OOC/Conference Schedule Released by Teams25-26

[triaddukefan]

This is surprising. Usually the schedule is much tougher than this. What happened?

I predict about a 100 point margin against NC Central.

Bowling Green and Grand Canyon are against former Little C assistants. Clemson is mandatory... And Winthrop is a SC school up pothole ridden Interstate 77 and an hour from Columbia. Queens is in Charlotte... And it's a recent addition to Division 1. Staley usually schedules a HBCU to visit Columbia so that explains Central (NCCU). At Coppin is interesting... The game will likely sell out and put a few extra dollars into Coppins Athletic department. Glad to see Staley following Lawsons lead and traveling to traditionally tough mid majors like FGCU and South Florida.

 

[triaddukefan]

@HuskyNan

 

[JstVisiting]

And yet it is still probably true. It’s remarkable how many “great coaches” say this very thing and how many of their former players praise them for exactly this.

I bet all the fired coaches were completely indifferent to their kids outside of ppg.

Boooooooooooooooring! No non-conference home games worth attending. C'mon Dawn. The fans deserve better.

South Carolina 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule


Mon., Nov. 3 – Grand Canyon
Fri., Nov. 7 – Bowling Green
Tue., Nov. 11 – Clemson
Sat., Nov. 15 – vs. Southern Cal (The Real SC, Los Angeles, CA)
Wed., Nov. 19 – Winthrop
Sun., Nov. 23 – Queens


Players Era Championship (Las Vegas, NV)
Wed., Nov. 26 – vs. Duke
Thu., Nov. 27 – vs. UCLA/Texas


Thu., Dec. 4 – at Louisville (ACC/SEC Challenge)
Sun., Dec. 7 – NC Central
Sun., Dec. 14 – Penn State
Thu., Dec. 18 – at USF
Sat., Dec. 20 – at Florida Gulf Coast
Sun., Dec. 28 – Providence
Sun., Jan. 18 – at Coppin State

That’s the worst home schedule we’ve played in many years. Bowling Green, Winthrop, NC Central, AND Queens. Just awful.

 

[JstVisiting]

“following Lawsons lead”

Staley’s been highlighting scrappy, second tier programs for years. She’s played at Gonzaga, at SD State, at Drake, and at Duke.

 

[DefenseBB]

I hadn’t realized that the Tenn facility is no referred to as Thompson Boling Arena (TBA) anymore but Food City Center. I have to admit I am a bit saddened by this and continued selling out to garner a few more bucks…

 

[cancontent]

I bet all the fired coaches were completely indifferent to their kids outside of ppg.


That’s the worst home schedule we’ve played in many years. Bowling Green, Winthrop, NC Central, AND Queens. Just awful.

Isn't Bowling Green now coached by a former assistant? My initial thought when I saw this game was that this may have been why Coach Staley set it up.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Boooooooooooooooring! No non-conference home games worth attending. C'mon Dawn. The fans deserve better.

South Carolina 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule


Mon., Nov. 3 – Grand Canyon
Fri., Nov. 7 – Bowling Green
Tue., Nov. 11 – Clemson
Sat., Nov. 15 – vs. Southern Cal (The Real SC, Los Angeles, CA)
Wed., Nov. 19 – Winthrop
Sun., Nov. 23 – Queens


Players Era Championship (Las Vegas, NV)
Wed., Nov. 26 – vs. Duke
Thu., Nov. 27 – vs. UCLA/Texas


Thu., Dec. 4 – at Louisville (ACC/SEC Challenge)
Sun., Dec. 7 – NC Central
Sun., Dec. 14 – Penn State
Thu., Dec. 18 – at USF
Sat., Dec. 20 – at Florida Gulf Coast
Sun., Dec. 28 – Providence
Sun., Jan. 18 – at Coppin State

This was disappointing. I can't remember a less challenging schedule.

I wonder if there is a push to cut travel and guarantee budgets across the board.

 

[Baller29]

This was disappointing. I can't remember a less challenging schedule.

I wonder if there is a push to cut travel and guarantee budgets across the board.

Didn’t Dawn stay they would dial back since committee wasn’t rewarding people for challenging schedules last year

 

[triaddukefan]

Staley’s been highlighting scrappy, second tier programs for years. She’s played at Gonzaga, at SD State, at Drake, and at Duke.

I was being facetious

 

[nwhoopfan]

I hadn’t realized that the Tenn facility is no referred to as Thompson Boling Arena (TBA) anymore but Food City Center. I have to admit I am a bit saddened by this and continued selling out to garner a few more bucks…

Ugh. Washington's home is and will always be known as Hec Ed Pavilion, but it has also done the stupid corporate naming rights thing and been Bank of America Arena and now Alaska Airline Arena.

 

[SCGamecock]

Didn’t Dawn stay they would dial back since committee wasn’t rewarding people for challenging schedules last year

Dawn hinted when SC didn't get that #1 overall seed last season that she was going to dial it down going forward. This doesn’t surprise me at all.

 

[triaddukefan]

Dawn hinted when SC didn't get that #1 overall seed last season that she was going to dial it down going forward. This doesn’t surprise me at all.

That is disappointing

 

[Bone Dog]

Dawn hinted when SC didn't get that #1 overall seed last season that she was going to dial it down going forward. This doesn’t surprise me at all.

Did Dawn actually say this out loud? Or did folks just say that she thought this way? I may have missed the interview, or tweet or whatever it was.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Didn’t Dawn stay they would dial back since committee wasn’t rewarding people for challenging schedules last year

I don't think she said that she would.

She was somewhat upset about some of the preliminary seed lines leading into final weekend.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Dawn hinted when SC didn't get that #1 overall seed last season that she was going to dial it down going forward. This doesn’t surprise me at all.

She didn't in my opinion.

Her entire career she's scheduled aggressively which I think is good for SCar and good for the sport and I don't see her changing that because a three loss team team that got blown out twice wasn't the overall #1 seed.

I'm sure she will be asked why this schedule is so bad and we'll get to hear her answer then.

I suspect it's cost cutting and teams not wanting to play in Cola more than anything else. But that's a testable hypothesis.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Basically at a time when SCar was either off or flirting with getting off the 1 line (before SEC tournament) she had a presser where she asked what was the use of scheduling tough games if they got held against SCar. I don't think she has said anything else about it and I don't think it was more than advocating for her team. It also worked out fine in the end.

Did Dawn actually say this out loud? Or did folks just say ...

 

[SCspur]

She didn't in my opinion.

Her entire career she's scheduled aggressively which I think is good for SCar and good for the sport and I don't see her changing that because a three loss team team that got blown out twice wasn't the overall #1 seed.

I'm sure she will be asked why this schedule is so bad and we'll get to hear her answer then.

I suspect it's cost cutting and teams not wanting to play in Cola more than anything else. But that's a testable hypothesis.

She literally did already when they asked her how she felt about not getting the number one overall seed. She said she felt the schedule they played last year was enough for them to recieve number one despite those two losses. She said they would think about not being as aggressive in the non conference schedule if the committee is rewarding wins regardless of who they come against.

 

[visitingcock]

She literally did already when they asked her how she felt about not getting the number one overall seed. She said she felt the schedule they played last year was enough for them to recieve number one despite those two losses. She said they would think about not being as aggressive in the non conference schedule if the committee is rewarding wins regardless of who they come against.

Yes. She said it. However, I hope that it didn’t really have anything to do with this years actual scheduling. I’m fine with scheduling a HBCU and an instate creampuff per year Okay, I get the Green Bay game too. But there need to be more mid level games against mid-level P-4 and G-5 leaders. The fans are the losers here though we do gets some decent conference games at home

 

[SCspur]

Yes. She said it. However, I hope that it didn’t really have anything to do with this years actual scheduling. I’m fine with scheduling a HBCU and an instate creampuff per year Okay, I get the Green Bay game too. But there need to be more mid level games against mid-level P-4 and G-5 leaders. The fans are the losers here though we do gets some decent conference games at home

I agree. The committee is the only ones to blame. I can’t fault coach at all and I would’ve at least liked to keep UConn if this is the case. In this current climate where WBB in general is growing at an alarming tears, we need more top 5 and top 10 matchups. Certain coaches afraid to schedule or lose games really hold back the sport. I hopefully UConn or some other tough teams will be added to the schedule next year.

 

[sivad40]

She literally did already when they asked her how she felt about not getting the number one overall seed. She said she felt the schedule they played last year was enough for them to recieve number one despite those two losses. She said they would think about not being as aggressive in the non conference schedule if the committee is rewarding wins regardless of who they come against.

Listen to Dawn's comments starting at the 2:00 min mark to :2:30. Especially the part about less hiccups.

 

[southie]

I understand Dawn's point when she said that. But, the committee is different each year; and, Dawn knows that. And, they definitely aren't consistent in their criteria from one year to the next. I can already hear the new committee saying in March that SC's non-conference's schedule was weak compared to other programs and that's why they were knocked down a spot or two in the bracket 🤣

 

[CAbballfan2]

Typically schedules are made 2 years in advance. Unless there’s gaps that need filling or schools pull out. I’m pretty sure the schedule was pretty much set before the tourney.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Typically schedules are made 2 years in advance. Unless there’s gaps that need filling or schools pull out. I’m pretty sure the schedule was pretty much set before the tourney.

Not exactly, it is a mix. You have various previously contracted return visits and such, which are more difficult to get out of, and of course you most likely know any destination tourneys and you have feelers out for some teams you are interested in. But I think there is still decent flexibility with teams getting down to it really after the NCAA's are over. If I had to guess, coaches are probably close to 50% certain and an additional 25% probably sure for the next year's schedule, but there are factors that apply based on team quality. A South Caro;ina is favorable in some ways, but not for teams that don't want that tough a competition (although, traditionally, an "ok" loss).

Arizona (and various of the other old PAC 12 teams) always had issues getting teams to come out and of course it was more expensive to head east. A potential opponent has to balance the trip west being cost effective (often playing a 2nd team) and in the right strength of competition bracket for that year's plans before committing. Years ago, when Rutgers was good, they would often schedule a 2 game road trip, generally one good and one not so strong team together, we went on a couple of trips. Clemson / LSU; Pepperdine tourney (I think the other good team was Florida), Pacific and a game in Texas (I forget the opponent). Etc. Trying to maximize the cost effectiveness at a time it wasn't as important as today.

The several year in advance schedules are more common in some of the other sports, I believe

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I understand Dawn's point when she said that. But, the committee is different each year; and, Dawn knows that. And, they definitely aren't consistent in their criteria from one year to the next. I can already hear the new committee saying in March that SC's non-conference's schedule was weak compared to other programs and that's why they were knocked down a spot or two in the bracket 🤣

SCar got blown out twice last season It didn't really deserve the #1 overall.

I seriously doubt Dawn spent all summer worrying about it.

I imagine the schedule will grade out pretty strongly overall anyway? It's not LSU soft.