South Carolina women's basketball: Rapid Reaction - UConn

South Carolina fell to UConn 82-59 in the national championship game. Here’s what stood out from the loss.

– Dawn Staley and her staff now focus on the offseason. She has to hire an assistant coach to replace Winston Gandy, hit the transfer portal to find a big and another guard or two. And they need to figure out why this team was so inconsistent, especially on offense.

I don’t have any answer for what the problem was (If I did, I’d be in line to replace Gandy instead of writing this). I’m confident they will figure it out, though.

– Staley mentioned on Saturday that she doesn’t think South Carolina got enough credit for making the Final Four despite losing Ashlyn Watkins, and I agree. Watkins probably wouldn’t have changed the outcome Sunday, but I was one of many people who thought, going into the season, that Watkins was the Gamecocks’ most important player. 

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To make the national championship game with only three forwards was an accomplishment. It also underscores how important it is for South Carolina to find a reliable big in the portal.

– It’s hard to feel good after a 23-point loss. But South Carolina has made five consecutive Final Fours, won two national championships, and with another runner-up appearance. That’s still pretty damn good.

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