South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - Kentucky
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1. Don’t look ahead
For those of you who are living under a rock, South Carolina plays the Game of the Year each of the next two Sundays. In between, there are games against Kentucky and Auburn, two teams in the bottom half of the SEC standings.
Many fans have already skipped ahead to Sunday. Some media folks have already skipped ahead to next Sunday. No matter how you spin it, Kentucky is a few Lance sandwich crackers and UConn is dinner and drinks at Hall’s.
While the rest of us are peaking ahead, Dawn Staley is confident the Gamecocks are not. She claimed she hasn’t even brought it up, although she also called Kentucky a trap game, which suggests she has thought about it.
“This team has been one that stays in the moment,” she said. “Whether they’re talking about it in the dorms or not, they have the focus of what’s in front of us. It’s not a trap game for us because we play in a league in which anybody can beat you. We’ve got the type of personnel that can handle this moment. We know we’ve got a big February.”
2. Pick-and-roll defense
In the first meeting between the two teams, Kentucky took a ten-point lead in the second quarter. The Wildcats had success getting shots out of their pick-and-roll. The key was to make quick decisions to drive or shoot before South Carolina could read the play.
“They utilize their screens well. They get downhill. They play at a pace in which they force your defense to adjust, or not,” Staley said. “If you’re not able to adjust quickly, they’re going to beat you to the basket. If you’re not able to get out to their shooters, they’re going to knock them down.”
In the second half, South Carolina got faster and Kentucky got slower, and the Gamecocks ended up winning 95-66. South Carolina also cut down on turnovers, which allowed the Gamecocks to set their defense against the screens.
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3. Feagin and Watkins
In the two games since Sania Feagin returned from a lower right leg injury, Staley has followed the same rotation: Ashlyn Watkins plays in the first half and Sania Feagin plays in the second half.
It’s an imperfect solution to finding playing time for both players. Each has a chance to make an impact, but sometimes they only have a couple of minutes to do it and it’s tough to get into the flow of the game.
The problem was on display against Alabama. Watkins played three minutes in the first half, grabbing three rebounds and scoring on a putback. Feagin played five minutes in the second half, going scoreless but contributing a nice drive and dish to Aliyah Boston for a layup.
“With her and Ashlyn, they are fighting neck and neck to see who gets the bulk of that fourth post player minutes. They haven’t been able to edge each other out, so I’ve got the say who gets the first call off the bench in the first half and who gets the first call in the second half,” Staley said. “If either one of them plays well it hurts the other one because I’m going to play the people that are doing well and play them extended minutes.”
One way to get extended minutes? Take care of opponents early so the starters sit in the fourth quarter. That was the case against Arkansas, when Feagin played nine minutes and Watkins played 12, with each scoring six points.
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4. Breezy and Coop
Also fighting for playing time are Bree Hall and Talaysia Cooper. Cooper was in uniform against Alabama after missing two games with a lower right leg injury, but did not play. That was partly because Hall had the best game of her career, scoring 18 points on 4-8 shooting from three.
Hall’s playing time has fluctuated this season, often depending on how other players are playing. But she stayed the course, and when Alabama left her open she took advantage.
“She was ready to play,” Staley said. “She took good shots. These are normal shots for her.”
“When I come in the game I think just let the game come to me,” Hall said. “I play really hard defense first and then I’m like, let’s try to get it going offensively.”
Against Kentucky’s guards, Hall and Cooper could see more playing time. Staley likes their size and athleticism on defense against the Kentucky guards.
5. Scouting the Wildcats
Maddie Scherr torched South Carolina to the tune of a career-high 25 points in the first game, going 5-7 from three. She was the primary beneficiary of Kentucky’s kickouts after pick-and-rolls, but Scherr also scored in transition and from the mid-range.
“She found ways to be effective,” Staley said. “I know we’re on high alert now.”
Scherr’s career-high was followed by career-highs from Robyn Benton (29 against Florida) and Jada Walker (22 against Mississippi State). Those three combined for 52 points against South Carolina in the first game. Kentucky’s 66 points are the most South Carolina has allowed in regulation this season. Staley expects more big production from that trio.
“They are who they are,” she said. “They are going to defend really well. Their guards do what they need to do to keep them in basketball games. I think they are getting better.”
The Ws
Who: #1 South Carolina (21-0, 9-0) vs Kentucky (10-11, 2-7)
When: 7:00 ET, Thursday, February 2
Where: Colonial Life Arena
Watch: SEC Network
