Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season | Page 4 | The Boneyard
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Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season

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
 
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.
 
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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.
 
Hopefully Maddy will be back as we really need her depth in the backcourt. I think we can get minutes from Ayla and Maryam in almost every game. We're going to need to, so the starters don't have to play 35+ minutes every night.
 
cockhrnleghrn said:
Hopefully Maddy will be back as we really need her depth in the backcourt. I think we can get minutes from Ayla and Maryam in almost every game. We're going to need to, so the starters don't have to play 35+ minutes every night.
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they can play all 10 in the majority of games I would guess.
 
Adhel and Maryam are easily the two most disappointing players. They both came in highly advertised and as of now look mediocre at best. I thought at the seasons end if those two could step up then the Gamecocks would be right where they need to be. With Watkins and Kitts out for the season it was even more important. It looks like it's not going to happen. I see a good season but this is not a Final Four team IMO.
 
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jumpstart said:
Adhel and Maryam are easily the two most disappointing players. They both came in highly advertised and as of now look mediocre at best. I thought at the seasons end if those two could step up then the Gamecocks would be right where they need to be. With Watkins and Kitts out for the season it was even more important. It looks like it's not going to happen. I see a good season but this is not a Final Four team IMO.
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And the fact that both are considered “bigs” on our roster makes it even more problematic, with two other “bigs”, Watkins and Kitts, on the injured list and gone for the year. Meaning the we cannot afford any of our other forwards to get into foul trouble or get injured. And that will only get harder when we get into conference play.
 
I have a question if anyone can answer please. I looked at LSU and South Carolina’s conference schedules today. Each team plays everyone once and a second team twice. My question is how is that second team twice determined? You have Alabama and the Tigers have Texas. I’m not stating anything bad. Just looking for an answer. Thank you…
 
ConnMotors said:
I have a question if anyone can answer please. I looked at LSU and South Carolina’s conference schedules today. Each team plays everyone once and a second team twice. My question is how is that second team twice determined? You have Alabama and the Tigers have Texas. I’m not stating anything bad. Just looking for an answer. Thank you…
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Rotating each year. Last year we had Texas for two games

Texas had us twice last year I’m the regular season and LSU twice this year. (Welcome to the SEC Newbie). But, they won’t see either of us twice per regular season for the next 14 years).

Well, we could theoretically play Texas 4 times again like we did last year. Players Era tournament, regular season, SEC tournament and NCAA tournament
 
Thank you for that. And, that is what I thought. I’m sure that the SEC will add more once the ACC media agreement comes to an end. Wishing Sawn and the team success throughout the season. I’m sure that playing Texas four times again this year can happen. See you at tournament time.
 
I personally think that they should do the conference schedule to make for the best TV matchups but that isn't how they do it.
 
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A 50 point win against a clearly outmatched opponent tonight. It was a good game for Dawn to try out different groups on the court, and seven players got at least 20 minutes. Some observations:
  • We made layups and free throws
  • No one got into foul trouble
  • We shared the ball well
  • Latson is beginning to assert herself
  • Okot is a beast down low
  • Makeer’s length is impressive
  • Dauda has no offensive skills… none. Hard to believe she was a starter at Arkansas. Even Tac scored 6 points by accident. We need Maddie back, to be a skilled player off the bench.
  • McDowell is getting valuable minutes and making the most of them.
 
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