In a season stuffed with unpredictability, there’s been one fixed: the utter dominance of the South Carolina Gamecocks.
After dropping 5 gamers to the WNBA from final season’s workforce, which was undefeated earlier than being upset by Iowa within the Remaining 4, nationwide expectations have been blended concerning what South Carolina would appear like in 2023-24. Within the preseason Related Press ballot, they got here in at No. 6, behind LSU, UConn, Iowa, UCLA and Utah.
However this system dispelled any notion this might be a “rebuilding” 12 months for Daybreak Staley & Co., starting with the season opener, the place the Gamecocks thrashed Notre Dame 100-71 in Paris. They have not skipped a beat since, holding regular on the No. 1 spot within the polls for the reason that second week of the season and finishing their second consecutive undefeated common season. Simply two of their SEC video games have been determined by single digits, the remaining largely by 20 or 30. Even Staley has stated her workforce’s resounding success has shocked her in some methods.
With three extra wins within the SEC event and 6 within the Huge Dance, the Gamecocks would develop into the fifth Division I program (and tenth workforce total) to realize an undefeated season. However much more essential in Columbia is the possibility to convey house one other championship — this system’s third prior to now seven tournaments — particularly after final 12 months’s devastating defeat within the nationwide semis.
Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel assess what has made South Carolina so good this season and its path forward towards historical past.
South Carolina was the favourite a 12 months in the past, too. What went incorrect for the Gamecocks within the Remaining 4?
Philippou: Caitlin Clark was the perfect participant on the ground in that NCAA event, and her 41 factors — mixed with an off night time for the Gamecocks, for no matter motive — have been sufficient to spell an upset. Clearly, LSU obtained the perfect of Clark the sport after, but when South Carolina had managed to win that sport, it appears almost certainly they’d have come away with the trophy given how their regular-season assembly towards the Tigers was, properly, not all that aggressive.
Voepel: It is possible no workforce besides Iowa might have defeated South Carolina final 12 months. The benefit the Gamecocks’ beginning 5 had of being so skilled they might learn one another’s minds was matched by Iowa’s starters. The Hawkeyes might stretch South Carolina’s protection with their 3-point taking pictures greater than another Gamecock foe. Iowa had the most popular participant in March Insanity with Clark. If they might do it over, the Gamecocks might have fed the ball to Kamilla Cardoso much more than they did, as she was 7-of-9 from the sector and Iowa actually could not cease her. That stated, the Hawkeyes went all-in on clogging the paint and betting the Gamecocks would not be capable to make them pay sufficient from the perimeter. That technique labored.
Creme: Each time there’s a dominant workforce or athlete in any sport, there may be at all times the caveat that if they’ve one dangerous night time and the opposite workforce executes properly a loss is feasible. It occurred to the unbeaten Patriots towards the Giants in Tremendous Bowl XLII. Serena Williams, in pursuit of the Grand Slam in 2015, misplaced within the U.S. Open semifinals to Roberta Vinci, the Forty third-ranked participant on the planet. South Carolina had its one dangerous night time March 31, 2023, in Dallas, and Iowa and Clark’s 41 factors have been there to capitalize.
All season, the one weak spot in an in any other case impenetrable go well with of armor was the Gamecocks’ perimeter taking pictures. They made simply 4-of-20 from 3-point vary that night time because the Hawkeyes saved daring them to shoot soar pictures. That Aliyah Boston and Brea Beal every had one of many worst video games of their careers on the identical night time additionally did not assist.
How did the Gamecocks try to resolve these hassle spots that have been uncovered within the nationwide semifinals?
Creme: The simple reply is that Staley introduced in switch Te-Hina Paopao from Oregon. Paopao is a greater, extra constant shooter than Zia Cooke and a extra achieved passer. That helped the offense in two areas. This workforce strikes the ball higher, creating extra open seems, and now there’s a participant to knock them down as probably the most correct 3-point shooter within the nation (48.6%). That Paopao was left off the All-SEC first workforce is inexplicable. She’s top-of-the-line gamers within the nation, not to mention the convention.
Raven Johnson is a greater, extra assured participant, too. She’s extra sure of the place the ball ought to go, and when. She has top-of-the-line level guards of all time as her head coach, and the work Staley has performed with Johnson is obvious.
Philippou: It has been an ideal storm of discovering the fitting gamers within the switch portal, bringing in gifted freshmen who fill wants, and creating gamers throughout the program who beforehand had smaller roles. There is no debate in my thoughts that Staley is the clear alternative for nationwide coach of the 12 months.
Voepel: Staley spent final season getting ready the reserves for the larger roles she knew they’d fill this season. Cardoso, Chloe Kitts and Bree Corridor did not begin in any respect final season, whereas Johnson began simply three video games. However Staley labored with them in observe and stated: “Watch and study, as a result of it is your workforce subsequent 12 months.”
So it is not as if the whole lot blew up in Dallas and needed to be reconstructed. It was a painful loss, for positive, and it could not have been straightforward for Staley to let that go and transfer on with out Boston & Co. However she had already planted the seeds for achievement for 2023-24, and including Paopao simply made the crop extra bountiful.
Are the Gamecocks actually higher this 12 months than final, when all 5 starters, together with WNBA rookie of the 12 months Aliyah Boston, have been drafted?
Voepel: We would not be asking this if the Gamecocks had survived Iowa final season, as a result of they in all probability would have gained their second consecutive nationwide championship. LSU, understandably, will quarrel with that. However contemplating how properly the Gamecocks performed the Tigers after they met throughout the 2023 common season, South Carolina appears unlikely to have stumbled within the last. Then the query now could be: Can this workforce be pretty much as good as final 12 months? However that is not what occurred, so right here we’re.
It continues to nag at me: How can a workforce be higher with out Aliyah Boston than along with her? That does not compute. So it is nonetheless arduous to say, “Yeah, the Gamecocks are higher.” Nevertheless, stats and outcomes do not lie. And in the event that they end the job, they show it.
Creme: It appears unfathomable, however sure. This workforce is higher. It will not be as bodily dominant, though that’s nonetheless a think about South Carolina’s success, however this workforce has corrected the one main flaw — taking pictures — final season’s workforce at all times had however was in a position to cowl for till the Remaining 4. The defensive prowess nonetheless exists. The Gamecocks’ area purpose proportion protection is greatest within the nation. They common extra defensive rebounds and blocked pictures per sport than anybody else.
Offensively, South Carolina is extra versatile with the addition of the MiLaysia Fulwiley and the massive leap ahead by Ashlyn Watkins, who has basically doubled her manufacturing throughout the board.
This workforce nonetheless has moments the place doubt about its invincibility creeps in, like Sunday towards Tennessee, when the Gamecocks simply stopped rebounding for a stretch and let the Girl Vols again into the sport. Or the primary half towards Georgia, after they let a clearly inferior workforce hold round. However these moments have proved to be fleeting. We nonetheless should see how this youthful workforce reacts in huge moments like a possible SEC event last or a Candy 16 sport when it’s down on the half, however it stays troublesome to seek out the weak spot on this South Carolina workforce.
Philippou: Charlie and Michael spoke to the attention take a look at, however the stats additionally again it up. Their offensive score is up (from 114.0 factors per 100 possessions final season to 115.7 now), whereas their defensive score has additionally improved (74.3 factors allowed per 100 possessions final season to 73.3 factors now). The obvious areas of development are offensively, the place their tempo is faster (74.9 possessions per 40 minutes now vs. 69.6 final season) and their assist-to-turnover ratio is greater (1.46 vs. 1.31). The Gamecocks’ enchancment on 3s (40.1% now, 31.0% final season) is eye-popping, and as additional proof of how a lot their offense is rolling, even their 2-point area purpose proportion is healthier (53.4% vs. 50.4%). As Charlie talked about, their offensive versatility with gamers who can shoot, rating inside or get downhill makes it an awesome unit to face as an opponent.
Which participant is the largest X issue in the case of South Carolina successful the 2024 title?
Creme: Kitts has been a revelation. She was a nonfactor a season in the past. Now, she’s a full-time starter who is able to produce from the outset of any sport. On quite a few events Kitts has been the one setting the tone with silky strikes to the rim or the consistency of her foul line soar shot. She’s develop into a key presence in the course of the offense as a prepared passer, and now could be a menace to attain. She averages 9.4 factors per sport after scoring 1.8 a 12 months in the past. Kitts is a giant motive why so lots of these veterans from a season in the past aren’t missed as a lot as we thought they’d be.
Voepel: One other key issue may very well be Corridor, who’s second on the workforce in 3-pointers (44) to Paopao and is taking pictures 41.5% from behind the arc. If defenses overcommit to attempt to cease Paopao, Corridor may also make them pay.
Philippou: Apart from the aforementioned two, Fulwiley is also in retailer for a giant March. She has had a few of the regular freshman ups and downs, however when she’s on, there’s actually no participant on the courtroom as dynamic as she is.
3:24
Watkins credit Gamecocks’ success to sturdy teamwork
After dropping 21 factors and 11 rebounds, Ashlyn Watkins highlights No. 1 South Carolina’s self-discipline, cohesive teamwork and dedication in its win over Arkansas.
The Gamecocks will win the championship in April if …
Philippou: They proceed to do what they’ve performed all season and reply upon encountering adversity in a given sport. Seeing South Carolina go on a late run in a hostile Baton Rouge atmosphere to tug forward of the Tigers and are available by means of with a win of their lone assembly Jan. 25 was telling. This workforce could also be younger and comparatively inexperienced, however so long as they keep poised and assured — particularly with a veteran chief like Paopao main the cost — they’re properly located to go all the best way. Bear in mind, Staley’s groups have not misplaced when trailing by double digits for 3 seasons now.
Voepel: They management rebounding and turnovers. That was the case in each of their regular-season victories towards Tennessee, which performed South Carolina higher than most different groups did. The Gamecocks nonetheless gained these video games by 11 and eight factors, though they did not shoot very properly in both. South Carolina prevailed on the boards and had fewer giveaways. It sounds easy, however holding their benefit in these areas means the Gamecocks aren’t going to do something to beat themselves.
Creme: They method all their NCAA event video games like they’ve approached each sport this season. Thus far, the Gamecocks have let their excellent preparation from Staley, expertise and flexibility work for them. If that is still the method, this workforce now has too many various methods to win: put the opposing offense in a vice grip; rebound and run, as a result of no different workforce controls the boards and is as athletic as South Carolina; or run managed and affected person offense, trying to open up a driving lane or spring free shooters who can now make these pictures.
South Carolina will lose the championship in April if …
Voepel: It runs right into a workforce that shoots near 50% or higher from the sector and prevents the Gamecocks from dictating the tempo. That is principally what occurred towards Iowa final 12 months. South Carolina outrebounded the Hawkeyes by 24! The Gamecocks took 20 extra pictures from the sector. However Iowa shot 49.1% from the sector, and that was sufficient for a four-point win.
Philippou: It goes chilly shooting-wise (just like the Gamecocks did Sunday towards Tennessee, the place they “solely” gained by eight) and has uncharacteristic points with turnovers, whereas the opposing workforce hits simply sufficient pictures to tug off the upset.
Creme: The second will get too huge. The one method I see this workforce falling quick is that if the inexperience of taking part in in a one-and-done circumstance tightens up a few of the youthful gamers and the execution of the sport plan suffers. As gifted because the likes of Fulwiley, Watkins and Kitts are, none have had the identical duty in huge moments that they may have late on this NCAA event.
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