South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - #17 Maryland

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South Carolina visits #17 Maryland Friday night in the first major challenge of the season for both teams.

1. First test

In something of an annual tradition, Maryland is the first big test of the season for South Carolina. That means the rotation will tighten and everyone will get the first look at how Dawn Staley plans to distribute minutes. Young players like freshmen Ashlyn Watkins and Talaysia Cooper and sophomore Sania Feagin have gotten plenty of playing time in the exhibition and the season-opener, but those minutes may be harder to come by Friday.

In a way, it’s a reality check, but it’s a welcomed check. When your goal is to win a national championship, and you know what takes to win one, it’s exciting to be challenged.

“We like to play highly competitive matches. We like to play top 25 matches. It is an indicator of where you are, what you need to do,” Staley said. “Whether we lose or win, we’ve got another game next week.”

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2. Point guard pressure

No position will be under the microscope more than point guard. That’s been the case for the last two weeks, but this time Maryland is good enough to put pressure on Raven Johnson and Kierra Fletcher. 

The duo played well against ETSU, albeit under strict minutes restrictions. Neither played more than three or four minutes at a time. Fletcher had three points and three rebounds, while Johnson finished with nine points, four assists, and four steals. Johnson showed flashes of the player who was the national player of the year in high school, but she only played 16 minutes. That brings her career total to 24 minutes played, hardly veteran status.

“We’re an experienced team, but we have inexperience in important places, the point guard position,” Staley said. “It doesn’t make it easier. You sleep less, but you’re also excited to see what this team is about. I enjoy working with them. It’s an easy group to work with. But it doesn’t always mean that you win.”

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3. Miller Time?

Maryland star Diamond Miller, who was named preseason All-Big Ten, left Maryland’s season-opening win over George Mason with a sore knee. Miller sat the entire second half. After the game, Maryland coach Brenda Frese said it was precautionary but it could linger. 

On Thursday, Miller was limited in practice. She was shooting but did not participate in team drills. Frese said Miller will be a game-time decision. If Miller doesn’t play, Shyanne Sellers, the reigning Big Ten sixth Player of the Year, will move into the starting lineup. 

4. Lottery Fever

The WNBA Draft Lottery will be held Friday evening. A 30-minute special beginning at 5:30 will be televised by ESPN2 leading into tonight’s game. 

The WNBA uses two-year cumulative records to determine lottery odds. The Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and Minnesota Lynx are the teams in the lottery, and the Fever has the best odds of winning the top pick. 

Of course, the lottery is of interest to the Gamecocks because Aliyah Boston is the likely top pick, regardless of who makes it. Boston has the option of returning to South Carolina for a Covid year but has said she will likely enter the draft. If Boston ends up with Indiana, she would be reunited with Destanni Henderson. Former Gamecock Tiffany Mitchell has also spent her entire career with Indiana, but her contract ran out at the end of last season.

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5. Scouting the Terrapins

Since the start of the transfer portal, it seems like every season Maryland dramatically overhauls its roster. This season is no different. Over the summer Angel Reese transferred to LSU and Ashley Owusu transferred to Virginia Tech. Frese replaced them with Lavender Briggs (Florida), Abby Meyers (Princeton), and Brinae Alexander (Vanderbilt). Meyers averaged 17.9 points per game last season and was an honorable-mention All-American.

Maryland easily took care of George Mason on Monday, winning 88-51. Meyers led all scorers with 19 points and went 5-6 from three. All five of Maryland’s starters from that game are listed on the roster as guards. That means it will be a clash of styles against post-heavy South Carolina. If South Carolina can establish Boston inside without getting run by on defense, it will be a long night for Maryland.

“They like to play five out, they like to shoot a lot of threes,” Staley said. “I would say they are impatient on offense because they keep you on your toes. There isn’t a shot that they don’t like.”

The Ws

Who: #1 South Carolina (1-0) at #17 Maryland (1-0)

When: 6:00 pm ET, Friday, November 11

Where: XFINITY Center, College Park, MD

Watch: ESPN2

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