SMP Newsletter - Dec. 29, 2021
Good afternoon! Welcome to the Student Media Poll Newsletter for December 21, 2021. It was a light week in college basketball, as the Omicron variant took its toll on the sport, cancelling many of the few games scheduled over the holidays. Meanwhile, bowl season has continued in football, although several bowl matchups have been canceled due to the variant.
THIS WEEK’S POLLS:
🏈 There is no new football poll this week. The next football poll will be following the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
⛹️♂️🏀 It was a quiet week in men’s college basketball, with few games scheduled due to the holidays, and many of the games that were planned canceled due to Covid-19 outbreaks across the sport. This week’s MBB Student Media Poll reflects that, with only four teams moving up or down three or more spots.
⛹️♀️🏀 Another week, another ranked win for South Carolina. This week’s big win for the Gamecocks came in the team’s second No. 1 vs No. 2 matchup of the season, taking down then-No. 2 Stanford 65-61 in Columbia. The ‘Cocks remain No. 1, while the Cardinal are down to No. 4 in this week’s WBB Student Media Poll.
FEATURED BALLOTS:
⛹️♂️🏀 Michael Covil, Winthrop Live
⛹️♀️🏀 Stratton Stave, Daily Campus
THIS WEEK AT THE SMP:
-Nothing new this week, but some major announcements are coming in the new year!
FEATURED STORIES:
🐺NC State’s Holiday Bowl matchup against UCLA was canceled due to positive Covid-19 tests within the UCLA program just hours before kickoff, a feeling all too familiar for Pack fans. SMP’s Jaylan Harrington has the story of a dissappointing finish to the season for NC State for The Technician.
🐔 Destanni Henderson led the way for No. 1 South Carolina WBB against Stanford, sparking a home comeback against the No. 2 team in the SMP. Head coach Dawn Staley was impressed with her performance, and SMP voter Lawson Murrell had the story for The Daily Gamecock.
⚔️🐊 In a matchup fans in the state of Florida have long awaited, UCF took down Florida 29-17 in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. The Knights and Gators are set to meet again in Gainesville in 2024. SMP voter Zachary Allen Huber has the report in his final story for The Independent Florida Alligator.