WBB: Five Things to Watch - Alabama

South Carolina hosts Alabama Thursday night in the unofficial end of the first half of SEC play.

1. A tale of two halves

Last time out, South Carolina dominated the first half against Florida, but allowed the Gators to stage a second half comeback before winning 62-50. The final margin was as close as Florida got, so it’s not like South Carolina was ever in danger of losing. 

Is that second half lull a cause for concern, or is it just something for us to wring our hands over and talk about during a relatively bland part of the schedule?

We may get the answer Thursday night. Alabama is not as good as Florida, in fact the Crimson Tide are 12th in the SEC standings, so South Carolina should be able to build another big lead. The Gamecocks will then have to protect that lead. If they do it we can write off Florida as a fluke, if not, we’ve got a problem. However, there is one aspect that we know is a concern…

2. Turnovers

After committing 21 turnovers against LSU and having to survive with a 66-60 win, South Carolina had gotten the turnovers reasonably under control. Aside from 19 against Arkansas, South Carolina had committed 12, 15, 11, and 9 turnovers. But they were back with a vengeance against Florida, with 21 turnovers. Those turnovers allowed Florida to create that second half surge.

Because of Arkansas’ style of play, those games tend to be outliers. But Florida and especially Alabama play similar four-guard lineups, which is concerning for Dawn Staley.

“It’s hard to watch, especially when it’s just routine stuff,” Staley said. “It’s all the routine things that we do in basketball. It’s hard to fix. It’s going to have to be on the players or we’re going to have to walk the ball up the floor.”

3. Aliyah Boston Double-Double Records

Let’s be honest, we’ve gotten so caught up in the consecutive double-double streak (which given Alabama’s lack of size, should continue Thursday night), that we’ve forgotten about some of the other records Aliyah Boston is chasing. 

Boston notched her 45th career double-double against Florida, which moved her into sole possession of fourth place on South Carolina’s career list. She is two behind third place Alaina Coates, nine behind A’ja Wilson for second. Boston is 27 behind Sheila Foster’s school record of 72 double-doubles, a record that once seemed almost untouchable but now is now within reach.

With one more double-double this season, Boston will move into a tie for tenth place for most double-doubles in a season. Her 2020-21 season already sits at eighth place on the list (17). The single season record is 25, by Katrina Anderson in 1977-78. Wilson had 24 in 2017-18.

One more double-double will also move Boston into a tie with Coates for the most double-doubles in an SEC season, with ten. Boston also has the second- and third- most (nine and six). She needs two more to tie Coates for the most in an SEC career.

Boston is also on pace for all sorts of season records for rebounds and blocked shots. It’s still too soon to make predictions so we’ll hold off on trying to guess where she’ll finish.

4. Streaking

Since taking over at South Carolina, Staley has lost to every SEC program except Alabama (she never faced Alabama at Temple or as a player, so technically she is undefeated all-time). It adds up to 19 consecutive wins, the longest win streak over a conference foe.

In an indication of just how much South Carolina has dominated the SEC under Staley, Alabama is just one of seven teams South Carolina has a double digit winning streak against . The others are Auburn (11 straight, last loss in 2012), Florida (14, last loss in 2011), Georgia (14, last loss in 2013), LSU (13, last loss in 2012, the streak began with the final game at the Carolina Coliseum), Ole Miss (14, last loss in 2010), and Vanderbilt (14, last loss in 2011). 

Since you asked, the six teams without double-digit losing streaks to South Carolina are Arkansas (5, but 15 of 16), Kentucky (5, but 14 of 15), Mississippi State (4, but there was that 11 game streak that culminated in the national championship), Missouri (one-game winning streak, the only team with a winning streak), Tennessee (1), and Texas A&M (1).

And since you’ve already gone this far down the rabbit hole with me, let’s look at non-conference winning streaks. The longest non-conference winning streaks are SC State (21 games, last loss in 1980, Cincinnati (19 games, only loss was the first game in 1984, have only played once, 2002, since 1991), East Carolina (15 games, only loss was the first game in 1975), Tulane (12 games, never lost), Clemson (11 games, last loss in 2009), and College of Charleston (10 games, last loss in 1991).

5. Scouting the Crimson Tide

After a breakthrough season last year, Alabama is struggling once again. Jasmine Walker (WNBA) and Jordan Lewis (Baylor), last year’s stars, are long gone, and the wins seemingly went with them. Alabama has only won two SEC games, both against last-place Auburn.

The Tide has turned to the Arkansas blueprint this season: four guards and lots of threes. Alabama has attempted the third most three-pointers in the SEC this season (hitting 32.9%, fifth-best). But where Arkansas has always had a strong, hybrid wing to play the four (Chelsea Dungee and now Jersey Wolfenbarger), Alabama has four small guards. 

“For us, it’s a challenge,” Staley said. “Victoria Saxton, it’s probably one of the most lopsided matchups for her. You can play a guard that’s 6-0, 5-11, but when they’re 5-9 and quick, it’s a challenge.”

It could also be a challenge for Kamilla Cardoso and Laeticia Amihere. Cardoso doesn’t move well laterally, and Amihere has traditionally struggled against Arkansas. The defensive key, according to Staley, will be switching, and the key to switching is communication.

5-9 guard Brittany Davis, who missed last season for the birth of her daughter Brielle, leads Alabama in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (7.3). She and Hannah Barber (a generous 5-6) are each averaging over two made three-pointers per game.

The Ws

Who: #1 South Carolina (20-1, 8-1) vs Alabama (11-9, 2-7)

When: 7:00 pm, Thursday, February 3

Where: Colonial Life Arena

Watch: SEC Network