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Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season

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USMC(ret) said:
I was surprised by the news about Maddie. The players know the expectations, and Dawn and her staff vet both the recruits and their families thoroughly, to avoid issues later. My guess is that a teenager made a bad decision, like teenagers are prone to do occasionally, and is paying the consequences. She’ll sit, and learn, and at the correct time she’ll return.
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Timing and indefiniteness make midterms a possibility. If so, she might not be available until sure finishes with a semester finals.

But I know nothing.
 
USMC(ret) said:
A couple of thoughts:
  • We need more from Dauda and Tac. Given the number of available players on our roster, everyone has to contribute. We’re getting more production from the two freshmen.
  • I was surprised by the news about Maddie. The players know the expectations, and Dawn and her staff vet both the recruits and their families thoroughly, to avoid issues later. My guess is that a teenager made a bad decision, like teenagers are prone to do occasionally, and is paying the consequences. She’ll sit, and learn, and at the correct time she’ll return.
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If I had to guess (and I don't lol) I would guess it was a personal issue between Dawn and Maddie. Dawn seemed to indicate that with her demeanor and being sly about the entire situation.
 
visitingcock said:
Timing and indefiniteness make midterms a possibility. If so, she might not be available until sure finishes with a semester finals.

But I know nothing.
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I believe the team receives grades and class attendance reports every month.
 
caliwbb said:
I believe the team receives grades and class attendance reports every month.
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But mid term exams (where applicable) can lead to suspensions under tough coaches. Dawn gets daily attendance reports
 
Bone Dog said:
What the heck happened with Maddy? That came out of the blue.

As for the Clemson game, not much scoring which created the illusion of a close game. Where did all the shooters go?

I liked the look of Okot. She’s as big as advertised. Not super quick with her feet, but she has good hands and seems really solid. I think the lack of quickness won’t matter if Joyce takes care of that for her. Then she can just be the rock, so to speak, and Dawn has needed a rock recently.
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Rumors are her and Tessa had some locker room issues.
 
Geew1992 said:
Rumors are her and Tessa had some locker room issues.
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The culture is established… you either buy in, or you sit and look for another home. Maddie has a year plus on the team… we should be way beyond “buy in” issues. If it is a team chemistry issue, Raven needs to exert some influence and settle it.
 
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Geew1992 said:
Rumors are her and Tessa had some locker room issues.
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I don’t like to trade in rumors. Dawn’s silence about it suggests either a midterm grade issue which she would be forbidden by law from speaking about, or something personal. Merely violating a practice rule would not require silence on her part.
 
“Will she be back.”
“That’s up to her.”

That doesn’t tend to end well.

I will not be surprised if she transfers mid season.
 
Bone Dog said:
Dawn’s silence about it suggests either a midterm grade issue which she would be forbidden by law from speaking about
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If it’s grades a coach could easily say “there are standards that must be met to be a part of this team.”
 
Vowelguy said:
If it’s grades a coach could easily say “there are standards that must be met to be a part of this team.”
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And Coach Staley has said so in the past with other players when it was an academic situation.
 
Question for the Sandlappers. What would you recommend to do for a visitor with 18 hours or so to spend in Columbia?
 
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triaddukefan said:
Question for the Sandlappers. What would you recommend to do for a visitor with 18 hours or so to spend in Columbia?
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When are you going to be here? State House tour, Museum of Art (Keith Haring exhibit, presently), Columbia Zoo, State Museum, Planetarium and Observatory...
 
Gamecockfan77 said:
What day?

How do you want to eat?

Active day or tours and museums and such?
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cockhrnleghrn said:
When are you going to be here? State House tour, Museum of Art (Keith Haring exhibit, presently), Columbia Zoo, State Museum, Planetarium and Observatory...
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No idea.... Sometime between December and February. May go to Charleston instead. This would be a quick Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon thing. I read that the City Limits BBq was voted best in the South. Probably a nice steakhouse that won't break the bank. A good Sunday breakfast or brunch spot
 
triaddukefan said:
No idea.... Sometime between December and February. May go to Charleston instead. This would be a quick Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon thing. I read that the City Limits BBq was voted best in the South. Probably a nice steakhouse that won't break the bank. A good Sunday breakfast or brunch spot
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Saturday, stay on Main Street. Go to the Saturday morning farmer's market. Take a State House tour. Consider the Columbia Museum on main.

For lunch City Limits would be fine or just grab something at the market. Afternoon you could do Congaree National Park if the weather is nice.

Dinner at Halls would probably qualify as breaking the bank but you used to be able to get a nice steak at Bourbon. Garcia and Vine is good or Lula Drake for smaller plates.

Sunday i would consider the brunch at Top of Carolina at the Capatone dorm - it's a big spread of options but buffet style. The views in Columbia are not amazing but you'll get the whole thing in revolving top.

I don't consider Columbia a great brunch town though. Motor Supply used to have a good one.
 
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Not gonna lie. I'm a little nervous about the game tonight. I think we should win but I'm a little scared that the team chemistry isn't quite where it needs to be yet -- especially defensively if we need to turn the momentum. I've got a strong suspicion that we may have some unexpected losses this season while we're still building that chemistry. I think we have the talent to win it all but the coaching staff has more work to do this season on moulding this team into it's full potential.
 
It's not great, Bob.

Offense is a bit of a mess overall. Those layups are still getting missed. Latson still not looking comfortable and they don't seem to be running anything for her. Need to.

Defense is sloppy.
 
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Gamecockfan77 said:
It's not great, Bob.

Offense is a bit of a mess overall. Those layups are still getting missed. Larson still not looking comfortable and they don't seem to be running anything for her. Need to.

Defense is sloppy.
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We might need an offensive coordinator assistant
 
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17 turnovers won't work.

Dawn really had to ride the starting five. The reserves gave up the lead.

Seemed like it was hard to score.

Need Okot to do better on offense. But 15 rebounds and the defense weorks.

nice game by Raven again.
 
I didn’t see the first half but they made USC look pretty average in the second. I thought USC might give them a game at least but instead, it looked like SC should/could have won by 30! Jazzy looked like a freshman and they (USC) went 1 for 14 from three! Pretty tough to beat anyone when you shoot like that, but it wasn’t just the shooting. SC won on the boards 56 to 32 with 21 of those offensive. Women vs girls, that’s what it looked like to me and SC imo didn’t even play particularly well. USC’s got some serious work to do! Now they’ll probably win their next 20! (-1 of course, knock wood) Let’s face it, if anyone thought SC was gonna slip a little this year, they’d better think again. Don’t forget, they still haven’t even gotten Latson in a groove yet!

I still like our chances, but SC, UCLA, Texas, and LSU (the usual suspects) are all looking very good! UCLA especially, looks downright scary! (Michigan is not too shabby either. That should be a great game. Not sure what’s happening with Duke but I’m pretty sure Kara will get that straightened out fairly soon!
 
I think yesterdays game made it pretty evident that we have a great team but also evident that this team is nowhere close to reaching it's full potential. I really liked what Raven brought as a scorer. I think her shot and decision making look like a 180 from last year.

Tessa is another one where she is being pushed by the coaches to be more imposing on offense. I think she could be absolutely dominant on that side of the ball but has a tendency to act more passive. I forget the end of which quarter, but there was a play where Coach Staley was audibly screaming for Tessa to get the ball and make something happen. It ended up being a turnover due to a moving screen but she diagnosed what needed to happen and made the shot. I think she would have just stood in the corner waiting for a catch-and-shoot 3 if coach didn't start screaming. Anyways, I think that play was pretty emblematic of the growth the coaches want out of Tessa.

Anyways, we have a small crew but it seems like we can go 7 deep during these big games. Hopefully Maddie will come back, as that will be another great depth piece to give us an 8 player rotation.
 
I feel pretty vindicated (in my assessment in another thread) by the "Real SC" game. It was a dominant win and showed off the team's strengths, and they are substantial. But also the weaknesses. Dawn effectively played 6 deep with the mains except for Latson playing 35+ minutes. I wonder how sustainable that really is. If Ayla steps up and can give 10-12 minutes next to Agot, it will be an easier load. But I'm not holding my breath for Adhel or Maryam stepping up. Dawn has an excellent 7 player rotation if Ayla finds her footing, and that should carry the team through the SEC. But come March, this makes for a worn out squad. It looks all too familiar from UConn's injury-riddled seasons.

And kudos to Raven for 14 pts and 11 rebounds, and Madina for 15 rebounds. This is what the future looks like, with Joyce leading the way for Tessa and Taniya and Raven, with Madina supplying the muscle in the paint.
 
We will just have to see whether anyone gives UConn a game this year.

I have my doubts that will happen.

Right now, SCar could not keep up offensively, but perhaps this is a team that can grow into it.

Will SCar drop a lot of games this year? I don't know, but I still rather doubt it.

Will SCar win the SEC? I think that's really in doubt but at this point they still seem like a co-favorite at worst just because they are going to defend and probably control the board. But foul trouble and off nights is a much bigger problem for a team that seems only to trust the starting five at this point.

The anxiety I have isn't so much winning the title this year as it is whether the team takes a true step back next season. Kitts and Watkins returning and adding Jerzy and a portal PG would be very welcome.
 
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