Everything Dawn Staley said after South Carolina's win over Winthrop

South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley spoke to the media following the team’s 106-56 win over Winthrop on Wednesday. Here’s everything she had to say.

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You had a big night offensively, but how do you think the team played defensively?

“I think we had moments where we weren’t connected, and I think that’s attributed to Winthrop and how they moved us around. They got ball reversals when they wanted. They made us play in the shot clock for a long time. And, sometimes, we got a little disconnected — stuff we just continue to have to work on.”

South Carolina had three players with 20-plus points tonight for the first time since 2014. What allowed that to happen on offense? What was working?

“I thought Ta’Niya (Latson) got off to a quick start — just getting down the floor, making layups, and then, she got a three going. Madina (Okot) was cleaning up a lot of stuff. And we were intentional about getting her the ball, as well. Joyce (Edwards) is always going to be hovering around 20 points. I just like the fact that we were very efficient from those three players.

“And then, Agot (Makeer) got into the game. I was really proud of our young players, who are giving it what they got. Ayla (McDowell)‘s coming along. Ayla’s doing the intangible things. She knows what we want, and she plays to that. And I like that.

“I think Tessa (Johnson)‘s stat line doesn’t really show her playing the right way. She’s not pressing. And, obviously, we want her to shoot a little bit more than what she’s shooting. But she’s not forcing things. She’s playing really good basketball.”

Ta’Niya talked about playing free and giving herself grace in a conversation she had with Raven (Johnson) last night. She’s obviously been very productive. Do you see extra pressure she’s putting on herself?

“Yeah, of course. I mean, when you’ve led the nation in scoring, any type of drop-off is concerning to the person that has been that. But I hope Ta’Niya understands that, in just a short time that she’s been with us, I think she increased her chances of being a pro because of what she’s doing on the defensive side of the ball. She’s really guarding. And then, she’s very efficient with us. Like, she’s shooting over 50 percent for the floor.

“That’s what teams are looking for. They actually know what she can do. It is, can she play with other players? That’s one of the themes, probably, as she made the jump to come to our team. And it looks good out there at times, but psychologically, hitting that 20-point mark is… I do think it’s something for her. Like, it’s something that was regular for her, and it hasn’t been that.

“I’m looking at, overall, just her ability to… She dumped some passes off today. So, just expanding her game in that way. And we’re talking to her about that because, obviously, it does play a psychological effect on you when you’re used to scoring a whole lot of points.”

Coming off the Southern Cal game, this could have been a situation where they took a lull. But they came out fast, they came out hard. They really got things going. Is that a good indicator about where this team is headed?

“Well, I don’t think we came out as strongly as I would have liked. But I will say this: this team is trying to find their identity. They really are. And they’re fighting for it, but I do think playing in the USC game really was taxing — just mentally, physically. But we had two pretty good days of practice to get ready for this game. And then, we’ll practice again tomorrow, just to get them moving a little bit. We got to try to simulate some of what playing back-to-back next week and see how their bodies feel.

“But I’m proud of this team. This team hasn’t really reached its potential yet. I think we’re getting a little bit closer to finding our identity, and it’s coming. It’s just not there yet.”

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Tonight, South Carolina outscored Winthrop 70-20 in the paint. What do you like about Madina, how she’s come along, and how she really inserted herself tonight?

“I mean, we need Madina to be dominant. We need dominance on her part every time she steps on the floor. I think she’s just getting more and more comfortable. And I think there’s just a little bit more structure out there, the way she knows where she needs to be. She’s getting, just, more comfortable.

“I like her rebounding the basketball. I like her being efficient; I like her taking shots and being aggressive. And she’s going to have to be that on Sunday, as well as into next week.”

How, over the last five games, have you seen Madina and Ta’Niya settle into what you’re asking of them — and the potential you’re seeing for the future?

“They aren’t where they used to be, and they’re not where they need to be — or where they’re going to be. It really takes a lot of coaches just guiding them, showing them through film. It’s also just talking to them about what they’re feeling because it’s a lot of pressure to play for us. It’s much different than where they come from. So, some of that they have to work through.

“I mean, there are a lot of people always out here. There’s a lot of critics that have a lot to say about how they’re fitting in, what they’re doing, what they’re not doing. And their ‘why’, always go back to their ‘why’: why they came here. And that their ‘why’ is to put them in a better position to being pros — just adding different things to what they already have, to doing the things that pros are looking for.

“For us, it’s not any different than how we play. Like, this is our normal. This is how we play. And it’s worked out for the other players, the other pros, that we produced. But they’re coming on nicely. They’re very coachable. It’s incredible. Like, they’re really mature about how they go about things, and they’re listeners. They want to be great.

“We got Aliyah (Boston) coming in next week, and Madina’s excited. She’s super excited because she’ll work with her a little bit, just to show her what happens at the next level.”

In the days of NCAA eligibility being fluid, could Madina possibly come back next year due to the international rules governing that?

“Yeah, we’re gonna fight like heck. I mean, it’s an interesting situation with her, but I think it’s worth fighting. If she can get another year back, definitely, for me, a top-five pick (in the WNBA).”

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