South Carolina Head Coach Focused on Pacing, Defense, and Turnovers Ahead of March Madness Clash
Coming off a dominant 108-48 victory over Tennessee Tech in their NCAA Tournament opener, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley isn’t celebrating just yet. With a Round of 32 matchup against No. 9 seed Indiana looming, Staley has already shifted her focus to the next challenge.
Speaking in a postgame interview with ESPN, Staley highlighted key areas the No. 1 seed Gamecocks must improve before facing the Hoosiers.
What Needs Fixing?
“We’ve certainly got to control the pace of the game,” Staley emphasized. “And then … their ability to penetrate is paramount. So for us, we’ve got to disrupt … We certainly have to disrupt from a defensive standpoint. And then, we can’t have 16 turnovers … We can’t turn the ball over. And then our bench and our depth has to be in character with what they’ve done all season long.”
South Carolina’s dominance against Tennessee Tech was clear, with freshman Joyce Edwards leading the charge with 22 points and MiLaysia Fulwiley adding 15. The team crossed the 100-point mark for the third time this season, but despite the lopsided win, Staley knows the Hoosiers present a tougher challenge.
Indiana Won’t Go Down Easily
Indiana enters the Round of 32 as a dangerous opponent, with South Carolina well aware of the threat. The two teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, where the Gamecocks edged out a 79-75 win in a closely contested battle.
The upcoming March 23 matchup at Colonial Life Arena will test South Carolina’s defensive discipline, ball control, and ability to set the tempo—all factors Staley is laser-focused on improving.
With a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line, the Gamecocks will need to be at their best to keep their championship aspirations alive.
In other news, Gamecocks Hit with Roster Shake-Up as Two In-State Players Enter Transfer Portal
