Markeshia Grant: The Time is Now. March Madness is here

South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC Standings • NCAA Polls • Scholarship Chart

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Coach Staley always says, “Championship teams have a certain look, a certain sound and a certain feel.” With record-breaking sellouts, a new starting line-up, efficient 3-point shooting, bench depth, and an electrifying freshman phenom—South Carolina women’s basketball time is now. March Madness is here.

The look, the sound and the feel:

Balls bouncing. Nets popping. Block shots. High-fiving. And 1’s. Buzzer-beaters. Behind-the-back passes. Crafty layups. The sights and sounds we’ve seen and heard all season from the South Carolina women’s basketball team. 

Would you believe me if I said the team who lost five starters and seven players to graduation/the WNBA Draft, was picked preseason No. 6 by the AP poll, and one of the youngest teams in the country—would be 32-0 going into the NCAA tournament? Right, I would not believe me either.

However, they are and here’s how: the Gamecocks are made up of a young core in Raven Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Ashlyn Watkins, MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson—with a splash of veteran leadership in Kamilla Cardoso, Te-Hina Paopao, Breezy Hall and Sakima Walker. Thus far, they have seen every style of play, been given every opponent’s best, and have answered every test. In fact, they have continued to “meet the moment”, time and time again.

From a sweep on Tobacco Road (beating UNC and DUKE), to five different players receiving SEC Player of the Week honors, to Raven Johnson being Top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio, to Breezy Hall’s late game heroics, to Ashlyn Watkins’s break-away dunk, to Kamilla Cardoso’s game-winning 3-point shot, to MiLaysia Fulwiley’s SEC tournament MVP performance and going undefeated in the regular season. South Carolina feels like it has the recipe to make a deep National Championship run this March.

[Get Complete South Carolina WBB postseason coverage from veteran reporter Chris Wellbaum and analyst Markeshia Grant! Join GC now and get your first month for $1 or use the code FAMS to get 40% off the first year!]

Gamecock Players to Watch

MiLaysia Fulwiley

Fulwiley has been an electrifying spark off of the bench for the Gamecocks this season. She is more than just as most would describe her, “a human highlight reel”. She is a game-changer, a momentum shifter and a true playmaker. She is instant offense, but more importantly she is impacting the game from a defensive standpoint. 

Ashlyn Watkins

Watkins is one of South Carolina’s best defenders. However, offensively she’s expanded her game. She can knock down open mid-range jumpers, she can drive to the basketball and finish around the rim and she can dunk! Defensively she’s a menace. She can defend positions 1-5, but also, a very great shot blocker. I would not want to drive in the paint against her.

Gamecock X-Factors

Tessa Johnson 

Johnson is a big guard, who has excellent 3-point range and has become a very good weak side defender. She is really good at running the floor in transition spotting up for 3s or finding her teammates for open shorts. She’s a very heady guard who will be important for the Gamecocks down the stretch.

Sania Feagin

Feagin is a solid presence for South Carolina off of the bench. She gives the Gamecocks added depth at the Forward position. She can score, can defend and rebound. She brings them so much energy! “Ayyyye” 

Embrace the Journey: Round of 64

South Carolina vs. Presbyterian 

Presbyterian won its first ever NCAA tournament game against Sacred Heart giving them a rematch against the No. 1 overall seed in the South Carolina Gamecocks. Earlier this season, South Carolina won its first meeting against the Blue Hose, 99-29 at home. 

Matchups to watch

Raven Johnson vs. Tilda Sjokvist

Tilda Sjokvist is Presbyterian’s primary ball handler and leads the team in turnovers. With Johnson being the Gamecocks’ best on-ball defender, this would create more opportunities for Raven to disrupt the Blue Hose’s offense and potentially get steals. 

Ashlyn Watkins vs. Bryanna Brady

Watkins has emerged as a defensive stopper coming off the bench this season. She is one of the Gamecocks’ most reliable defenders against their opponent’s best forward. In the absence of Kamilla Cardoso, Watkins will most likely start today’s game and be matched up again Bryanna Brady, who is Presbyterian best forward. Look for Watkins to use her versatility to get Brady in foul trouble as she is foul-prone and leads the Blue Hose in fouls committed.

Keys to Win

• Keep the main thing, the main thing.
  • The main thing is to take one game at a time and to win. Survive and advance.
• Attack Presbyterian’s zone defense
  • South Carolina needs to their passing ability as well as their athleticism to attack the Blue Hose’s zone. There will be a lot of opportunities for them to score if they are patient and see what the defense gives them.
• Man-to-man defense and depth
  • South Carolina’s man-to-man defense is stifling and they lead the country in opponent points allowed at 56.3 a game. This is their most efficient advantage. Additionally, their depth is the best we’ve seen in the country up until this point in the season. So, it is imperative that the Gamecocks utilize their depth especially in this game.
• Bench production
  • The Gamecocks bench has been an advantage for them all year long. South Carolina is averaging roughly 33 bench points per game, which is 2nd in the country behind Murray State. Last time out versus Presbyterian, South Carolina had 42 points in bench points. 
• Rebounding
  • South Carolina out rebounds its opponents by 12 rebounds per game. They out rebounded the Blue Hose by 22 the first time they played each other earlier this season.
• Take care of the basketball
  • The Gamecocks did a really great job of taking care of the basketball the last time out against Presbyterian. They had just 8 turnovers. With that in mind, they will just need to make good decisions offensively and make the right reads. 
• Share the basketball
  • South Carolina is notorious for making the right plays and making sure the right players are taking the best shots. Last time out, the Gamecocks had 21 assists against the Presbyterian, I think it will be imperative to look to continue to share the ball and find the best offensive options on the floor.

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