1. How Long Will Ta’Niya Latson and Agot Makeer Be Out?
South Carolina has weathered absences from both players individually, but never simultaneously—and Monday night’s struggle at Texas A&M exposed the challenge of playing without both.
The Gamecocks’ offense looked uncharacteristically disjointed, committing 17 turnovers while managing just 12 fast-break points. Only two players reached double figures in scoring, a rarity for a team known for its balanced attack and up-tempo play.
While Mississippi State presents the next challenge, the real concern looms Sunday when No. 15 Tennessee brings its relentless full-court pressure to Columbia. South Carolina desperately needs Latson and Makeer’s ball-handling prowess and playmaking ability to combat the Lady Vols’ defensive intensity.
The timeline for their return remains unclear, leaving Dawn Staley to navigate critical SEC matchups potentially short-handed at guard.
2. What’s Wrong With the Post Players?
Madina Okot delivered when moved back into the starting lineup against Vanderbilt, but she’s disappeared as a consistent factor over the last two games. More troubling, she hasn’t been alone in her struggles.
Adhel Tac, Maryam Dauda, and Alicia Tournebize have all failed to make significant impacts recently. The rotation seems increasingly muddled, with Staley appearing to force-feed Tournebize touches—perhaps trying to accelerate her development or simply spread minutes around against overmatched opponents.
Whatever the reasoning, the approach seems counterproductive. Playing all four post players in search of a hot hand appears to have disrupted everyone’s rhythm rather than establishing one. Against Auburn and Texas A&M—admittedly overwhelmed opponents—none of the bigs found any sustained offensive flow.
South Carolina’s frontcourt inconsistency becomes more problematic as the schedule stiffens. Against elite competition, the Gamecocks cannot rely solely on Joyce Edwards and perimeter play. Staley needs at least one interior presence to emerge as a reliable secondary scoring option and defensive anchor.
The post rotation requires clarification soon, whether through injury returns forcing natural pecking order or through performance finally separating the group. South Carolina has survived thus far on Edwards’ brilliance and guard play, but that formula has limits against championship-caliber opponents.
One Favorite Play
Nothing captures Joyce Edwards’ fourth-quarter takeover quite like her late-game steal and layup—capped with a foul the officials mercifully ignored to let the game end.
The sequence punctuated a dominant final period where Edwards scored 14 of her 28 points and essentially carried South Carolina across the finish line. It feels increasingly clear we’re witnessing Edwards make The Leap from talented freshman to bona fide star capable of willing her team to victory when nothing else works.
That steal-and-score encapsulated everything: defensive awareness, explosive athleticism, finishing through contact, and ice-water composure with the game on the line. If South Carolina hopes to navigate this injury-plagued stretch and defend its championship aspirations, they’ll need many more moments exactly like that one from their emerging superstar.
