NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Breakdown: No. 4 Seed Maryland Women’s Basketball vs. No. 1 Seed South Carolina

South Carolina vs. Maryland: Key Factors for Sweet 16 Showdown

As the South Carolina Gamecocks prepare for their Sweet 16 matchup with Maryland, there are some notable strengths and areas to watch for both teams.

Strengths One of the defining traits of South Carolina’s success has been the depth and versatility of its roster. Head coach Dawn Staley has managed to keep her entire team engaged and playing to their strengths, ensuring that every player, especially the Americans who make up the bulk of the roster, plays a vital role. Keeping players happy within their specific roles has been essential to the Gamecocks’ success this season.

Weakness Despite their overall dominance, the Gamecocks’ three-point shooting is one area of concern. At 33.8%, their three-point percentage ranks 76th in the nation. Though it’s still the fourth-best in the SEC, it’s noticeably below the high standards set by South Carolina in previous seasons. In contrast, Maryland has been much more effective from beyond the arc, with a 36.2% rate, which ranks 23rd nationally and fourth in the Big Ten.

Three Key Things to Watch

1. The Sweet 16 Magic
   Maryland is no stranger to the Sweet 16, having made it to this stage four times in the last five years. However, the Terps have only advanced past the Sweet 16 once during that span. Brenda Frese’s team has made 12 Sweet 16 appearances and seven Elite Eight berths under her leadership. To move beyond the Sweet 16 this time, Maryland will need to bring its best performance yet.
   Sarah Te-Biasu reflected on the significance, saying, “That’s something that you dream of when you’re a kid and everything, so just to be a part of that feels amazing.”
2. Breaking South Carolina’s Dominance
   Maryland has had a tough time against South Carolina, losing five of the last six matchups since the 2017-18 season. Their most recent meeting, in the 2023 Elite Eight, saw the Terps fall by 11 points. If Maryland wants to change its fortunes, it will need a special game plan from Frese and her coaching staff.
   Shyanne Sellers summed up the challenge, saying, “Give it all you got. That’s all you can do, really. They’re super disciplined and well coached, so we’ve got to make sure we’re doing everything that we need to do and executing the game plan.”
3. The X-Factor: Mir McLean
   One player to watch is Mir McLean, who has stepped up in a big way during the tournament. She provided a crucial spark off the bench, playing 36 minutes against Alabama, where she contributed 8 points and 10 rebounds. McLean also recorded six points and six rebounds in 21 minutes against Norfolk State. Her energy and rebounding ability could be key for Maryland as they look to break through against South Carolina.
   Brenda Frese praised McLean, saying, “What an X-factor she’s been these last two games, from a defensive end, a rebounding end. Just her pride to be able to lock down and make the best player on the opposing team have a miserable night.”

This Friday’s matchup between the Gamecocks and Terps is sure to be a thrilling contest with plenty of drama and exciting plays.