Dawn Staley pays homage to Pat Summitt ahead of Tennessee matchup

The South Carolina women’s basketball team is playing at Tennessee on Thursday night. Ahead of that game, Dawn Staley paid homage to the legendary Pat Summitt.

Staley did so in a press conference ahead of the game when she was asked about the challenges of playing in Tennessee’s environment.

“It’s the biggest arena that we play in and they fill it up,” Dawn Staley said. “Like the Tennessee fans are–will pack the house. Tennessee is playing better basketball, which means, more fans will be in the stands and they’re going to put on a show”

The love that Tennessee has for women’s basketball is in large part due to Pat Summitt, who is often considered the greatest women’s basketball coach ever. She coached Tennessee from 1974 to 2012. While there, she earned a 1,098-208 record and won eight national championships while going to 18 Final Fours.

“But, I always, going to Tennessee, will remember Pat Summitt. We’ll play on her floor. So, I’m always paying homage to what she’s been to the game. I mean, and still means so much to our game,” Dawn Staley said.

“Her legacy will continue on and I know some of them went to Tennessee because of Pat Summitt, even if she didn’t coach them one day. That’s legacy, when you’re able to go to a place in which a coach created a legacy that you want to be a part of is pretty powerful.”

For her own part, Dawn Staley has proven to be one of the greatest coaches of her own generation. After a stint as the Temple head coach, she came to South Carolina and built the program into a national power, with two national championships in her time there. At 27-0, most people expect Staley to add a third championship this season.

Dawn Staley on South Carolina’s winning habits

Dawn Staley is an excellent coach who has turned South Carolina into a well-oiled, winning machine. Part of how she has been able to do that is by identifying and instilling winning habits in her team.

“We just form habits — winning habits,” Staley said.

“We hold each other accountable. We encourage each other. This is a team that is constantly trying to get better. They do it by holding each other accountable with someone isn’t playing up to par and also just affirming when they are playing well. That’s the beauty of this team. I’m savoring. I really am because I don’t know if we’ll ever get this collection of players who really are locked in the way they’re locked in. I hope they’re rewarded.”