantage by four-inches, their playstyles are very different. Reese will have to force Cardoso to be physical, but Cardoso’s height and lengthiness may prevent Reese from making any moves in the paint.

Cardoso was a big part of last year’s Gamecock squad coming off the bench. In fact, South Carolina had to replace all five of their starters. But they’ve had no problem in doing that.

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“Obviously they don’t have the players that they had last year. They lost a lot,” Mulkey said. “South Carolina just reloads…they just put the next man up.”

Including Cardoso, South Carolina has five players averaging double-digit points per game. With Cardoso being the centerpiece of South Carolina’s post play, the Gamecocks operate guard-heavy outside of her. 

Malaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao, or Bree Hall can have the hot hand at any given time for the Gamecocks. In South Carolina’s last three games, each of the three guards led the team in scoring for one of the games. Paopao averages 12.5 points per game, Fulwiley averages 11.7 points per game off of the bench, and Hall averages 10.6 points per game.

Chloe Kitts is also a force in the paint next to Cardoso, as she averages 10.1 points per game along with 6.6 rebounds.

Last season, along with Cardoso, Raven Johnson was a frequent option off the bench for the Gamecocks. But she’s now transitioned into a starting role, as she averages 9.3 points per game, leads the team in assists with 5.3 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. She also leads the team in steals at 2.4.

While it isn’t to the degree of last season, South Carolina’s depth gives it the edge on several occasions. 

The Gamecocks have 10 players that average more than 10 minutes of play per game. They have seven players that play over 15 minutes per game, but no player on the team averages 30 minutes or more per game.

To compare that to LSU, the Tigers have three players that play 30 minutes or more per game, Aneesah Morrow, Mikaylah Williams and Hailey Van Lith. If rounding up is a factor, then LSU would have five players in that category, as Reese averages 29.3 minutes per game, and Flau’jae Johnson averages 29.8.

For LSU’s bench, just two players average over 10 minutes of play per game, Last-Tear Poa at 21.1 minutes per game and Aalyah Del Rosario with 12.3 minutes per game.

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South Carolina’s depth has been and will be a difference maker in close games. LSU hasn’t had that luxury of rotating fresh bodies in and out late in the game, but South Carolina has operated that way all season.

There are many pieces to this game to keep an eye on, both on and off the court. That’s why ESPN College Gameday is there to see it all, and ticket prices are at an all-time high.

For LSU, it’s a chance to see where the team really stands, against the toughest opponent it may see all season. Things have worked out up to this point, but they haven’t been perfect. On Thursday, the Tigers need to get as close to perfect as they can get.

“South Carolina is as good, in my opinion, as they were last year with new players. No one seems to have found the formula to beat them,” Mulkey said. “And just like we will try to do, the same thing a lot of other teams do, and that’s to try and upset them.”