South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - Hampton

On3 imageby:Chris Wellbaum11/26/22

ChrisWellbaum

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1. Point guard

Kierra Fletcher and Raven Johnson had arguably their best game against Cal Poly. Fletcher had eight points on 4-5 shooting plus five rebounds and an assist. Johnson only played ten minutes, but had four points and was 1-1 from the floor and 2-2 from the line. She also had two assists and two steals, although she did commit three turnovers. 

The combined shooting efficiency was big – both entered the game shooting close to 30% from the floor. Johnson’s turnovers and the lack of assists will be the areas they look to improve over the next month before SEC play begins.

2. Brea Beal’s improvement

At SEC Media Day, Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston bragged about Beal’s improvement on offense. They weren’t just talking. Beal leads the Gamecocks with 15 assists and is second on the team in three-point shooting at 7-16, including a huge three in the last minute of regulation at Stanford. She has been more selective with her shot attempts, which is how she could go 0-0 against Cal Poly and you come away talking about how well she played offensively. 

Of course, Beal hasn’t stopped playing defense. She has a team-high 12 blocks, six steals, and is second on the team in rebounding at 5.8 per game. We’ve said it over and over, Beal doesn’t have to score 20 points, if she can just shoot well enough opponents have to guard her and move the ball to the right place it makes South Carolina so much tougher to defend.

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3. Ashlyn Watkins

South Carolina is only five games into the season, so some statistical outliers are expected. For example, if Beal is still leading South Carolina in assists after another month, that will probably be a cause for concern. 

But I don’t think anyone expected Watkins to be South Carolina’s third-leading scorer (8.4 points), rebounder (5.4), and second in blocked shots (eight). Watkins is also shooting 72% from the floor, behind only Sania Feagin’s 78.6%.

Watkins has been able to fatten up her numbers in the second halves of blowouts, but that only slightly diminishes how impressive she has been. She is still learning how to play, but she’s flashed all the things she needs to do. Watkins has hit the elbow jumper, she’s hit the three, she’s finished at the rim, and she’s made plays in the open court (including, but not limited to, the dunk against Clemson). 

She has also shown an innate ability to find empty spots in the defense. Watkins has created a lot of assists for teammates by getting open where they can see her and keeping her hands high. I’d love to know how many times Watkins hasn’t dribbled before a basket, because it’s been a lot.

4. Home again, home again

After four consecutive road games, including a two-game California trip, the Gamecocks finally return home. The next four games are at home, with a weeklong exam break between the third and fourth games. 

A game in Sioux Falls against a good South Dakota State team (the Jackrabbits beat #4 Louisville on Monday) follows, and then two more home games before Christmas.

That means lots of self-scouting over the next month and lots of talk about what will and won’t work after Christmas when SEC play begins.

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5. Scouting the Pirates

This game marks Hampton’s first trip outside of Virginia this season. The Pirates won a pair of home games over Mid-Atlantic Christian and Deleware State to start the season and then lost at Liberty and Richmond. Hampton’s website hasn’t even been updated since the season-opener so information is hard to come by.

The game will be a homecoming for Hampton freshman Ariana Wilkes, who played at Spring Valley. Sophomore Jermany Mapp played at Chester.

The Ws

Who: #1 South Carolina (5-0) vs Hampton (2-2)

When: Noon, Sunday, November 27

Where: Colonial Life Arena

Watch: SEC Network+

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