South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - Alabama

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1. We’re talking about practice
All season Dawn Staley has been unhappy with how the Gamecocks have practiced, but she has endured it because the Gamecocks have played well in games. Last week, that didn’t happen.

South Carolina trailed at halftime against Tennessee and was tied going into the fourth quarter. South Carolina also trailed at halftime at home against last-place Georgia before taking the lead in the third quarter. 

In each game, South Carolina looked fatigued and fell victim to poor offensive execution. They won’t suddenly get extra rest, but they can learn to do a better job of playing through it.

It’s the first time this group has played starter minutes at South Carolina, so they don’t have experience with the mental approach needed to overcome fatigue.

This week the coaches made sure the Gamecocks practiced better.

“Forced. Not great but forced,” Staley said. “Part of it is exhaustion. Part of it is mental and physical. It was good energy in here this week, we’ve just got to be able to execute. There’s a certain fluidity we want to our offense that we’re not getting. We’re having to relearn some of the things that we were really good at. It’s a work in progress.”

2. Cardoso and Fulwiley
Kamilla Cardoso and MiLaysia Fulwiley are on opposite ends of the spectrum at the moment. 

Cardoso returned from playing three games in four days for the Brazilian national team, practiced, and then turned in back-to-back double-doubles against Tennessee and Georgia. She understandably looked tired at times but battled through it to dominate the second half and was named a national player of the week for her efforts. 

Fulwiley has averaged just 5.0 points over the last three games and shot 5-21. She has contributed in other ways, with five assists and three steals against Georgia and three rebounds and three assists against UConn, but her shot isn’t falling. 

Cardoso illustrates the veteran who is figuring out how to play through adversity. Fulwiley looks like someone who has hit the freshman wall and is still figuring out how to play through it. 

3. What’s on the line
With a win, South Carolina can clinch its third consecutive SEC regular season championship, and eighth overall. It would break a tie with Georgia for the second-most in league history, behind Tennessee’s 18.

But after a pair of subpar performances last week that saw the Gamecocks forced to come back from halftime deficits, the championship hasn’t come up. 

“Not once,” Staley said. “Playing and practicing better has come up a lot more. I haven’t even thought about it.” 

Alabama is currently a game behind fourth-place Ole Miss in the standings. Finishing in the top four comes with the all-important double-bye in the SEC tournament. A win would also probably secure Alabama’s place in the NCAA tournament.

4. Teddy Bear Toss
South Carolina hosts its annual Teddy Bear Toss on Thursday. The toss has traditionally been held in December, but South Carolina moved it to February when more people typically attend games.

The teddy Bear Toss will take place at halftime. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used bears with no battery packs and no bears in boxes. Also, please try not to hit me in the back of the head.

5. Scouting the Crimson Tide
Alabama has emerged as one of the leaders of the middle pack of the SEC. The Crimson Tide has used a potent offense to get there. Alabama averages 74.3 points, sixth in the SEC, and shoots an average of 21.6 three per game, fourth in the conference.

“They’re sharp offensively. They make you pay,” Staley said. “They’ve got players at all five positions that can score and score in a disciplined way how they want to play. They’ve got great guard play. They can defend. They can throw different things at you: 1-3-1, man, they can press you, so they keep you off balance. We’ve got a game on our hands. We know that.”

Senior lead guard Sarah Ashlee Barker has emerged as an SEC Player of the Year candidate. She averages 17.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.9 steals. Barker is coming off a 26-point, seven-rebound performance against Auburn, her ninth 20-point game of the season.

At times this season, South Carolina has allowed opposing guards to get hot and put up big numbers. If the Gamecock defense is not on point, Barker is the type of player who can take advantage of lapses.

Staley has never lost to Alabama, holding a perfect 21-0 record against the Tide. But this might be the best team Alabama has had during Staley’s tenure.

The Ws
Who: #1 South Carolina (25-0, 12-0) vs Alabama (20-7, 7-5)
When: 7:00 ET, Thursday, February 22
Where: Colonial Life Arena
Watch: SEC Network

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