COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Gamecocks are headed to the Sweet Sixteen. Crowds spilled onto the streets just moments after the blowout victory over the University of North Carolina. People cheered "Go Gamecocks" from their cars and shared memories of the big win.
"It was amazing I was outside trying to get ice cream and all of a sudden I just hear roars and its just amazing," Zachary Hammond, a young fan, said.
"The atmosphere was crazy it was intense very intense," Brali Simmons said.
"It was electric; it was incredible," Lindsay Barrack said, leaving the game with her mother. "I went into it thinking that it was going to be a close game. And I think the crowd, they just brought it. And from the second it started, we scoring threes, and it was just boom, boom, boom."
While some were surprised by the difference in the score, others had higher expectations.
"Oh I knew it was gonna be a blowout…oh, I didn't know that personally, I didn't. She's kind of a UNC fan. I went here and I grew up a Tar Heels fan. But I wasn't expecting that," Trinity Hubert and Brali Simmons said.
"Around first and second quarter it just got crazy three-pointer after three-pointer. It's just amazing our team is very talented," Zachary Hammond said.
What's the next stop for the Gamecocks in the NCAA tournament?
"Albany, Albany, New York, Sweet Sixteen," long-time fans Rita Oldendick and Linda Eckstrom said.
And fans have a few words to share with the team before they go up North.
"Dominate, have fun, do their best," Zachary Hammond said.
"Looking forward to the next game; I feel sorry for the folks they have to face next," Dale Collier said.
The team the University of South Carolina will play will be determined in the coming days. Their next game is Friday.
