- Joined
- Nov 22, 2018
- Messages
- 953
- Reaction Score
- 2,245
Coaching loss.
Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season
- Thread starter visitingcock
- Start date
- Status
Well, that was embarrassing… plenty of blame to go around, but most of it has to go to Edwards, Latson, and Okot, who usually combine for 50 points collectively, but could total only 24 tonight. At one point, Latson was 0 for 9. Without Johnson & Johnson, this would have been a massacre. Almost pulled it out in regulation, then fell apart like a cheap suit in overtime.
Sorry to say that Okot has regressed as competition has ramped up in conference play. She got into foul trouble fast, and played four (4) minutes in the first half. Missed easy points down low, played defense like a cardboard cutout. I think Tac is actually a threat to play more as a result.
And next we get Vandy, who would love to get a statement win. Dawn needs to rally the troops.
Sorry to say that Okot has regressed as competition has ramped up in conference play. She got into foul trouble fast, and played four (4) minutes in the first half. Missed easy points down low, played defense like a cardboard cutout. I think Tac is actually a threat to play more as a result.
And next we get Vandy, who would love to get a statement win. Dawn needs to rally the troops.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
Our Gamecocks have lots to learn from this game but I was most disappointed by our lack of mental toughness. I haven't seen us this flustered since the title game last year. Only Raven seemed to have the ability to take her game to the next level when it mattered most.
I was deeply disappointed in Edwards. She needs to work on finding the open man and passing out of the post when she is double teamed. Also, I didn't like how she shied away from contact -- she let the defense dictate her shots too many times.
Okot was also an issue but she was matched up against Beers so I'll give her some grace this go around.
I was deeply disappointed in Edwards. She needs to work on finding the open man and passing out of the post when she is double teamed. Also, I didn't like how she shied away from contact -- she let the defense dictate her shots too many times.
Okot was also an issue but she was matched up against Beers so I'll give her some grace this go around.
bballnut90
LV Adherent. Topic Crafter
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2011
- Messages
- 8,405
- Reaction Score
- 39,828
Dawn's decision to go with Okot over Tournebize down the stretch was a bad one. Yeah she probably would've fouled out but she made such an impact with her length, tipping rebounds and hitting shots.
Also not calling a time out during the Chavez onslaught made no sense. It was like she conceded defeat early in OT.
That said, this was not a good game for SC's top 3 scorers and they still came within OT of beating a very respectable Oklahoma team on the road in front of a raucous crowd. Add in Tessa Johnson being ice cold in the 2nd half, and it's now your top 4 scorers producing very little in the 2nd but still nearly won the game. SC will learn from it. I don't think this is a bad loss at all and might pave way for Makeer/Tournebize to get more playing time. I thought both were excellent tonight. Also props to Raven for balling out. If she can consistently stick those midrange jumpers she has a long WNBA career ahead of her.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
One thing I noticed is that Coach Staley didn't really substitute anyone in the last five minutes plus OT (until we wove the white flag). I know Coach Staley likes to coach for March, and we're not in many games where we are down by multiple buckets late in games, so I feel like she was:
1) giving our starters some experience under pressure while mentally and physically fatigued and
2) gauging how they performed in that situation
We forget that in previous seasons only Raven has been battle tested like this, and it showed, as she was the only player who found that next level when her back was against the wall. Coach Staley was basically sending our starters / team leaders a message and I think we'll be better because of that choice. Our starters have the talent to win it all and this was the first push towards getting them tournament ready.
1) giving our starters some experience under pressure while mentally and physically fatigued and
2) gauging how they performed in that situation
We forget that in previous seasons only Raven has been battle tested like this, and it showed, as she was the only player who found that next level when her back was against the wall. Coach Staley was basically sending our starters / team leaders a message and I think we'll be better because of that choice. Our starters have the talent to win it all and this was the first push towards getting them tournament ready.
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2021
- Messages
- 3,492
- Reaction Score
- 17,445
Sometimes you have to lose so you can win. Think she was sending a message to her team that if you get yourself in a pickle, then you will have to be a part of the solution to get yourself out of it. In other words…I can show you better than I can tell you. The stats showed what my eyes already knew…a team that wasn’t in synch and that was doing just enough to get a win, but didn’t. I stopped watching at the half and finished this morning. Never been a big fan of Raven (thought she didn’t call her own number enough and in critical game moments), but I can see why Dawn toots her horn. Mea culpa. Hat tip, Miss Raven. Not a bad loss, but an important one.
.-.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
Raven is rising up my All-time favorites list. She plays with so much heart and passion. I really think the trials she has been though (ACL tear, Caitlin Clark wave off, etc.) have turned her into a very people-first minded personality and given her great wisdom/perspective for someone her age. Like she takes the game seriously and is passionate to win but she also realizes that her competitor is a human too. It's fun to watch her before games. She is always talking to players on the other team and lifting up others in interviews. She also is the type who will put out a hand to pick up the fallen opponent. She is just a very well-rounded human being who I cannot help but root for. I think she'll make a great coach one day if she doesn't make it in the W but something tells me that if she spends a few years in the "lab" reworking her shot (a la Jackie Young) that she could become a solid PG at the next level.
SCGamecock
Carolina Sandlapper
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2015
- Messages
- 3,205
- Reaction Score
- 11,928
Man if Raven finds some offensive consistency she is going to be such a good pro. We already know what she brings as a PG. I’ve been very impressed with her lately.
And I co-sign a lot of what’s already been said. This wasn’t a bad loss, but the team did play badly. It’ll help them going forward. I’ll go player by player.
Raven. Baller. She doesn’t wilt under pressure. You can really see her mental toughness shine in games like last night when compared to her teammates. Shes not perfect, but I’m a fan and she’s so smart on the court. She knows her deficiencies and a big part of getting better is just knowing where you lack to begin with. That alone is reason enough of why I think she’ll be a good pro.
Dauda. I’m not sure why we keep trying to make her a 5. I will take this to my grave… she’s not a 5. I hope with Ali here now that we get rid of this idea. Against most elite teams their 5 is going to eat her lunch, as Beers did. But honestly, Beers ate everyone’s lunch last night.. so what do I know.
Latson. I know she didn’t come to SC to be the national scoring leader again. That’s just hard to accomplish at a school like SC.. but she has to score at least. She’s a scorer, that’s where she gets her juice. I admired her ability to attempt to lock in last night considering she was ignored most of the 1st quarter. She had an abysmal game last overall though, and it’s only half her fault.. she missed a lot, but Dawn also never runs sets for her, which I think is a missed opportunity. She needs to be better, but out coaching staff also needs to find ways to utilize her better… AND EARLIER in games.
Okot. I don’t know what last night was. Dawn alluded to it weeks ago, but it’s now obvious she’s struggling in some aspect of her life. She’s regressed and you can see it in her face and in her play. As bad as last night was, her opponent was Beers, so I’ll give her some grace. Beers is really good, SC has played her a bunch, even when she was at Oregon State. But it’s also obvious that Okot is not WNBA ready yet and the staff needs to continue fighting for that extra year.
Tessa. She’s growing. She started off very hot and disappeared in the 2nd half, but she also had a hellish time defending Verhulst. OU sets A LOT of hard screens and Tessa was getting bumped and bruised all night chasing Verhulst around them. Cumulative effect wore her down. I like that she’s attacking more and she needs to become even more aggressive.
Maddie. Everybody deserves at least one "WTF" game per season and I think hers was that Texas game when she kept bowling into the paint like a bull in a china shop and throwing up some of the ugliest bricks I’ve ever seen. I can’t remember whether or not she did it again last night due to the fact that almost everybody was doing it. Young players force their game a lot and Maddie still does at times.
Joyce. Terrible game last night. I have a lot on my mind when it comes to Edwards. But I’m also reminding myself that she’s a sophomore. I feel like I’m watching her become increasingly more selfish on the court and that is not how you play the 4 at SC.. we run everything through the 4, pass the ball out.. I guarantee you’re going to get it back. She’s so cerebral that I think a lot of the time she misses the obvious and easier play. Becoming more of playmaker will determine where her game goes long term.
Adhel. I thought she was fine last night. She didn’t do too much, but she rarely ever does. She comes in and does what is asked of her.
Agot and Ayla. Continued their climb last night. Both are textbook Staley players. Long, lean, no drama. I like the progress I’ve seen in both. Ayla will have a great SC career as a scoring 3. Agot looks like our next great wing defender, but she’s different from most of our past wings in that she can score in many ways.
Ali. I’ve seen enough. She’s an 18 year old freshman. But I think she probably has the highest ceiling we’ve ever had in a 5. Wilson spent most of her SC career as a 4, so she’s not included in this argument. Aliyah was dominant in her time and very brilliant on the court. A true paint anchor. But Ali is a completely different player. A true stretch 5. She’s young and maybe I’m too excited, but can anybody else see the vision here?
Lastly, shoutout to Chavez. She gets a lot of flack (mostly for the $1m price tag). But she stepped up when it mattered. She was a star before last night, but she’ll be even more of a star going forward.. and that tends to happen when a player goes off versus SC, especially in an upset. It’s like "ohhhh, NOW we believe it".. 😂
And I co-sign a lot of what’s already been said. This wasn’t a bad loss, but the team did play badly. It’ll help them going forward. I’ll go player by player.
Raven. Baller. She doesn’t wilt under pressure. You can really see her mental toughness shine in games like last night when compared to her teammates. Shes not perfect, but I’m a fan and she’s so smart on the court. She knows her deficiencies and a big part of getting better is just knowing where you lack to begin with. That alone is reason enough of why I think she’ll be a good pro.
Dauda. I’m not sure why we keep trying to make her a 5. I will take this to my grave… she’s not a 5. I hope with Ali here now that we get rid of this idea. Against most elite teams their 5 is going to eat her lunch, as Beers did. But honestly, Beers ate everyone’s lunch last night.. so what do I know.
Latson. I know she didn’t come to SC to be the national scoring leader again. That’s just hard to accomplish at a school like SC.. but she has to score at least. She’s a scorer, that’s where she gets her juice. I admired her ability to attempt to lock in last night considering she was ignored most of the 1st quarter. She had an abysmal game last overall though, and it’s only half her fault.. she missed a lot, but Dawn also never runs sets for her, which I think is a missed opportunity. She needs to be better, but out coaching staff also needs to find ways to utilize her better… AND EARLIER in games.
Okot. I don’t know what last night was. Dawn alluded to it weeks ago, but it’s now obvious she’s struggling in some aspect of her life. She’s regressed and you can see it in her face and in her play. As bad as last night was, her opponent was Beers, so I’ll give her some grace. Beers is really good, SC has played her a bunch, even when she was at Oregon State. But it’s also obvious that Okot is not WNBA ready yet and the staff needs to continue fighting for that extra year.
Tessa. She’s growing. She started off very hot and disappeared in the 2nd half, but she also had a hellish time defending Verhulst. OU sets A LOT of hard screens and Tessa was getting bumped and bruised all night chasing Verhulst around them. Cumulative effect wore her down. I like that she’s attacking more and she needs to become even more aggressive.
Maddie. Everybody deserves at least one "WTF" game per season and I think hers was that Texas game when she kept bowling into the paint like a bull in a china shop and throwing up some of the ugliest bricks I’ve ever seen. I can’t remember whether or not she did it again last night due to the fact that almost everybody was doing it. Young players force their game a lot and Maddie still does at times.
Joyce. Terrible game last night. I have a lot on my mind when it comes to Edwards. But I’m also reminding myself that she’s a sophomore. I feel like I’m watching her become increasingly more selfish on the court and that is not how you play the 4 at SC.. we run everything through the 4, pass the ball out.. I guarantee you’re going to get it back. She’s so cerebral that I think a lot of the time she misses the obvious and easier play. Becoming more of playmaker will determine where her game goes long term.
Adhel. I thought she was fine last night. She didn’t do too much, but she rarely ever does. She comes in and does what is asked of her.
Agot and Ayla. Continued their climb last night. Both are textbook Staley players. Long, lean, no drama. I like the progress I’ve seen in both. Ayla will have a great SC career as a scoring 3. Agot looks like our next great wing defender, but she’s different from most of our past wings in that she can score in many ways.
Ali. I’ve seen enough. She’s an 18 year old freshman. But I think she probably has the highest ceiling we’ve ever had in a 5. Wilson spent most of her SC career as a 4, so she’s not included in this argument. Aliyah was dominant in her time and very brilliant on the court. A true paint anchor. But Ali is a completely different player. A true stretch 5. She’s young and maybe I’m too excited, but can anybody else see the vision here?
Lastly, shoutout to Chavez. She gets a lot of flack (mostly for the $1m price tag). But she stepped up when it mattered. She was a star before last night, but she’ll be even more of a star going forward.. and that tends to happen when a player goes off versus SC, especially in an upset. It’s like "ohhhh, NOW we believe it".. 😂
BRS24
LisaG
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,444
- Reaction Score
- 42,859
We only caught the end of the SC/OK game, and I really thought SC was gonna win, as it looked like OK didn't know how to win or hold them off, so OT we go. Then Chavez drains a bunch of crazy threes, and wins. Although this is a SC thread, I'll just say this here and once - I'm still not sold on Chavez, as she looked out of control at times, but then again, sometimes freshman do.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
Quit stealing my notes! I don't think I disagree with anything you said. 😂
We sure have been on the receiving end of putting some names out there, which I guess is a testament to our brand, because we only tend to lose against the best of the best.
I don't think Caitlin Clark would be as famous without the infamous win vs South Carolina her junior year. Also we would have never gotten the Clark/Reece storylines if South Carolina won that game, so I'm taking credit for Reece's fame too.
Paige's winning bucket against us her freshman (?) year helped put her on the national map outside of women's basketball fans, and now I feel like Chavez's flag is rising because of her performance in OT against us last night.
I think we need to demand some royalty checks sent to our NIL fund from the millions they made off of beating us. 🤣
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2016
- Messages
- 7,247
- Reaction Score
- 25,791
But, have we played that poorly since the 2029 season?
Ok. Mizzou in 2021, the UCLA early 2024 and 2025 games against UConn but those two latter teams were excellent so I’ll stick with the Mizzou game.?
We were simply awful last night. We don’t need to look at the overtime. We were awful the whole game. Our bigs just didn’t seem to get off the plane except for maybe the freshman. Okot and Edwards were horrible
Last edited:
I like your well-thought analysis. It prompts two questions:
1. Can we improve our offensive game in the paint? Okot plays with hesitancy, and Edwards sometimes overestimates her ability to fight through contested plays for layups. I think Edwards has a nice short range jumper that she should take more often, because she is not a power forward. And neither is Kitts, whose game is similar to Edwards’.
2. Is Raven, by default, the player who gets the ball in crunch time? I want Tessa, Edwards, and Latson to want the ball when the game is in the line, too. Chavez wanted it. Booker wants it for Texas. Blakes and Galvan want it for Vandy. Flauje wants it for LSU. Who wants it that badly for us? I don’t think we know the answer to that.
.-.
- Joined
- May 1, 2020
- Messages
- 10,111
- Reaction Score
- 32,273
This whole section is giving me "Group project, but I only helped to present" vibes 🤣🤣🤣
Two other post-mortem thoughts on the Oklahoma game:
- Last year, we beat OU twice… once by 41 points, and the second time by 18. They had Beers last year, but not Chavez.
- Chavez had 3 points at halftime. What did we not do against her in the second half that we did in the first? In OT, she was the second coming of Caitlin Clark… buried us.
This is exactly what I was talking about. There doesn't seem to be a true team leader. It's more of a team leader by committee for each game. I think Raven holds back because of Latson. The others are just searching from game to game. Joyce seems to have ceded to Raven who doesn't want to overstep Latson. The rest don't know who to follow. That is just my observation. It has been a lot of games where they all seem to be lost. Dawn is not on the floor, so someone has to finally step up to the plate. Timid is how I would describe them. Not aggressive... timid. That's not what we are used to seeing.
This 100%
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2018
- Messages
- 953
- Reaction Score
- 2,245
Refusal to bench Okot and Latson for AT and Makeer was the biggest issue. Even if AT fouled out, Tac was better than Okot. Neither were finishing on offense, but at least Tac provided some teeth on defense.
But continuing to play behind Beers as she consistently buried defenders under the basket was baffling as well. The run that almost stole the game came when we finally fronted, though far too late.
One side effect of having more talent than almost anyone is coaching decisions are magnified, but one of Dawn’s few persistent weaknesses is over reliance on seniority and starters, both in game and over the course of the season. It’s why the SEC’s leader in win shares per 40 and defensive rating is now suiting up for Kim Mulkey.
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2018
- Messages
- 953
- Reaction Score
- 2,245
I think the staff has focused too much on trying to make Edwards the go to player. Said this after the loss in Vegas. She’s not ready; not against the handful of teams that matter. She was called for a charge last night because she didn’t make the easy pass in a 2 on 1, and she misses more shots around the basket than any great player I’ve ever seen.
Conversely, while it’s great to help Latson learn and show how she can contribute without the ball in her hands, you can still give her the ball. We know she can get a bucket because she’s done it for three years when everybody in the building knew that was the plan. Make her the offensive focus. Let her show she can dish to much better teammates than she had at FSU when they focus on her too much.
.-.
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2018
- Messages
- 953
- Reaction Score
- 2,245
Losing her in the corner for the first points of OT was inexcusable. Just a poorly focused effort all night from too many players.
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2024
- Messages
- 30
- Reaction Score
- 205
Last year's team did not have a go to player as we saw in the championship game. Unfortunately, it looks like this year's edition still does not have one, unless it is going to be Raven or Latson. I love Raven but I don't think she really has that kind of offensive game. Latson seems to be trying to be unselfish, but we might need her to step up more. Has Edwards really played big in a big game yet? I know Edwards is only a sophomore--and yet there are other players in her class or this current freshman one who have played bigger in big games like last night's. (Since this is a UCONN board, one name that comes quickly to mind is Sarah Strong, who is noticeably ahead of Edwards. Before their college careers started, there used to actually be a debate which of them was better. Clearly there is no contest for now. And Chavez is a frosh who whipped our butts last night.)
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2024
- Messages
- 30
- Reaction Score
- 205
Paige is awesome, as she is also showing in the WNBA. She is probably my favorite basketball player. While I think UCONN is still clearly the best team this year, I do think that without Paige that they are more beatable this year. That said I don't think we are one of the teams that is going to do so...
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2024
- Messages
- 30
- Reaction Score
- 205
I really like Ali's game too. I did even before her outing against Oklahoma. She moves very fluidly and her shooting form might be among the best on the team except for maybe Tessa. In her first two games, she seemed to defer to her teammates too much (and they are still getting used to her as well). I hope she plays more assertively going forward. Hopefully she will continue playing well and Coach Dawn will give her more minutes. I'm hoping she can be a big contributor come March Madness but an offseason with Coach Molly will do wonders for her game.
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2023
- Messages
- 611
- Reaction Score
- 2,356
I think they were really great players way before SC and really great players way after SC. Don't see your point there.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
My point had nothing to do with how great they were. They all got a boost in popularity from beating South Carolina.
.-.
Fulwiley left our program because she wanted to start… hasn’t exactly panned out that way at LSU. She is an incredible force on defense, and an occasional offensive highlight machine, but turns the ball over too much and jacks up indiscriminate three pointers without enough suitable dividends.
In most programs, senior leadership is generally considered a plus. Not many freshmen crack the starting lineups in top tier programs. Dawn’s track record (three natties and even more SEC championships) validates her personnel decisions. Just my opinion.
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2015
- Messages
- 4,737
- Reaction Score
- 11,195
3 starters played very poorly and Dawn basically told them they had to fight through it and win and they didn't.
I do not have a major problem with it but need to see a bounce back in body language and effort quickly to not worry about things going the wrong way.
I think the constant rotation adjustments are a real challenge.
I do not have a major problem with it but need to see a bounce back in body language and effort quickly to not worry about things going the wrong way.
I think the constant rotation adjustments are a real challenge.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
Wow! 😮
www.espn.com
Jerzy Robinson passes JuJu Watkins as Sierra Canyon's all-time leading scorer
The South Carolina commit scored 33 points to break JuJu Watkins' career mark at Sierra Canyon.
I believe JuJu was only at Sierra Canyon her junior and senior years of high school whereas Jerzy transferred there after her freshman season. Still impressive that she's now the all-time leading scorer but puts the comparison with JuJu in context. All the more impressive that JuJu did in two years.Wow! 😮
Jerzy Robinson passes JuJu Watkins as Sierra Canyon's all-time leading scorer
The South Carolina commit scored 33 points to break JuJu Watkins' career mark at Sierra Canyon.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
I had a feeling this may be the case. Jerzy has only been there since her sophomore year and it's only partway through her senior season, so it took her 2.5+ years to do what Juju did in two. It's still an accomplishment.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Messages
- 2,070
- Reaction Score
- 8,143
I live about an hour southwest of Columbia and we have a few traces of ice but otherwise it looks like any other morning -- nothing like what was being predicted. I am hearing similar stories from friends on Facebook in the Columbia area, so I think we are in the clear. I fully expect for us to play Vandy today.
.-.
- Status