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Tag: Dawn Staley

  • South Carolina and Dawn Staley’s Position in March Madness Bracket Predictions Ahead of SEC Tournament

    In the final stretch of the regular season and just days away from the start of conference tournaments, the South Carolina women’s basketball team is poised to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

    Currently ranked No. 6 with a 27-3 record (15-1 in the SEC), the Gamecocks are projected to host the opening round of the tournament before moving on to play in the Birmingham Region. Interestingly, just two weeks ago, after their loss to UConn, projections had the Gamecocks heading to Spokane, Washington.

    South Carolina enters the SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, with its first game slated for Friday at noon ET at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.

    Here’s the latest update on where South Carolina stands in NCAA Tournament projections:

    South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament Outlook

    According to ESPN’s Charlie Creme, the Gamecocks are still projected as a No. 1 seed, with the first-round games to be played in Columbia within the Birmingham 4 Region. The current bracket features Illinois (No. 8), Richmond (No. 9), and the winner of a First Four matchup between UNCG and High Point (No. 16). If the Gamecocks’ projections hold, they would face either UNCG or High Point, and the winner of that game would then meet Illinois or Richmond.

    South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament Résumé and NET Ranking

    In terms of rankings, the Gamecocks fell to No. 2 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, with UConn overtaking them for the top spot last week. South Carolina’s impressive performance this season includes a strong 8-2 record on the road, 5-0 on neutral courts, and 14-1 at home. The Gamecocks are also dominant in Quadrant 1 matchups, boasting a 14-3 record. In addition, they are 3-0 in Quad 2, 3-0 in Quad 3, and 7-0 in Quad 4 games. Notably, South Carolina leads the nation with the most Quad 1 wins this season, having secured 11 victories over ranked opponents.

    South Carolina’s Rich NCAA Tournament History

    South Carolina’s legacy in NCAA basketball under head coach Dawn Staley is undeniable. The Gamecocks have captured three national championships since 2017, including a perfect 38-0 season in 2023-24. In addition, they have made six Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eight runs, and 14 Sweet 16 appearances. On the conference level, South Carolina has claimed the SEC tournament title eight times and has been crowned SEC regular-season champion eight times as well.

    Stay tuned as the Gamecocks look to add another chapter to their storied program in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

  • Sania Feagin Sets Career-High in Scoring Against Ole Miss: Why It’s Key for South Carolina’s Timing

    Sania Feagin Sets Career-High in Scoring Against Ole Miss: Why It’s Key for South Carolina’s Timing

    Sania Feagin

    Dawn Staley’s South Carolina women’s basketball team is gearing up for March Madness, but their offense still needed a little fine-tuning as they faced Ole Miss Thursday night. Despite some earlier struggles with team chemistry, Sania Feagin wasted no time in showing the Rebels that the Gamecocks were here to play in their 75-59 victory.

    While Joyce Edwards has been a consistent force off the bench, scoring in double digits, it was Feagin who made a statement Thursday night. If the senior forward can continue to dominate as she did in this game, South Carolina (26-3, 14-1 SEC), currently ranked No. 6, may just be able to carve out the offensive rhythm they’ve been seeking.

    Feagin set a new career high, racking up 22 points, six rebounds, and five blocks. With only one regular season game left before the SEC Women’s Tournament, this performance couldn’t have come at a better time for the Gamecocks.

    “I thought Feagin just did a great job being in the right place at the right time,” Coach Staley shared postgame. “She hit some mid-range shots as well. She was a senior out there, just knowing when to take her time and take the type of shot she wants to take.”

    It’s clear Feagin’s journey this season hasn’t been easy. Staley openly admitted she considered removing her from the starting lineup earlier in the season. Feagin has spent her career behind Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso—two current WNBA stars—and didn’t have that luxury this year. When Ashlyn Watkins went down with an injury in January, the pressure shifted even more onto Feagin.

    Earlier this year, Feagin contributed solidly with 12 points in games against LSU and Oklahoma, two of South Carolina’s strongest performances. However, in the weeks leading up to Thursday’s game, she struggled, not scoring more than seven points in six of her previous eight games. This included low-scoring efforts in losses to UConn and Texas.

    But Thursday was a different story. Feagin was a force, and by halftime, she had already matched her career high of 16 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-9 from the field, while also adding three blocks and five rebounds.

    When Ole Miss tied the game, Feagin calmly stood at the foul line, gesturing for everyone to take a breath. She then swiftly responded with a three-point play, hitting a layup through contact. Then, with 4:27 left in the half, Feagin made a crucial defensive play, blocking Starr Jacobs before racing up the floor, losing her defender, and scoring an easy layup off an assist from Chloe Kitts.

    It’s clear that with Feagin stepping up when it matters most, South Carolina may have found the offensive boost they’ve needed heading into the postseason.

  • South Carolina and Dawn Staley’s Position in March Madness Bracket After Vanderbilt Victory

    South Carolina and Dawn Staley's Position in March Madness Bracket After Vanderbilt Victory

    In the latest NCAA Tournament projections, South Carolina women’s basketball is still slated as a No. 1 seed, with the No. 6 Gamecocks (25-3, 13-1 SEC) expected to host the first round of play in Columbia and compete in the Birmingham Region once again. Despite a setback against UConn, which briefly shifted projections toward Spokane, Washington, ESPN analyst Charlie Creme now has the Gamecocks back in the Birmingham Region.

    After securing two recent wins against Arkansas and Vanderbilt, Coach Dawn Staley’s squad now prepares for their final regular-season games—Ole Miss on Thursday at 9 p.m. (ESPN) and Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN).

    According to the latest projections, South Carolina will host a First Round game against either UNCG or High Point, with the winner moving on to face Illinois or South Dakota State.

    Charlie Creme’s most recent bracket analysis places South Carolina in the Birmingham 3 Region, with a match-up against the winner of a First Four game between UNCG and High Point and eventual competition against either Illinois or South Dakota State.

    The Gamecocks are currently ranked second in the NCAA’s NET rankings, as UConn took over the No. 1 spot last week. South Carolina has been impressive on the road with a 7-2 record, 5-0 on neutral courts, and 13-1 at home. They’ve also excelled in Quad 1 games with an 11-3 record, while maintaining perfect records in Quads 2 (4-0), 3 (3-0), and 4 (7-0).

    Historically, South Carolina has been a powerhouse in NCAA women’s basketball. The Gamecocks have won three national championships under Dawn Staley since 2017, including their most recent undefeated season in 2023-24, where they went 38-0. With six Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eight finishes, and 14 Sweet 16s, South Carolina has firmly established itself as a dominant force in women’s college basketball. Additionally, they have claimed the SEC tournament title eight times and are an eight-time SEC regular-season champion.

    A SPECIAL BOND—The special connection between MiLaysia Fulwiley and Joyce Edwards continues to evolve into one of South Carolina’s strongest assets on and off the court.

    More news….

    Paul Mainieri Optimistic About Close Wins to Begin South Carolina Baseball Season

    Paul Mainieri Optimistic About Close Wins to Begin South Carolina Baseball Season

    South Carolina’s head coach Paul Mainieri is feeling positive about the Gamecocks’ early challenges on the field. Though the team remains undefeated, their performance hasn’t been flawless. The Gamecocks had a close call against Winthrop, which left some fans scratching their heads, even after dominating Sacred Heart in the season opener. But for Mainieri, the tight game is no cause for concern. He values these gritty victories, a perspective he’s held for years thanks to advice from his father.

    “I remember my dad vividly saying to me on the phone, ‘Hey, don’t ever be upset about winning close games, because you’re better off having those kinds of games. Your team will grow from it. They’ll learn how to be composed and poised at the end of the game. Down the road when they need to win that close game against a really tough opponent, they’ll have been there and done that, and that makes their confidence even that much better,’” Mainieri reflected.

    The Gamecocks aren’t alone in facing tough matchups. Even the no. 8 Georgia Bulldogs experienced struggles, losing to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, only to later pull off a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against Kennesaw State. Not every team, however, has had the dominance displayed by Tennessee, who easily handled both Hofstra and UNC Asheville with lopsided victories.

    Looking ahead, the Gamecocks are aiming to continue their perfect streak, with a weekend series against the Milwaukee Panthers on the horizon as they strive for a 6-0 record.

  • South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Dawn Staley’s Squad vs. Florida – Prediction and Scouting Report

    The No. 4 ranked South Carolina

    Live Update: South Carolina Women’s Basketball Aims to Rebound with Florida Matchup

    The No. 4 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (22-2, 10-1 SEC) are set to host Florida (12-12, 3-7) at 7 p.m. Thursday, marking their first game since falling to Texas on Sunday, 66-62. The Gamecocks are looking to bounce back and start a new winning streak after the disappointing loss.

    Florida enters this game on the heels of a loss to Alabama last Thursday. However, the Gators had a break on Sunday, providing them with a full week to prepare for their trip to Columbia.

    Historically, South Carolina holds a 24-20 advantage over Florida, and has dominated the recent matchups, winning the last 16 meetings. The last time South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley faced a defeat to the Gators was on January 9, 2011.

    Key Players and Storylines for Florida:

    Liv McGill, Florida’s standout freshman guard, has been a force this season. Averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, McGill ranks No. 13 in the SEC for scoring. In Florida’s loss to Alabama, McGill posted 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Despite a less-than-stellar shooting performance (2-of-6 from beyond the arc), she remains a key offensive player for Florida, shooting 34.3% from three-point range.

    South Carolina’s guards, Raven Johnson and Bree Hall, will likely be tasked with guarding McGill. With so much of Florida’s offense running through her, the Gamecocks’ defense will need to stay focused on containing her.

    In terms of team stats, Florida boasts a strong SEC standing in field goal percentage, ranked third in the conference with a 47% shooting average. South Carolina, by comparison, is slightly behind with a 46.7% shooting rate.

    Tough Test for Gamecocks’ Frontcourt:

    After struggling against the Texas Longhorns’ height last Sunday, South Carolina’s forwards—Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, and Joyce Edwards—face another challenge against Florida’s 6-foot-6 center Ra Shaya Kyle. Kyle has been a dominant force, averaging 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She comes off a solid performance with 15 points and seven rebounds in her last outing. Kyle has registered 12 double-doubles this season and currently sits at No. 4 in the SEC for rebounds per game.

    Joyce Edwards Seeks to Bounce Back:

    Despite South Carolina’s loss to Texas, Joyce Edwards remains the team’s leading scorer with an average of 12.3 points per game. However, after a streak of eight consecutive games scoring in double figures, Edwards has seen a dip in her scoring, posting just six and nine points in her last two contests. Her most recent double-digit performance came on February 2 against Auburn when she notched 18 points.

    Injury Watch:

    South Carolina’s injury update will be available after the SEC report is released on Wednesday night. As of Sunday, Ashlyn Watkins was still out. No injury reports were noted for Florida, which had the weekend off.

    Score Prediction:

    South Carolina is expected to dominate in this matchup, with a projected final score of South Carolina 90, Florida 59. In the aftermath of their loss to Texas, Te-Hina Paopao warned that the next six opponents should expect a tough fight, and it all starts with a commanding win over the Gators.

    Stay tuned as the Gamecocks aim to bounce back and extend their winning ways on Thursday night.