Will South Carolina fall back to the pack or is Dawn Staley ability to rebuild being underestimated?

[@garymacmillan]

She is a masterful recruiter. She's not going away.

[@back2sports]

Thinks u R right

[@anthonytaylor7928]

South is frickin loaded yall better check that roster again before yall talking about falling back

[@back2sports]

Truth will be revealed between Nov to March. All of this is talk and speculation which TBH I don't mind. Look fwd to u talking S _ _ _ ! In Feb 24!

[@carlosdossantos917]

It's a helluva roster. Not sure what they meant by rebuilding. Dawn lost a lot in Boston, Beal, Cooke, and Amihere. She has size and Pao Pao can shoot as can Bree Hall and Raven too, as well as Malaysia. But LSU won't be intimidated by this South Carolina team. When you're the National Champion and you reload with the top two players in the transfer portal plus the top freshman class... that's a lot of talent. Size matters, yes. Well LSU will have more size than last year too...but more skill. I respect Dawn Staley. Waiting to see Dawn Staley win a title where she has a team thats not loaded. Kim Mulkey has won with teams that just came together and somehow won, jot necessarily the best. Both Dawn's titles have been with very talented teams who were very much expected to win. And this is no knock on Dawn Staley, but she will have her chance this upcoming season. A good team on paper but not necessarily the National favorite. It'll be interesting

[@southernbellnc6241]

preach they sleeping on SC and now we have Sessions on the team now. I bet you won't see folks baiting SC to shot this year But let them sleep on Dawn they will start hating all over again.

[@kendraehiers8332]

@@carlosdossantos917definitely false asf. The 2017 was not loaded nor was it expected or talked about to win the title💯

[@carlosdossantos917]

Alaina Coates? A'ja Wilson? Karla Davis? Alisha Gray? #3 in Final AP... they weren't talked about? UConn was the favorite and got upset by Miss St, but that South Carolina had way more expectations and was talked about as a title threat that year way more than LSU this year. That team was not a from the ground up team like Kim Mulkey's 2005 Baylor team. Kim didn't even have a roster full of HS All Americans. I stand by what I said. It's hard to win a title regardless. You could argue that the Dawn's 2017 wasn't as talented as 2022 but again, both were pretty formidable. This LSU team didn't come from out of no where but none of the pundits had LSU even going to the Final Four, much less Runner Up or even National Champion. Dawn had a Final Four team in 2017... even when South Carolina made the Final, no one was surprised as if it was an upset... again several of those players mentioned went on to the WNBA. Ty Harris, Bianca Cuevas were in her backcourt...few more too...that was not a shabby team. They may not have been as loaded as this year, but hpw many teams have been? People were calling this past year's Gamecocks the best team in history. But the 2017 team was not some underdog team of nobodies. Please! 2 titles for Dawn Staley which is admirable! Both those teams were top 3 pretty much...and did not come from out of no where. Kim Mulkey won this year with less talent than Dawn. Mulkey isn't going to lose with more talent if she won with less. But this year, South Carolina is still a top team and can win it. But y'all South Carolina fans need to get used to the Gamecocks not cruising through the SEC like in the past Honestly, this past season is probably the last one where South Carolina easily won an SEC. Now that Mulkey is recruiting on par and in some cases better than Dawn.. LSU is going to be South Carolina's top rival in the SEC and nationally.

[@nzinga95]

We are not wringing our hands in SC. My advice to any doubters: Don't sleep on Coach Staley. The Lady Gamecocks are just fine. ❤

[@back2sports]

Why would you. 5 star leaves and replace with 5 star that has been on bench. Not a bad option..

[@shiverz37]

SC starting lineup will be: Raven Johnson, Pao Pao, Feagin, Hall, and Cardoso. That is 5 McDonalds All American and 3 of them were ranked top 5 in the country coming out of high school.

[@surferzapper20]

The media disrespect for SC this off-season is wild. The 2019 class & 2021 class were both the #1 class in the nation their respective years. Even with seven players graduating this year, SC's entire projected starting lineup and second string were five-star recruits, most of whom have already played significant minutes in Staley's system. Somehow with all that depth already on the roster, the 2023 class comes in ranked #2. Reality is that too much hype was put on the Freshies, no focus was put on who was next up, and after the way last season ended they'll be coming in with a vengeance.

[@ItsJaeLaw]

The hate for the program is real

[@ReadR00ster1]

I think south Carolina still has an advantage of size and depth over any team in the country. It might take them a while to get stuff together but watch out for them come tourney time.

[@carlosdossantos917]

I'd rather have size, but sometimes size can be overrated. Caitlin Clark made Cardoso look clumsy... South Carolina will have to knock down shots. They can certainly win it, playing Big Babe Basketball but South Carolina won't have the same edge size wise as this past year. South Carolina will be big... but you won't have a Boston or Amihere in there... the others aren't too shabby, but just look at UCLA. UCLA played well against South Carolina during the regular season, but got dat a** whooped in the playoffs. Well... now UCLA has Lauren Betts at 6-7. Does it give them an advantage? No, but South Carolina won't have the same size advantage across the board. LSU won't be bigger than South Carolina but Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow will be a talented combo and Kin Mulkey will have a true Big Girl in Aalyah Del Rosario. Last year, LaDazhia Williams was more of a forward. Make no mistake, South Carolina will still be big... you got several 6-4, 6-5 girls to go with Cardoso... but Dawn can't play them all at the same time. Dawn will have a helluva team that can win the title... but this team won't be the "one of the best if not the best team in history" like this past year's team. The size will be nice, but other teams have added some size too...UConn will have a couple bigs to go with Edwards inside. Size will be a strength for South Carolina as well as an advantage. I just don't think it'll be an overwhelming advantage against the upper echelon teams like LSU, UConn, UCLA, Utah, and Iowa...

[@southernbellnc6241]

@@carlosdossantos917 well first CC did not make KC look any kind of way. Iowa was fouling our bigs and pushing them. So get that thought out of your head.

[@carlosdossantos917]

Size yes, not necessarily depth. There will be other deep teams. I think a big key for South Carolina will be finding a consistent shooter. Obviously Pao Pao is a big time candidate. Bree Hall. Raven can shoot. Fulwiley is sick as far as talent goes... I think those things will factor heavily because everyone knows Dawn has the big and the defense and rebounding... and I hate the way people try to criticize Dawn's style because as she says, "They live to see another day. And are going to keep playing that way." I think they should. The Iowa game was just one game. You can't expect every team to play like Iowa in the semis against South Carolina next year. But typically, a big team will face lots of zone or sagging daring it to shoot. South Carolina shot well against LSU but against Iowa, when Fletcher opened the game with an air ball... it was like, wtf...

[@ItsJaeLaw]

💯

[@ItsJaeLaw]

@@southernbellnc6241💯

[@kashhh2]

End to end South Carolina is the a top 2 or 3 most loaded team. The problem is inexperience. We’ll only have 2 seniors and 1 is a transfer that’s just learning our system.

[@benprytherch9202]

Gamecock fan here so I'm totally biased, but thanks for putting this out there. It's true we've lost all our starters. It's also true that our bench played big minutes and put up big numbers, with Cardoso and Johnson getting the 4th and 5th most game time despite not starting. Ashlyn Watkins is a force of nature, on almost any other team she would have been starting her freshman year, but we were too loaded. And Milaysia Fulwiley looks like a special player, she might surprise some people. Our weakness last season was shooting from distance, and we'll be better there next season. We're not losing size. We're losing a lot of experience, and of course that matters. LSU deserve to be pre-season favorites, and UCONN probably deserve the second spot. Seeing us at #8 on ESPN's early rankings though... no. The freshies will be missed but the next group up are badasses too.

[@back2sports]

Wow the first comment or to admit they are bias. Love the honesty. Agree USC will be fine and will likely surprise.

[@morgankilgore416]

People failing to realize Staley can go deep into her bench an no disrespect to anyone else but I don’t think anyone has a bench in depth like hers for some teams that don’t really have a bench but for Staley that woman is set

[@back2sports]

Chole Kitts looked good against Germany in U19 chamoionships

[@keithanderson7141]

Good show. Gamecocks will be tested early by playing Norte Dame & Utah. Coach Staley team will continue to be a top five defensive squad that how she rolls. The other teams should be concerned that she will have her best offensive team since the 2017 championship year. She has at least five outside shooters which she has never had before. Watch them work! 😂

[@back2sports]

It should be fun. Yes I forgot to mention the play Notre Dame in Paris

[@hittpitch1019]

I LOVE my Gamecocks, but yes, they ABSOLUTELY underachieved during the era of "the freshies," aka, the Aliyah Boston era. Now, in fairness, they were by FARRRR the best team the year Covid canceled the tournament, they were the number one seed that season and in all probability would have taken it all that year. Some say that was Dawn's best team, ever, and I agree. Had they done that, they would have been a two-title team. However, fate had a different story to tell, Aliyah missed the tip-in against Stanford in the Final Four the following year, and Dawn had maybe the worst coaching performance of her life with arguably the deepest, most talented women's collegiate basketball team ever at her disposal against Iowa. They should have MINIMUM been a two-title team, and probably a three-title group. Ultimately, they just didn't get it done. So, yeah, as great as they were, they did underachieve. I don't know how anyone could really logically argue differently.

[@back2sports]

You are much too self reflective and willing to offer an honest appraisal of your team for a KZbin comments section. 100% agree they should have won more tittles but bad luck , fate , occasional bad coaching prevented this But on the other hand USC won the game that mattered which was slaying the dragon and beating UConn in championship game. Unlike my team the Houston cougars who lost in 83 and olajuwon - Drexler missed out. Still bothers me 40 years later

[@hittpitch1019]

@@back2sports, Phi Slamma Jamma, baby! Greatest non-title team, ever. I'd put the UNLV team that lost to Duke in the finals after beating that same Duke team by nearly 50 the year before in the same boat with 'em, though. This year's Lady G's loss to Iowa will haunt me the same way your Cougs losing haunts you. Some losses, right or wrong, just tend to stick with you.

[@calvinh.4682]

I think South Carolina underachieved by only winning one title during the Boston era. It's too early to call it. However, I still think that a healthy UCONN, South Carolina and LSU will be the teams to beat. I don't see South Carolina truly falling off. They have to defend the 3 much better and not ignore 3 pointer shooters like Caitlyn Clark.

[@kashhh2]

How did they underachieve? Her freshman year there was no tournament. Her sophomore year the worst refs in history called that game. Her junior year they won. Only upset year was 2023.

[@keithanderson7141]

3 final 4, 3 sec season & tournament 🏆Covid season cut short, lost to champion Stanford by a put back, one Natty🏆and lost by 4 to a hot tournament team in Iowa. UConn has one Natty in 7 seasons & 6/7 final fours recently Neither of these teams would I say has underachieved it is just that hard to win multiple titles in this recent decade due to the growing parity in the women’s game. Best to all the top teams this season. It should be exciting!

[@poloregal]

You really are pushing it. Would have won in 2020. And lost in the FF 2 years with a chip in 2022. Ok

[@KelzKelz]

The got jipped 3 times, refs twice and covid once. They lost 9 games in 4 years. If the refs call the late blatant fouls on Stanford they win tha game. Same thing with Iowa, all th cheap calls and the no calls against Clark, SC easily win. They still had to beat Arizona and Virginia Tech respectfully or LSU with their rigged win against VT.

[@carlosdossantos917]

I'm not a South Carolina fan but I'm not going to beat up on them, either. In all fairness, South Carolina was the team to beat Boston's freshman year but the tournament was canceled due to Covid! I love Kim Mulkey, and many people believe Mulkey should've won more titles with Griner at Baylor. But here's the thing: sport is cruel. Just like Geno says, it's so hard to win. Look at all the amazing players who NEVER won a National Title starting with players like Teresa Edwards, Katrina McClain, and Ruthie Bolton! There are many more. A college career goes by so fast and who knows what would've happened if Boston had made that putback against Stanford? The point is that South Carolina was in the mix EVERY year Boston was there. There aren't many players and teams that can say... when so and so was at whatever college, they were a title contender every year. Breanna Stewart won 4 and she deserves all the credit, but when Baylor lost to Louisville that year (Stewart's freshman year) it really opened it up for UConn. That's not to take anything away from UConn because everyone is saying that LSU only won it because South Carolina lost to Iowa... and that's fair. I think it's better to say that UConn could've upset a very talented Baylor team when Stewie was a freshman and that LSU also could've beaten South Carolina, especially if they broke the scoring record in doing so. But Aaliyah Boston should hold her head high because she has elevated the sport and South Carolina has a helluva program!

[@reggiesolomon2205]

They got too predictable on offense. Couldn't make the opponent play honest on defense at the end.

[@kenichitamagusuku3194]

You mean like 5 players down low in the paint? Well this year, they got the better shooters outside and everyone on the team last year practiced against #1 ranked team every day, # 2 recruiting class this year and # 1 next year. Looks like they not going anywhere and this years #2 recruiting class was #1 until Kitts graduated early to be on last years team so it may have been #1 recruiting classes in a row plus the transfer portal. L.S.U. Team hasn’t had a real team practice yet because they doing N.I.L. Instead of practicing, good thing they not playing anyone until S.E.C. schedule, a real paper champions

[@briangarcia2534]

I don’t think South Carolina is going anywhere the Gamecocks are SEC Champions and Tournament Champions and have All Americans all up and down the roster. South Carolina has lead the nation in attendance each year. I don’t think South Carolina is going anywhere. They are here and relevant and will continue to be and I think they will prove multiple people wrong.

[@robertarrington3468]

South carolina gamecocks wont all the smoke we dont run from nothing thats what we wont yall to keep doing pushing us away keep that same energy when we winning dont jump on our band wagon 💯

[@poloregal]

You realize we just reloaded? No worries here

[@back2sports]

I think so?

[@brittany3890]

No, they still going to the final four. Or at least they should with how much talent they still have.

[@back2sports]

The bookies don't agree. But would not shock me if they make it back

[@Mr..G]

This coming season is going to be a great one for women's college basketball. Due to the emergence of other programs and some untimely injuries, the Huskies haven't lifted the hardware in 7 years and are ready to reclaim the throne. It goes without saying that Coach Auriemma and the crew have something to prove. With key players returning to the lineup, they will be a serious contender. LSU won an unexpected title this season due to South Carolina stumbling after the referees handicapped them with horrendous calls against Boston and Caitlin Clark's super woman antics. Their lineup was kryptonite for the tigers who were fortunate not to face them in the finals. The cupboard is not bare in Columbia. Coach Staley has added some interesting pieces, which along with that always tenacious defense, will keep them in the hunt. After reloading, the Bayou Bengals have emerged with what looks like the women's college version of the Golden State Warriors. Many expect them to repeat and for good reason. Can you say transfer portal? Only someone living under a rock the past two months would be skeptical. Nevertheless, that's why you play the game. The aforementioned teams along with some others, will have a lot to say about that.

[@back2sports]

Should be fun

[@BillyBobCooter]

UConn will reclaim the throne this season, LSU is a fluke, the whole nation is rooting against Reese and her disrespect of Caitlyn. Paige represents the best of basketball, Reese and her degenerates represent the thugs from the hood. SC will take some lumps but still challenge for the title in SEC.

[@Mr..G]

@@BillyBobCooter Nah! The whole nation is not rooting against Reese; that would mean rooting against LSU and the beloved Kim Mulkey. If that was the case though, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't care less. They have actually been trending since their championship win, although I'm sure Iowa fans are still in their feelings after being blown out of what was a close game for one and a third quarters. Had things gone according to script, the hawkeyes would have hoisted the trophy, but basketball is not a fairy tale and the game wasn't played in Oz. The tigers play in the best as well as the toughest conference in the nation and are actually that good. The addition of HVL and Aneesah Morrow has put fear in the hearts of many. Thank God for the hood and thugs; I couldn't imagine quality sports without them. Paige Bueckers (18 pts, 5.1 ast) is good and has done her thing, but she is certainly no super woman. That title belongs to the incomparable Caitlyn Clark (27.2 pts, 8 ast). *Daily Mail-* LSU's Angel Reese has not only attracted greater attention on the court but also off it, nearly doubling her Instagram followers to over 1.1 million in just two days after her viral March Madness gesture at Caitlin Clark, who's behind with 500k followers. The study - by Canada Sports Betting - found that Reese has gained almost 500,000 new Instagram followers over the last two days, going from 607,000 to almost 1.1million. That's nearly double her count from before Sunday's title win and now that she's above the one million followers threshold, she can potentially earn $2,974 per sponsored post. *Blessings!* †

[@DrShake-wy1dg]

They were a whisker or 2 away from winning 4 (Covid, the putback that didn't didn't go in against Stanford, and the Iowa (Caytlyn Clark game was still a play or 2 from the winning) and LSU didn't beat South Carolina last year and wouldn't have beat them in the championship. LSU was just tailored made for beating Iowa. This year's team is gonna be even more versatile and diverse offensively. Raven is gonna have her first REAL coming party being completely 100% and in shape, EVERYONE sleeps on Sania Feagin having an actual BETTER offensive bag than Victaria Saxton, and Watkins and Walker. NO ONE can physically match up with Cordoso (Aaliyah Edwards comes closest), but, UConn has only one Aaliyah Edwards and Ice Brady, 2 Bigs ain't getting quality touches with Paige & Azzi, and Ducharme all getting there's. Azzi and Caroline CANNOT defend the people they'll have to defend playing South Carolina, and Brezzy Hall And Malaysia can neutralize them defensively and the transfer from Oregon is a better outside shooter than ANYONE South Carolina has had. Raven IS Cordoso's PG, they were an unstoppable duo playing with FBC on the Circuit in high school. I do believe Dawn is gonna have to allow these players to be who and what they are. The Raven we know would not have been getting waved off to shoot, she's getting her confidence back, (check out her on USA Basketball). Chloe Kitts role will expand. SU will struggle, and not beat South Carolina. There guards will gobble up and wear down HVL, (and she can't defend THEM)

[@superman55man88]

The UConn shade is funny. You might wanna do some research on what pundits are already saying who been up to Storrs to see this UConn team practice. People are saying if healthy this can be UConn’s best team since 2002. It all will start will Paige and Azzi. If both are healthy and are playing on National POTY levels nobody in the country can match two POTY caliber players. If you know your history: Diana and Sue, Maya and Tina, when Geno has two POTY caliber players healthy in a starting five UConn has won 6 out of their eleven national championships. If I’m the rest of America I’m looking closely at how healthy Paige and Azzi look once the season starts.

[@back2sports]

@DrShake pretty clear u r as big UConn and LSU fan.

[@DrShake-wy1dg]

@@back2sports Wrong, I'm a South Carolina fan actually

[@shiverz37]

@@superman55man88 I hate to say it but maybe this batch of UConn players are injury prone. Azzi has had knee and leg problems since high school. Not a UConn fan but I hope they have an injury free season.

[@alvinmitchell1412]

Dawn Staley will have them Ready believe that, she doesn’t play

[@emwmarketingplus6625]

The Lady G's will be ready to play. This team will be scrappy and determined. They lost a generational class, but that is why coach played some key pieces early. It's just time for that depth to step to the forefront. You guys remember what happened last tie there was unfinished business.

[@StoryGordon]

With increased parity and top quality players coming out of high school there may never be another UConn or UCLA. Stay tuned.

[@back2sports]

LSU does not agree

[@iguillo]

I don't think people are necessarily sleeping on SC. However, they are not the favorites in this upcoming season. That has to be LSU and probably UConn. But, getting back to the topic at hand...................................Will SC fall back to the pack? No, I don't see that. But thinking they're going to be the "next UConn" is wishful thinking. Even UConn won't be the "next UConn". The days of one program getting 5 of the top 10 recruits every season is over. There's way too many competitive coaches who are great recruiters these days, not to mention even more skilled players available than even ten years ago. Dawn is a GREAT coach and may go down as one of the greatest. But with Kim Mulkey in the SEC, moving forward those two programs will dominate the SEC and the NCAA in the foreseeable future.

[@back2sports]

Agree with all of that. Thanks for watching

[@stp366]

They could be better than last year. Outside shooting was their weakness last year but not this year. Hall and paopao , Raven will be better for sure and one you didn't bring up is freshman Fulwiley , incredible player. Inside, they are deep and loaded with talent.

[@jcrawf7301]

No Carolina is who they are not someone else

[@jcrawf7301]

DAM GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO

[@scottphipps2278]

The talent level of women's college basketball has caught up to UConn across the board .

[@back2sports]

Maybe. Will see this year

[@scottphipps2278]

South Carolina will shoot the 3 this year

[@back2sports]

But will they go in?

[@ItsDItsmeddEveryman]

Why is this even a question? Let’s play and see. Is UConn going to be UConn?

[@back2sports]

Questioning a question with a question. Perfect

[@nicholasdoura4371]

It's gonna be tuff after losing 7 seniors

[@anthonytaylor7928]

Aw stop I think u need to go and lookup how much they're bench outscored the starters this team is still loaded

[@southernbellnc6241]

@@anthonytaylor7928 that's how we done games. The starters was not good. Boston and Cooke were the only players that could create their own shots. That bench was a damn nightmare.....

[@chrisj6express]

Are you all still thinking South Carolina will fall back 😂😂. Some of these comments let’s us know who really pays attention to the team. Still the number one team in the country with better outside shooters and the inside post and defense is still dominant, and recruiting still top tier with even more 5 ⭐️’s coming in. As long as dawn is there South Carolina will always be a power house in women’s basketball

[@carlosdossantos917]

Time will tell. But Dawn doesn't have to rebuild. She has a team full of High School All Americans waiting for the opportunity to prove themselves, and also a couple good transfers. She won't have Big Boston and the others, but Dawn isn't rebuilding yet. She has a pretty good freshman class too. What's happening is that South Carolina let a golden opportunity slip. South Carolina was the most talented team in the country this past season. But South Carolina isn't going to fall too far back to the pack because 6-7 Cardoso is probably going to have more room to operate inside with Boston gone. It's going to be more competitive in the SEC. Kim Mulkey understands the types of players she needs to compete against not only South Carolina, but the whole country... so South Carolina is still very much an elite team but they will not go into Baton Rouge next year and blow LSU out. The talent level is a lot more even and LSU probably has the edge in guard and qing play. Kim Mulkey had congratulated South Carolina for kicking LSU's butt in the regular season but Mulkey said if LSU had faced South Carolina again, she'd play them differently. But this next season, nobody's going to outrebound LSU by 10 or 15 boards the way South Carolina did this past season. Reese and Morrow are going to fight over rebounds and LSU will have a big girl in Del Rosario who's going to want some of those rebounds too. LSU will be deeper and Kim Mulkey can coach a team that's not the most talented just like she can coach a team that's the most talented. I've yet to see Dawn Staley win a title where her team wasn't super good. Kim Mulkey has had a couple teams win the title that were not even the 2nd or 3rd favorite, much less the favorite. LSU will be better than last season but it doesn't guarantee a title, but South Carolina has enough size and talent to definitely be one of the top teams, but Dawn will not be rebuilding. Rebuilding is when you lose everything amd practically have nothing and you're starting from the ground up. South Carolina is still a top 5 team. It's just that now South Carolina has to deal with another top 5 team in the SEC... I know LSU was ranked top 5 last year but South Carolina wasn't too bothered because they had the best team in the country. Now LSU has Van Lith who can create her own stuff, the number one recruiting class with Mikaylah Williams who is on the level of Simone Augustus and Alana Beard as far as LA recruits go... plus Reese and Morrow who are going to gobble up rebounds, not with size but with tenacity and grit... so LSU and South Carolina are going to have some battles but again, South Carolina will have a good team but not the same team that blew out LSU and just about everyone else last year

[@oscarhamtig9785]

Go Gamecocks

[@back2sports]

indeed. overlooked and underrated. Good spot for USC

[@dbaruso2537]

They better get some shooters....it's been exposed....PaoPao is coming!! I love me some Dawn though!

[@southernbellnc6241]

Let them sleep on SC I bet they will wake up fast this come this season

[@scottphipps2278]

The game is played on the court .

[@back2sports]

Unlike ruby union which is played in heaven!

[@kenichitamagusuku3194]

Correct the referees won that game in the semi finals last year but no team beat them or this year either.

[@grantmahiai1605]

Forgot the O in Carlina it’s Carolina

[@back2sports]

Thanks for that. Fixed it. Never post after midnight

[@carlosscott2430]

You left out the addition of malaysia

[@alanlee3236]

Yeah I think you might be off with this one. This is basically a new team returning 1 starter. Bree Hall and company were great coming off the bench and hopefully will make good transition to starting, but you can’t assume that, assume the bench will rise to their last-season level, assume that the “Freshies” experience will transfer to this new starting group, assume their defense will be at the same level and intensity without any evidence. That’s a huge ask. Pao Pao is a great pick-up, but how will she do on the perimeter against SEC level 2-guards? I think they’re talented but they need time to gel. The Freshies played together for 3 years with only one change in their starting lineup. Cardoso was a starter at Syracuse so this shouldn’t be a big change for her. However if teams can double team her on the boards, who’s going to pick up the slack?

[@back2sports]

Yep all fair points. Just looking forward to the games starting. Very curious to watch Utah Vs USC as think it is a good match up. As well watch U19 world cup in July as want to see Kitts and other players.

[@thedivinekingllc.7327]

Shout out to Lay Lay.👑🏀🐐 This video is wack for not mentioning her. No way you know anything about South Carolina basketball without mentioning her in this video. 👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿

[@back2sports]

I am so sorry that I upset you by making a "whack" video.

[@oscarmild2]

Yes, they beat UConn. Beating is a shitty way to win #my2cents

[@back2sports]

My 2 cents - They are a tough team and I am fine with how they play.

[@oscarmild2]

@@back2sports yep fair enough

[@reggiesolomon2205]

Uconn was missing 2 star players

[@poobado]

South Carolina couldn’t shoot.

[@Okayyouwin]

Past tense. Focus on the shooters that we have now! This is what y’all wanted, right? 🏋️‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🏋️‍♀️

[@poobado]

@@Okayyouwin ….:I hope you are correct. Nothing was more frustrating then watching teams giving S.C uncontested jumpers and S.C not taking advantage. Not even driving the ball in closer and taking a mid-range. Very frustrating!

[@Okayyouwin]

@@poobado yes I’m correct. You see the lineup. Straight shooters.

[@southernbellnc6241]

@@poobado yep but Dawn knew she had to find some shooters. She has them now.

[@surferzapper20]

South Carolina was a top 10 offense with the #1 defense in the nation last season. They didn't have any star shooters because they won most games by 30+ dominating both ends of the court.

[@OFFSIDESwithLSUfreek]

South Carolina lost a total of 7 starters & significant contributors and will rely on talented bench players to instantly blossom & dominate. Meanwhile, reigning champ LSU added All-American Aneesah Morrow, All-American & 4x's Gold Medalist Hailey Van Lith, Morgan Wooten National POY & 2x's Gold Medalist Mikaylah Williams to double-double record-holder & All-American Angel Reese, along with SEC Freshman of the Year Flau'jae Johnson (& co.), who, btw, will all be at LSU for the next 2 years due to Covid extra year eligibility & NIL>>>WNBA-pay. RIP "Don" Staley and her Gamecocks. 😂

[@back2sports]

LSU has lots of star power on paper. USC has culture solid players. Who will win. Likely LSU as talent normally wins out but think many will be surprised at how good USC is this year.

[@rmatthews3473]

I thought that USC was going to beat LSU. I thought that Iowa was going to beat LSU. You see how that turned out. That's why they play the games people 😮

[@shiverz37]

Usually the best players are the starters but not in SC case. Johnson and Cardoso were better than Fletcher and Saxton and I don't think it was close.

[@southernbellnc6241]

@@shiverz37 I have to agree Fletcher to me was just not a good fit. I don't know what kind of shooting she was at GT. I saw no shooting at SC.

[@surferzapper20]

That's hilarious. SC lost seven players, but the entirety of the returning roster were five star recruits, most of whom already played significant minutes the last couple seasons. LSU is counting on transfers and true freshmen while SC will be working with experience. Enjoy another year of the Gamecocks living rent-free in your heads.

[@dominicfrank77]

They are not done.....but they are nothing close to UConn. LSU and USC are not winning the NC. UConn will win it all, 100%.

[@garydarby2548]

Nope USC beat them both