Markeshia's Corner: Let the Madness begin!

🏀🔥 Markeshia Grant, who played two seasons for Dawn Staley, provides GamecockCentral readers with analysis of South Carolina women’s basketball. Don’t miss her unique insights and expert takes; sign up for the GamecocksW newsletter. 🔥🏀

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The South Carolina Gamecocks tip off their 2025 NCAA Tournament run as the No. 1 seed in the Birmingham Region, facing No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech Friday in Columbia. After an impressive 30-3 regular season and securing both the SEC regular season and tournament titles, Dawn Staley’s team is locked in and ready to defend their national title. One of the most dominant teams in the nation this season, South Carolina enters this matchup with an advantage in size, depth, and experience.

Tennessee Tech (26-8) earned its spot in the NCAA Tournament by winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and finishing the season 26-5. The Golden Eagles rely heavily on perimeter scoring and backcourt play. 

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Gamecocks Advantage

South Carolina’s depth, defensive intensity, rebounding ability, speed, and experience give them the edge in this matchup. Tennessee Tech plays six players consistently while South Carolina will play as many as 12 on any given night. 

South Carolina’s Guard Play

Guard Advantages

South Carolina everything—defense, veteran leadership, experience, playmaking, and IQ.: 

Bree Hall & Raven Johnson – Defensive Minded. They set the tone with intensity, locking down opponents and making them work for everything.

Te-Hina Paopao – The Steady Vet. She keeps the offense calm in late game situations, knocks down big shots, and makes the right reads.

MiLaysia Fulwiley – The X-factor. Pure electricity. She can shift momentum in a game as soon as she touches the with her speed, creativity, and scoring ability.

Tournament Tessa (Tessa Johnson) – The Brains. High IQ, clutch performer, always in the right place at the right time and will defend anyone in the courtly tough.

Mighty Mouse (Maddy McDaniel) – The Crucial Backup PG. She comes in and always looks to keep the flow steady in, ensuring there’s no drop-off.

Guard Defense

South Carolina’s guards need to set the tone defensively from tip-off.

• Defend the 3 – Tennessee Tech relies heavily on the three, as they make 7.6 threes per game—so the Gamecocks can’t give any easy looks. Run their shooters off the three point line and make them put it on the floor. Make it difficult to score.
• Match their intensity – This is the NCAA tournament. So, South Carolina has to bring the energy and dictate the pace. 
• BOX OUT – No second-chance points. Guards need to crash the boards and finish the play with a box out.
• Defend without fouling – Don’t bail them out. Stay disciplined, move your feet, and keep them off the free throw line.
• Pressure them – Tennessee Tech is averaging about 16.6 turnovers per game, So the Gamecocks will need to apply pressure, force turnovers, and turn defense into offense.

South Carolina’s Post Play

Post Advantages

The Gamecocks have one of the deepest frontcourts in the tournament—whether it’s scoring inside, dominating the glass, or defending the paint, this group gives the Gamecocks an edge at wearing  teams down:

Chloe Kitts – Versatility at its Best. Chloe is a problem on both ends of the floor because of her versatility. She can knock down the mid-range, attack the rim, crash the boards for putbacks, make the right passes, and rebound at a high level.

Sania Feagin – The Anchor. She’s the Gamecocks defensive anchor, as she goes, the team goes! However, she can impact the offensive end—her offensive bag is deep.

Joyce Edwards – Freshman Phenom. We’ve seen glimpses of Joyce Edwards’ dominance all season, but it feels like she’s about to put it all together on the biggest stage. She’s smart, strategic, and fully locked in on how much of a game-changer she can be. With her skill set and mentality, expect her to make her presence felt against Tennessee Tech.

Maryam Dauda – The Crucial Backup Forward. Maryam showed her versatility in the SEC tournament defending, rebounding, getting steals, and scoring. I expect her to bring that same mentality to the NCAA Tournament and against Tennessee Tech.

Sakima Walker, and Adhel Tac – ENERGY! Give energy and support to their teammates and impactful minutes when their number is called.

Post Defense

Tennessee Tech posts are undersized and does not have a lot of depth, so the Gamecocks need to:

• Use their depth to their advantage – Rotate fresh legs and wear them down
• Own the Glass – No second chances. Box out, secure rebounds, and control the paint.
• Stay Out of Foul Trouble – Defend without fouling.
• Run the Floor – Use athleticism to beat their bigs down the court—set the tone in transition, and finish at the rim.

Keys to the Win

1. Keep the main thing, the main thing – Stay focused and handle business.
2. Set the tone early – Come out aggressive and establish control of the game from the start.
3. Lock in on defense – Disrupt their rhythm, pressure the ball, and take away the three.
4. Bench production – The Seatbelt Gang leads the nation with 42 bench PPG—depth will be a difference-maker.
5. Win the rebounding battle / WIN THE PAINT – When South Carolina wins the glass, they win the game. Dominate inside.
6. Take care of the ball – Smart decisions, ball movement, and unselfish play will help with taking care of the ball.
7. Stay focused and execute – Lock in from tip. No let-ups.
8. Balanced scoring attack – When everyone eats, the Gamecocks WIN. 
9. Play hard, play smart, play disciplined, play and act like champions!
10. Have fun! – Enjoy the moment and handle business.

Let’s Go Gamecocks!

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🏀🔥 Markeshia Grant, who played two seasons for Dawn Staley, provides GamecockCentral readers with analysis of South Carolina women’s basketball. Don’t miss her unique insights and expert takes; sign up for the GamecocksW newsletter. 🔥🏀

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