Markeshia Grant: Sweet 16: Uncomfortably comfortable 

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All season long Coach Staley has talked about how South Carolina’s women’s basketball team does not practice the same way that they play. This has to be an “uncomfortably comfortable” place for her. She can gauge how her team will practice while simultaneously knowing how they’ll come out and perform on the court when it’s game time. That’s the beauty of having a team that knows how to have fun, and knows how to lock in when it’s game time.

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Embrace the Journey: Sweet 16

South Carolina vs. Indiana 

The last time South Carolina played Indiana was in 2019, at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. None of the current players were in college nor on that team. If you know, you know, (it didn’t end well for the Gamecocks) but also if you’ve followed this team, then you know that they most likely have tunnel vision, and their feet are planted in this moment and are ready for this current Indiana team. 

Key matchups to watch:

Raven Johnson vs. Chloe Moore-McNeil

Johnson is South Carolina’s best on-ball defender and what makes the Gamecocks go. Moore-McNeil is the Hoosier’s best ball-handler and playmaker. So, naturally I think this will be the defensive assignment for R. Johnson. The key to this matchup for Johnson, is to disrupt Moore-McNeil by:

• Making her play at a pace that she is not used to playing
• Make her uncomfortable running Indiana’s offense
• Play her for the 3 or drives to basket
  • Do not allow her to make straight line drives to the basket, especially going left 
• Sit on her left hand, and send her right
• Box her out, because she’s a good rebounding guard

Offensively, Raven should attack Moore-McNeil’s feet because she’s going to open up to allow her to attack the lane with the intent there will be help-side defense. With that in mind, Johnson is really good at finding the open player or getting wide-open layups. 

Kamilla Cardoso vs. Mackenzie Holmes

Cardoso’s advantage versus Holmes:

• The way that she runs the floor in transition
• Her height
• Her ability to get deep post
• Rebounding
• Her shot-blocking ability on defense

If Kamilla is able to get Holmes in foul trouble that would allow the Gamecocks to get a lot of points in the paint. That’s because they do not have a deep bench or anyone that can defend Kamilla. 

X-Factors

Ashlyn Watkins

Whoever Watkins is defending at the forward position will have a long night as she is versatile and a menace on defense. Offensively, she can hit the mid-range jumper and get to the basket. So, she could potentially be a handful for the Hoosiers. She will be an important presence for the Gamecocks tonight. 

Gamecocks Advantage

The Gamecocks’ advantages are their bench, their speed, quickness, and athleticism, as well as their defense. MiLaysia Fulwiley, Chloe Kitts, Sania Feagin, Tessa Johnson and Sakima Walker will all play a pivotal role in making an immediate impact as soon as they check into the game. 

Keys to Win

• Keep the main thing, the main thing.
  • The main thing is to continue to take one game at a time and to win. Survive and advance.
• Attack Indiana in transition
  • South Carolina loves to get out in transition, and get a lot of their points off of turnovers. I think the Gamecocks will need to assert themselves early just like they did in the UNC game.
• 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 approximately 56 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. Indiana does not use their bench often.
• Bench production
  • The Gamecocks bench has been an advantage for them all year long. South Carolina is averaging roughly 34 bench points per game, which is 2nd in the country behind Murray State. Last time out versus North Carolina, South Carolina had 51 bench points which was more than the Tar Heels point total (41 total points). 
• Make Indiana use their bench
  • Indiana had 1 bench point in their quarterfinal game against Oklahoma with no bench player playing more than 6 mins or scoring more than 1 point. 
• Rebounding
  • South Carolina out-rebounds its opponents by 12 rebounds per game. They out-rebounded UNC by 21 last time out. This will allow South Carolina extra possessions. 
• Take care of the basketball
  • The Gamecocks have been doing a really good job of taking care of the basketball, especially in their first two tournament games. It will be imperative to make sure they are continuing to do the same in this matchup against Indiana.
  • 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 17 assists against the UNC.

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