Live from Columbia: No. 4 South Carolina Gears Up for No. 7 UConn in Blockbuster Showdown
ESPN’s College GameDay has landed in Columbia, SC, and the stage is set for an epic battle between No. 4 South Carolina and No. 7 UConn this Sunday. With top-10 bragging rights on the line, let’s dive into the key storylines to watch.
1. “Play Like Us” – South Carolina’s Identity Check
If there’s been one theme in the Gamecocks’ locker room this week, it’s getting back to their true identity. Te-Hina Paopao summed it up best:
“We just had to get back in the rhythm of things and the flow of how we are. We just had to get back to our identity.”
What does that mean for South Carolina? Aggressive play, scoring in transition, and making the extra pass. After struggling against Texas, the team is eager to bounce back in front of a roaring home crowd.
2. Stopping Paige – The Key to Slowing UConn
South Carolina has dominated this rivalry recently, winning five of the last six matchups. The lone loss? The only game where they failed to contain Paige Bueckers.
In the 2022 National Championship, South Carolina’s Destanni Henderson smothered Bueckers, holding her to 14 points on 6-13 shooting. Last season, it was Bree Hall who took on the challenge, forcing Bueckers into 8-20 shooting, most of which came in garbage time.
“Familiarity really helps,” said Dawn Staley. Expect Hall to get the primary assignment again, but don’t be surprised if Raven Johnson or MiLaysia Fulwiley step up in key moments.
3. UConn’s Defensive Weakness: Guard Play
The Huskies have struggled to contain quick, athletic guards, and South Carolina has no shortage of firepower in that department.
Against UConn this season:
- Ole Miss’ KK Deans dropped 17 points
- Hannah Hidalgo exploded for 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists
- Juju Watkins put up 25 points
Last season, it was Paopao who torched the Huskies for 21 points on 5-7 shooting from deep. She’s coming off a strong game, logging 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in just 20 minutes. Could she be the X-factor again?
4. Who’s In, Who’s Out – Injury Report
South Carolina doesn’t have to release an availability report for non-conference games, but here’s what we know:
- Ashlyn Watkins is OUT
- Everyone else is expected to play
UConn, on the other hand, is dealing with significant injuries:
- Morgan Cheli (lower-body) – OUT indefinitely
- Ice Brady (shoulder) – OUT
- Ayanna Patterson (season-ending injury) – OUT
- Caroline Ducharme (has yet to play this season) – OUT
5. Scouting the Huskies – A Deeper UConn Team?
Despite the injuries, Geno Auriemma has one of his deepest squads in recent years. But don’t expect him to stray from his usual tight rotation – he still leans heavily on seven players.
- Paige Bueckers – The superstar leads UConn with 18.7 PPG
- Azzi Fudd – Shooting a blistering 47.1% from three while averaging 12.7 PPG
- Sarah Strong – The do-it-all freshman contributes 16.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and leads the team in blocks and steals
“They’re pretty talented, as always,” Staley said. “Strong gives them a lot of options.”
One key stat that favors South Carolina? UConn doesn’t get to the free throw line often (10.7 FTA per game) and struggles on the boards (just +5.2 rebounding margin). If the Gamecocks stay out of foul trouble, they could dominate the paint.
Final Chapter?
This is the last scheduled meeting between South Carolina and UConn, as Sunday’s matchup is a makeup for the postponed 2022 game. With both teams eyeing deep tournament runs, this could be the last time we see this clash for a while – unless they meet again in March Madness.
Other Games to Watch
No. 5 LSU vs. No. 3 Texas – It might feel strange, but Gamecock fans should root for LSU. Back in 2017, bitter rival Kentucky did South Carolina a favor by knocking off Vic Schaefer’s Mississippi State. Could history repeat itself?
Game Info
- Who: No. 4 South Carolina (23-2, 11-1) vs. No. 7 UConn (23-3, 14-0)
- When: Sunday, February 16 | 1:00 ET
- Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
- Watch: ABC
Buckle up – this one’s going to be a classic!
