Then by all accounts USC should be very good. The Gamecocks under Dawn Staley have - if anything - been OVER-achievers during the previous 3 seasons winning 18, 25, and 25 gms. Those teams had little to no depth in the interior. Had low numbers (only had 9 players on roster last season after losing Tiffiany Davis to season-ending injury in Game #3). And played in a tough, competitive SEC that traditionally didn't include USC in top discussion. The USC teams under Staley have had great team chemistry, and typically have had some of the nation's best defenses. By most of the "issues" you've named above, it's apparent that you're speaking of other programs NOT name South Carolina. That will be a good thing for Wilson....
USC hasn't finished like a lamb, either. They had the toughest 5 games of their entire season as their final 5 of the reg. season, and they went 4-1. Tennessee is still the king of the hill in the SEC until someone else knocks them down, and they still have the physical matchup advantages over USC that they held in previous seasons. And USC needed to bring their A-Game vs ut their two games, and they brought their B-Games instead. It's OK, USC is still learning. I considered them a capable Final Four contender and no better for this season, and I haven't changed that opinion. The best of Gamecock Women's Basketball still lies ahead of them, not behind them or in the midst of them now...