As South Carolina prepares for Tennessee’s relentless full-court press, freshman Alicia Tournebize may represent the Gamecocks’ most intriguing tactical solution—a versatile big with perimeter skills who could unlock the matchup puzzle Dawn Staley faces.
Lessons from Last Year’s Success
Last season, South Carolina effectively neutralized Tennessee’s pressure by deploying five legitimate ball-handlers simultaneously: three guards complemented by ball-handling forwards. That lineup proved equally valuable defensively, as Tennessee’s positionless system features perimeter threats at every position.
Replicating that strategy presents challenges for South Carolina’s traditional post players. Madina Okot and Adhel Tac face demanding assignments on both ends against Tennessee’s spread offense. Maryam Dauda operates more comfortably away from the basket, but among the frontcourt options, Alicia Tournebize displays the greatest comfort level playing on the perimeter and in transition.
Growing Comfort and Confidence
Tournebize’s development showed tangibly against Mississippi State, where she recorded eight points, three rebounds, and three assists. She converted a smooth corner three-pointer and demonstrated significantly improved court vision—particularly notable given she had tallied just one total assist through her first six games.
The 6-foot-7 French import is steadily adapting to the speed and physicality of American college basketball, even as she navigates persistent foul trouble.
The Foul Trouble Challenge
Foul management remains Tournebize’s primary obstacle in her brief Gamecock tenure. She has committed at least two fouls in every appearance, accumulated four fouls in multiple contests, and fouled out entirely against Auburn. The infractions vary: some are obvious and unavoidable, some stem from poor positioning decisions, and others appear questionable upon review.
Against Mississippi State, Tournebize picked up four fouls but crucially survived the final 9:12 without her fifth—a maturity marker that didn’t escape Staley’s attention.
When asked whether officiating differences between NCAA basketball and European professional leagues contribute to Tournebize’s foul issues, Staley pivoted toward the educational value of her freshman’s trial by fire.
“I think probably the game is a little bit quicker here, that’s one,” Staley said. “Two, I actually don’t mind because that means she’s fighting back. I don’t mind. What I did like was her ability to play with four fouls. I know we were in a zone, but you still put yourself in the position, dealing with some penetration, that you have a tendency to want to foul. She played a long stretch with four fouls. So every step, she’s learning, and she’s growing, and she’s acclimating. She may turn the ball over or may foul at this junction of her career, but it’s all great data to get her ready for what’s about to happen and to get her ready to help us. Because if she doesn’t play, if she doesn’t foul, if she doesn’t turn the ball over, and she’s only making shots, that’s misconception. That’s not how it is. Everybody’s throwing everything at her, and she’s catching it, and now she’s starting to dish it out a bit, which I don’t mind.”
Strategic Fit Against Tennessee
Tournebize’s skill set aligns uniquely with the demands Tennessee’s system imposes. Her size provides defensive versatility against bigger perimeter players, while her developing ball-handling and passing ability could help South Carolina attack in transition after breaking the press.
The corner three she knocked down against Mississippi State demonstrates the floor-spacing capability that makes Tennessee’s switching defense more challenging. If Tournebize can stay on the court—managing fouls while maintaining her aggressive approach—she could provide South Carolina with a dimension traditional post players cannot replicate.
Staley’s emphasis on embracing Tournebize’s learning process suggests confidence in the freshman’s trajectory. Every turnover, every foul, every missed assignment represents data points accelerating her development. Against Tennessee’s chaotic style, that education could translate into one of South Carolina’s most valuable tactical weapons.
Whether Tournebize earns extended minutes Sunday depends partly on South Carolina’s backcourt health. But if the Gamecocks need versatile size capable of operating away from the basket, the French freshman has shown she’s ready for the moment—fouls and all.
