No. 11 UConn No. 1 South Carolina
20-4 (12-0) 22-0 (10-0)
Sunday February 11th , 2024
2:00 PM
Colonial Life Arena
Columbia, South Carolina
ESPN
SOUTH CAROLINA | UCONN
UCONN LEADS 9-4
H: 5-1 | A: 3-1 | N: 1-2
12/17/07 #2 UConn 97, USC 39 Storrs, Conn.
12/28/08 #1 UConn 77, USC 48 Columbia, S.C.
02/09/15 #2 UConn 87, #1 USC 62 Storrs, Conn.
02/08/16 #1 UConn 66, #2 USC 54 Columbia, S.C.
02/13/17 #1 UConn 66, #6 USC 55 Storrs, Conn.
02/01/18 #1 UConn 83, #7 USC 58 Columbia, S.C.
03/26/18 #1 UConn 94, #7 USC 65 Albany, N.Y.
02/11/19 #4 UConn 97, #11 USC 79 Hartford, Conn.
02/10/20 #1 USC 70, #5 UConn 52 Columbia, S.C.
02/08/21 #2 UConn 63, #1 USC 59 (OT) Storrs, Conn.
11/22/21 #2 UConn 57, #1 USC 73 Paridise Island, Bahamas
04/03/22 #1 USC 64, #5 UConn 49 Minneapolis, Minn.
2/4/23 #1 USC 81, #5 UConn 77 Hartford, Conn.
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South Carolina
Season to Date
Another year, another No. 1 ranking and another year undefeated coming into the UConn game.
They scored 100+ points in four of their first five games including the first two against then ranked teams, Notre Danme and Maryland.
They did have three tought games, against then No. 24 North Carolina winning 65-58 and then No. 11 Utah 78-69 and LSU 76-70. those were the only games SC didn't win by double digit points.
Comparative Team Statistics
UConn South Carolina
82.5 PPG 88.8
59.0 Defensive PPG 53.9
23.5 Scoring Margin 35.0
51.3 Field Goal % 51.4
36.9 Defensive FG% 30.9
37.3 Three Point % 40.9
29.5 Defensive 3PT% 27.0
74.6 Free Throw % 67.1
37.4 Rebounds/game 47.2
5.1 Rebounding Margin 13.3
20.0 Assists per game 19.2
13.0 Turnover per game 12.9
1.5 Assists/TO ratio 1.5
10.2 Steals per game 9.1
UCONN
The player and coaches names for both teams
are clickable to see their Bios
are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Starters
UConn Injuries
OUT FOR THE SEASON
Head and neck issues
ACL
Achilles Injury
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SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Starters
South Carolina Bench
Out for this game
Game Analysis
Well, here we go again. The big, mean, South Carolina Gamecock game is here and fans on both sides are settled in their thoughts about the outcome.
South Carolina fans are confident that they can overcome their big center Cardoso and before a sold out South Carolina arena, use their size and "depth" to overwhelm the Huskies for a double digit win.
UConn fans are cowering in the corner, worried about UConn's lack of a bench, fatigued players and lack of size.
That's all well and good, but it's time to look at facts when you do an analysis. Here are a few.
Last season, South Carolina started the same five players all season with Boston, Cooke, Beal, Saxton, and Fletcher.
This year they have five, yes FIVE new starters and they are still undefeated and No. 1 in the country. Yes, they have plenty of talent but wow, what a great job Coach Staley has done with her team. Amazing.
For this game 6'3" sophomore forward Ashlyn Watkins will start in place of Cardoso. She is a real pogo stick, a terrific rebounder and shot blocker. She is scoring 9 PPG, 7.6 RPG and has 60 blocks on the season. All that in only 19 minutes per game. She is foul prone so that could be an issue.
Bree Hall, a 6' junior guard, was valuable off the bench and now she is starting. She is averaging 10.0 PPG in her 26 minutes and while she doesn't score a lot she is a terrific and clutch three point shooter at 45.6%. Not a great ball handler, like many South Carolina players, it's her defense that gets her minutes.
5'8" RS sophomore Raven Johnson has made a big impact on the team in the starting lineup. There is no doubt she is a talented player. She leads the team with 104 assists and only 34 turnovers. Ranked No. 2 in the class, her knee injury two years ago put her behind in development. Not any more. She is averaging 9.1 PPG and is shooting threes at 38% although she only takes 2 per game. She leads the team in steals with 2.2 per game.
6'2" Sophomore forward Chloe Kitts is a real key for the Gamecocks. She is averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.2 RPG. She is aggressive on the boards and on defense. One word I would use is intense for her attitude. She is third on the team in offensive rebounds.
Te-Hina Paopao is a 5'9" senior guard who transferred from Oregon where she had a very nice career. She was All-PAC12 all three years and 1st team for two of them. For the Gamecocks she is third on the team in scoring at 11.6 PPG and has a terrific Assist/Turnover ratio with 81/32 as the second point guard on the floor. She leads the team in three point percentage at 48.5%
As usual the bench is a big part of the South Carolina team. For this game, it's not as good with Watkins moving to the starting lineup. But they still have contributors off the bench.
Leading the way is precocious freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, a 5'10" firebrand guard. She loves to play with some flash. Behind the back moves, look away passes and long range threes. She is second on the team in scoring at 12.0 PPG in starter minutes of 26 per game. Also second on the team in steals. She is just fun to watch.
Sania Feagin is the "Big" off the bench and will spell Watkins in this game. The 6'3" junior forward is averaging 6.7 PPG and 3.4 RPG in only 13 minutes. She will need to see more time in this game.
The third bench player that will see time in this game is 6' freshman guard Tessa Johnson. She only plays 16 MPG and averages 5.3 PPG. In limited time she is shooting 16-38 on threes, 42.1%.
Any way you look at it, Dawn is most likely only playing 8 players against UConn with significant minutes.
Cardoso is just a terrific rebounder and solid at putting them in the basket. She grabs around 6 per game. It's a huge part of their offense as Watkins has the same number of offensive rebounds. Between the two of them they grab almost 12 per game. That is a BIG number.
That is now cut in half with Cardoso not in the game. That is a big difference.
Last season the offense was dominated by Boston, Cardoso and Cooke, who took over 41% of their shots on the season. Not so this season. They have 7 players scoring between 9 and 13.8 PPG. You just can't focus on a couple of players. Again, Cardoso out means others will have to pick up the slack.
Their offense is a better than last year. They are shooting 51.4.1% from the field, second in the country and 41% on threes to lead the country.
But it's not offense that propels South Carolina to their wins. They win with great defense. They are 11th in points allowed and they only give up an incredible 30.9% on field goals and a top 25, 27% on threes.
Their big advantage is their rebounding. However, compared to last season where they grabbed 46% more offensive rebounds than their opponents this season it's almost equal with the Gamecocks having an 8% advantage. And with Cardoso out, it's even less of an advantage.
UConn is clearly going to have their hands full with South Carolina. They just don't let you get good shots. The Huskies will have to hit their threes when they do open up and do three big things, rebound, rebound, rebound. That means blocking out when South Carolina misses a shot.
It looks like UConn will again go with big minutes for their starting five, so different than the Gamecocks. You can bet that unless there is foul trouble 35+ minutes for Nika, Edwards and Paige each with Brady getting 15+.
So, yes, different than the Gamecocks, but with Cardoso out, I would be there are several players that are on the court for 30+ minutes. Can Watkins, who averages a foul every 8 minutes stay out of foul trouble guarding Edwards?
So, the questions are -
Will the 8 player rotation for South Carolina equal UConn's starting five in production?
Can UConn rebound well enough to prevent South Carolina from dominating the paint?
Can UConn get and hit their open threes?
Can South Carolina hit enough threes to keep UConn from packing the paint?
One more thing. South Carolina is supposed to have the advantage in athletisism and size. I'm not so sure on that.
Let's compare. Definition of Athletic - physically fit or strong; muscular or active. of, relating to, or suitable for an athlete or for athletics.
Are Johnson, Paopao, Watkins, Kitts and Hall along with Feagin and Fulwiley that much more athletic than Nika, Shade, Arnold, Bueckers, Edwards, Brady and Samuels?
Maybe some. Fulwiley is very athletic as is Watkins. Based on the definition, is there a better athlete on either team than Shade? And yes Paige is on the slender side but basketball wise she is very athletic. And at 6'3" Edwards is very athletic. I'm not downplaying how athletic South Carolina is. But the advantage is slim.
In regards to size, South Carolina starts 5'8", 5'9", 6', 6'2' and 6'3" and off the bench 5'10", 6', and 6'3". UConn starts 5'9", 5'10", 5'11", 6' and 6'3" and off the bench 6' and 6'4".
I just don't see the big size advantage other than the 6'2' Kitts and and 6' Bueckers. I think we can put that to rest. With Cardodo, well, 6'7" is 6'7".
Final Prediction
This changed from what I was thinking a week ago. Cardoso being out brings South Carolina back to the pack a little and certainly back to the Huskies. Still a terrific rebounding team, I don't think they will dominate UConn on the boards.
Both teams are terrific defensive teams and I expect that to be the dominant story of the game. If any team can reach 70 points they will win. I'm guessing both will be in the 60's.
Three point shooting by either team could change that.
And I remember that game where Paige hit that three pointer that bounced off the rim and straight up and then through the net to help UConn win in overtime just about three years ago. She scored all 9 points for UConn in the OT and had 31 for the game. Can she do it again? As good as South Carolina is, Paige is the best player on the court and Edwards is right behind her.
The 18,000 will be a big part of the game. UConn has four freshman that contribute and two of them start. Can they handle the situation?
Ehhh....I just can't predict against the Huskies.
UConn by 3+.
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