Gamecocks Play in Their First NCAA Tournament: ‘I Can’t Believe I’m Here’

As expected, her minutes were limited, typical for a freshman. She was the final player to step onto the court, entering late in the third quarter with the game already well in hand.

However, she made an immediate impact, scoring on her very first touch. By the time the final buzzer sounded, she had accumulated six points. Every basket, rebound, and play she made was met with cheers from her teammates, all eager to see her finally get on the scoreboard. The same could be said for McDaniel, who scored just two points but also recorded three assists while logging 18 minutes on the floor.

“It felt pretty great, honestly,” Tac said. “I didn’t want to come into the game with any expectations. I just wanted to play my game, so I went into the [third] quarter not expecting myself to do anything.”

While Sunday’s matchup against Indiana will soon overshadow this one, South Carolina’s performance against Tennessee Tech won’t be remembered in the grand scheme of their NCAA Tournament journey—and honestly, that’s how the Gamecocks would prefer it.

But for four players, this game will always be special. The nerves are gone, the excitement of playing in March Madness has faded into memory, and now it’s just about basketball.

What a relief.

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