South Carolina women's basketball - Five Things to Watch: SEC Tournament Championship
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1. Boom or Bust
After Saturday’s game, there was an interesting mix of emotions in the South Carolina locker room. Everyone was still buzzing from Kamilla Cardoso’s game-winning three, but they were also angry over the fact that they let Tennessee get back into the game.
There’s no arguing that South Carolina escaped the semifinals. They basically got a reprieve after Tennessee had a 97.5% chance of winning. In the locker room after the game, players repeatedly emphasized that they wouldn’t have that kind of letdown again, but will they?
When teams get second chances, they tend to either play loose and confident the next time out or play tight and poorly. Which way will South Carolina go?
2. Stay focused
It never should have come down to Kamilla Cardoso’s game-winner. South Carolina had plenty of chances to put Tennessee away but never did. Once Rickea Jackson got hot, it was too late.
On Friday, South Carolina committed a season-high 24 turnovers. They slashed that to nine on Saturday.
What do both of those things have in common? It was a loss of focus by the young Gamecocks, as much as anything else, that caused their problems.
Now they are playing their third game in three days. They are tired, and focus tends to wane when players are tired. Can they finally put it together for a full 40 minutes?
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3. Make your threes
South Carolina hasn’t shot the ball exceptionally well in Greenville. The Gamecocks were 4-8 against Texas A&M, but only 4-15 against Tennessee.
When South Carolina beat LSU in the regular season, three-point shooting was the difference. LSU has to double-team Cardoso in the post so there will be open shots. Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall hit the clutch threes in the fourth quarter to complete the South Carolina comeback.
Hall is 2-6 from three this weekend and Paopao is 3-8. It’s not bad, but both are below their season averages.
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4. Sendoff
As with the first two games, FAMs are invited to a team sendoff at the team hotel. FAMs can gather on the turf outside of the Grand Bohemian Lodge at 12:45 pm. The Grand Bohemian Lodge is located at 44 East Camperdown Way in downtown Greenville.
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5. Scouting the Tigers
South Carolina already has a deeper team than LSU, but the Tigers are dealing with a slew of injuries.
On Saturday, Last-Tear Poa suffered a scary-looking concussion and had to be taken off the floor on a stretcher. Poa was taken to a local hospital and released, but it’s hard to imagine her playing just a few hours later.
Angel Reese has an ankle injury that she said caused her ankle to swell to the size of a tennis ball, but she has played through it. Aneesah Morrow has a black eye.
Mikaylah Williams has missed the last three games with a foot injury. Kim Mulkey has described the situation as being more precautionary and trying to give WIlliams some rest.
LSU only plays seven players in normal situations. With potentially two of them out, plus another hobbled, and no practice time to prepare, the Tigers could be in a tough spot.
The Ws
Who: #1 South Carolina vs #2 LSU
When: 3:00 ET, Sunday, March 10
Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Watch: ESPN
