First look: NCAA Final Four schedule set. South Carolina draws Iowa in Dallas

It’s officially Final Four time for South Carolina women’s basketball and three other teams competing in the NCAA Tournament’s final weekend.

The undefeated, reigning national champion Gamecocks have advanced to their fifth Final Four over the last eight postseasons and will play Iowa on Friday, March 31 at approximately 9 p.m. for a spot in Sunday’s national championship game.

The Gamecocks advanced by beating Maryland, 86-75, in an Elite Eight on Monday at nearby Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.

Here’s a first look at the USC-Iowa game, as well as the second national semifinal – Virginia Tech vs. LSU – being played earlier Friday at American Airlines Arena in downtown Dallas.

Game 1: No. 1 Virginia Tech vs. No. 3 LSU

When: 7 p.m. E.T. Friday

TV: ESPN

How Virginia Tech got here: Virginia Tech, a No. 1 seed, won the Seattle Region 3 championship by beating No. 3 Ohio State 84-74 on Monday. … Forward Elizabeth Kitley, the ACC Player of the Year, finished the game with 25 points and 12 rebounds, and guard Georgia Amoore had 24 points. … This is the first Final Four appearance in Hokies program history. … Virginia Tech (30-4) is coached by Kenny Brooks.

How LSU got here: LSU, a No. 3 seed, won the Greenville Region 2 championship by beating No. 9 Miami 54-42 on Sunday. … All-American forward Angel Reese had 13 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks to set the SEC’s single-season double-double record (32). … This is LSU’s sixth all-time Final Four appearance and first since five consecutive appearances from 2004-08. … The Tigers (28-7) are coached by Kim Mulkey.

Game 2: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 Iowa

When: Approximately 9 p.m. E.T Friday (30 minutes after the first game ends)

TV: ESPN

How USC got here: South Carolina, the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket, won the Greenville Region 1 championship by beating No. 2 Maryland 86-75 on Monday. … Forward Aliyah Boston had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the 11-point win and guard Zia Cooke added 18 points as the Gamecocks advanced to their third straight Final Four and fifth in the last eight postseasons… Before taking down Maryland, USC beat its previous three NCAA Tournament opponents by 26.3 points per game on average. … The Gamecocks (36-0) are coached by Dawn Staley.

How Iowa got here: Iowa, a No. 2 seed, won the Seattle Region 4 championship by beating No. 5 Louisville 97-83 on Sunday. … Star junior guard Caitlin Clark became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to record a 40-point triple double with 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. … Iowa is making its second all-time Final Four and first since 1993. … The Hawkeyes (30-6) are coached by Lisa Bluder.

National championship game information

The winners of Friday’s Virginia Tech-LSU and South Carolina-Iowa games will meet in the 2023 national championship game on Sunday, April 2. That game, also at American Airlines Arena, is scheduled to tip off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.