South Carolina women's basketball: Three things we learned from the SEC Tournament
South Carolina won its ninth SEC tournament championship over the weekend. Here are three things we learned in Greenville.
1. When the Gamecocks are locked in, South Carolina’s defense is national championship good
Maybe we didn’t learn that this weekend – South Carolina’s defense has been suffocating for most of the season – but the SEC Tournament served as a sort of coronation.
In three games, South Carolina allowed an average of 61 points on 35.8% shooting.
In the tournament final against top-ranked Texas and the SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker, South Carolina set a championship game record for the fewest points allowed in (45), fewest points in a half (16), the second fewest field goals made (16), and the fourth lowest field goal percentage (29.6%).
You can make all the excuses you want – and Vic Schaefer certainly tried after the game – but it was total domination. South Carolina made Texas look so ineffective on offense that one media member said after the game that no team that is that inept offensively deserves to be a one seed.
That may have been hyperbole, but that’s how dominant South Carolina was.
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2. South Carolina isn’t as deep as previous years, but it is more balanced
The Gamecocks really only have an eight-player rotation. Occasionally, a ninth player, like Maddy McDaniel against Vanderbilt or Maryam Dauda against Oklahoma, will chip in 10-12 minutes, but that is the exception.
But those eight players relieve pressure on each other by sharing the load. They embrace feeding the hot hand, no matter who it is.
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Versatility also helps. The guards are rebounding and blocking shots and the forwards are breaking down the defense off the bounce and dishing out assists. It keeps opponents, pardon the pun, off-balance.
3. They genuinely like each other
One of the great things about the postseason is that we get locker room access. You learn more about players individually and collectively in that setting.
What stood out was how much they are rooting for each other. I asked Joyce Edwards a question about Maryam Dauda, and as soon as I said “Maryam” Edwards’ face lit up.
Bree Hall and Tessa Johnson bragged about each other, even though they are competing for minutes at the same position. MiLaysia Fulwiley gets more excited by assists than any of her spectacular plays.
You don’t have to like each other to win games, but it helps.
