Maryland Star Claims South Carolina’s Post Players Have Been “Disrespected a Lot” Before Sweet Sixteen Clash

LIVE UPDATE: South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team Prepares for Sweet Sixteen Matchup Against Maryland

South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley is gearing up to lead her team into battle against Maryland on Friday in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. The showdown between the 1-seed Gamecocks and the 4-seed Terrapins is expected to be an intense one. The winner of this game will face the victor of the North Carolina vs. Duke matchup in the Elite Eight, scheduled for Sunday or Monday.

Both teams have been in Birmingham for practice sessions and media events ahead of their pivotal tournament clash.

During Thursday’s media availability, Maryland’s star player Shyanne Sellers took the opportunity to praise South Carolina’s frontcourt. “I know people like to talk about, you know, missing Kamilla Cardoso and Aliyah Boston, but I think Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, and Joyce Edwards have done a great job of stepping up,” Sellers remarked. “So, you know, I think they’ve gotten disrespected a lot. I think they’ve stepped up and knocked it out of the park. It’s just going to be a battle of wills at this point.”

Sellers, a seasoned veteran for the Terrapins, certainly knows what she’s talking about. Having faced South Carolina four times throughout her career — all losses — she has witnessed firsthand the dominance of Boston and Cardoso in previous matchups. She even faced them together during the 2022-2023 season.

Sellers acknowledges just how impactful those post players were for South Carolina and now fully appreciates the Gamecocks’ current group of bigs. Last season, Kitts and Feagin combined for 21 points and 16 rebounds in a game against Maryland. Although Sellers hasn’t played against Edwards yet, the freshman has already shown tremendous promise with a stellar debut season.

Edwards has had an impressive first year, earning first-team All-SEC honors. Meanwhile, Kitts and Feagin have recently stepped up their performances, with Kitts earning honorable mention All-America honors and Feagin securing a spot on the SEC All-Defensive team.

For the season, the trio of Kitts, Feagin, and Edwards has been putting up remarkable numbers: a combined 31.4 points and 17.3 rebounds per game, with each of them shooting better than 50%. Edwards has been the most consistent scorer for South Carolina, hitting double digits in 25 games. Kitts leads the team in rebounds, boasting nine double-doubles and a triple-double, while also excelling as a playmaker from the high post. Feagin has emerged as the Gamecocks’ premier post defender, especially following Ashlyn Watkins’ ACL injury in January.

While Maryam Dauda, Adhel Tac, and Sakima Walker could see some playing time against Maryland, it’s expected that Edwards, Kitts, and Feagin will be the primary posts in South Carolina’s rotation.

As the Gamecocks aim to defend their national title, all eyes will be on Edwards, Kitts, and Feagin, who will be key to continuing their championship run.

The much-anticipated game between South Carolina and Maryland is set to tip off at 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, with ESPN broadcasting the contest live. You can also catch the game streaming on the ESPN app.