Everything Dawn Staley said previewing South Carolina's upcoming game against Texas A&M

South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley spoke to the media on Wednesday to preview the team’s upcoming game against Texas A&M. Here’s everything she had to say.

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On relaying the news of Ashlyn Watkins’ injury to the rest of the team

“Ashlyn (Watkins) told them. I didn’t tell them – I gave it to her to tell them. Obviously, they’re saddened by it because she’s an integral part of our team, but injuries happen. A lot of times, when our players get injured, whether it’s for a shorter period of time or at the end of the season, we just keep it moving, try not to harp on it too much because it’s felt. But, the more you move on, the more they move on – and our players have to move on. I mean, it’s a part of it. And I feel like other people will step up and and play a bigger role for us – that’s the people that didn’t play a whole lot and the people who are in the game and played on a regular basis.”

On the hole Watkins leaves behind in South Carolina’s game plan

“Only time will tell. We don’t lean too heavily on one or two players – it’s a collective effort. (I) didn’t ask any of our players to do more than what they already are doing. When you ask them to do more than what they’re doing, they play out of their capabilities. So, we just want everybody to hold serve and, hopefully, the people that haven’t played, just to give us what they do best on any given day. So, we’re just going to keep moving.”

On Staley’s confidence in Adhel Tac, Sakima Walker and Maryam Dauda

“Adhel (Tac)‘s been doing some great stuff in here, behind closed doors. And then, when you put her in the game, she has impact. Sakima (Walker) – just get healthy. Like, Sakima’s a big body. She’s 6-foot-6 – you got to guard her inside. She’s got to catch and make shots for us, and then, defensively, she’s just got to be big. Then, Maryam (Dauda) – I think Maryam is the wild card because she’s got a great skill set offensively. She rebounds the basketball; she’s unafraid. She’s got toughness – she just has to put it all together and be confident in doing it. And once she gets confident, I think she’ll be able to help us.

“Sometimes, when you remove someone as big as Ashlyn from your equation, other people have an opportunity. And what they do with that opportunity – usually, they do something pretty good with it. We’ll work with them, and we’ll be patient with them.”

On Dauda’s ability to acclimate by playing more minutes against ranked opponents

“I mean, the extended minutes would be if she plays well. I mean, I can’t control… Like, if you don’t play well, no, there’s no chance that you’re going to play extended minutes. But it is, and I’m not going to take her out one mistake, or two mistakes, or three mistakes. Three mistakes, (and) I might have to get her out. But I’m going to let her play through some stuff. Like, we let our our players play through some stuff, and then, you got to look at the scoreboard. If we’re holding serve on the scoreboard, and we’re up, (we’re) more lenient to leave them out there to give them some minutes. But, if the scoreboard moves in an unfavorable way, then you got to get combinations out there that’s going to move it the opposite way.”

On South Carolina’s defensive plans after losing Watkins’ shot-blocking abilities

“You do a little bit of both (more minutes for bigs and perimeter defense). I mean, there are players on our roster that, they’re not shot blockers – they are deterrers. Like, Sakima is a deterrer. Maryam, she’s big. Adhel, she’ll hack into a block, but you feel her presence. Like, you’re not going to just go in there and easily go get something. Ashlyn makes things – life – easier, for sure, defensively (and) offensively. But we don’t have her, and we’re not going to harp on it. We don’t have her, so we’re going to have to figure out ways in which to close the gap that she created.”

[USC-Texas WBB: Win tickets, parking]

On filling the hole in the rotation left behind by Watkins

“I mean, it’s the ‘next woman up.’ And if that ‘next woman up’ isn’t ready right now, we’ll continue to get in here in practices to try to expedite that. Then, in the games, we might need to try something different. We might need to play small ball. The last time that we lost a big such as Ashlyn, we played small ball, and it worked out for us. We might have to pull that rabbit out of our hat.”

On what Texas head coach Vic Schaefer brings to the Longhorns

“Vic is a coach of habit. He’s very similar to what he was in Mississippi State. He’s probably got a more talented roster, so he’s got a lot more to work. I think he’ll be the same old, same old – in a good way. They’re going to press; they’re going to make it hard for you to inbound the ball. They’re going to press your defense, and then, he’s going to find, offensively, who should shoot the ball. He’s got bigs; he’s got shooters. He’s got a point guard that is extraordinary – a consummate point guard that can score, facilitate and manage the game. (They) got all the keys to winning the national championship.

“Thankfully, they’re in our league because you can continue to measure yourself (and) where you are, as far as nationally and how close you are to winning the national championship. So, it’s a good barometer for us this week. Texas A&M will be a great barometer, as well as Texas.”

On what Staley expects to see from Texas A&M

“They’re going to play for 40 minutes, for sure. (They’re) just real physical defensively. They’ll get up in you; they will play some zone. And then, offensively, they’re not shy to shoot the basketball – all five. But (Aicha) Coulibaly is the one that we haven’t solved playing against her. I think, the last time, (she scored) 32 points against us in the SEC tournament. I do think they’re better. They’re playing more cohesive. They got some bigs that do what bigs do. They have guards that are a year older – some transfers that that have played in our league, so (they’re) formidable. And then, they’re coming off a big win against Ole Miss.”

On Te-Hina Paopao’s growth this season

“I mean, she’s (Te-Hina Paopao) comfortable, and there’s nothing like comfort. She knows the shots that we’re setting her up for. She’s met us halfway with her ability to defend – like, I’m really impressed with her defense. And then, her ability to adjust – she’s not shooting it as efficiently as she did last year, and a lot of that is because she’s countering that. I’m hoping the counters will loosen her up to have a little bit more open shots out there outside the three, but she’s a pro. Pro habits put her in a position to where she can just comfortably play her style of play and adjust when needed.”

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