Following South Carolina’s victory over Mississippi State, head coach Dawn Staley addressed multiple storylines, from Joyce Edwards’ historic 1,000-point achievement to strategic lineup changes and player development.
Edwards’ Historic Achievement: The Coach’s Perspective
When asked about Joyce Edwards reaching 1,000 points faster than program legend A’ja Wilson, and Edwards’ claim that she didn’t know about the milestone, Staley was characteristically direct and playful:
“Do you believe that? Joyce knows about everything. She knew how close she was; she knew when she was going to do it. It’s great. She put the ball in the hole, and we’re not surprised at how quickly she got it. We’re just happy that we said that she’s on our team.”
The coach’s response reveals not only her knowledge of Edwards’ competitive awareness but also her pride in having such a talent on the roster. Staley’s comment that they’re “not surprised” at the speed of the accomplishment underscores the coaching staff’s recognition of Edwards’ elite scoring ability from the outset.
Strategic Lineup Innovations: The Three-Big Experiment
One of the game’s most intriguing tactical elements was South Carolina’s deployment of a three-big lineup, featuring Alicia Tournebize alongside two traditional post players. Staley provided detailed insight into both the necessity and discovery aspects of this configuration:
“We’re still playing with that lineup. We’re kind of forced to play it. So we practice it a little bit. We got a couple of sets that we like to use. We use maybe one of them, and then we just we’re actually just seeing what we can get Ali(Cia Tournebize) more involved. We see that every day you learn something new about her.”
The coach’s analysis of Tournebize revealed a player whose skill set is still being uncovered:
“I do think she’s very comfortable facing the basket, very comfortable on the perimeter, and to see her court vision, to see her. Actually catching the ball and getting into her skill set and not getting sped up was really good. I think other games have sped her up so much that you really can’t see all the things that she can do. Tonight, you can see a glimpse of what she can do. Really, really good court vision, can really shoot the three.”
Staley elaborated on how Tournebize’s face-up game complements the team’s traditional post players:
“So with her being able to face the basket a little bit more with the other two bigs that actually mostly play with their backs to the basket, it really helps us to keep the floor moving a little bit more often than not.”
This tactical adjustment suggests South Carolina is developing a more versatile offensive system that can adapt to different defensive schemes while managing injury-related roster limitations.
Injury Management and Roster Rotation
Regarding Tessa Johnson’s absence, Staley confirmed it was a precautionary measure:
“No, I mean she’s just banged up. We afforded ourselves a big lead. Not putting her in a situation where she could hurt herself more, she’s just a little sore. So we just opted to keep her out and get her ready to play for the Tennessee game.”
This calculated decision demonstrates the coaching staff’s long-view approach, prioritizing player health with a crucial SEC showdown looming.
Ayla McDowell’s First Start: Strategic Matchup Considerations
McDowell received her first career start, a decision Staley explained was driven by matchup-specific needs:
“We gave her the opportunity because they were just big on the perimeter, and we wanted to bring Mouse (Maddy McDaniel) off the bench just because she can spell Ayla, Raven, or Tessa. I just thought there was a bigger defensive presence and more of a boxing out, a bigger guard. And then she’s just floor spacing. I’m just happy to see her shot go down.”
Staley praised McDowell’s reliability and execution:
“We know that when we charge her with a task, she’s actually pretty good at just seeing it through. We like the fact that she’s predictable when it comes to that. It really helps us when she’s able to make shots.”
When asked about both McDowell and McDaniel earning starts in recent games, Staley emphasized their readiness:
“Great. They’re ready. They logged enough minutes to be able to play anyway. Starting lineup, being the boost off the bench. They’ve earned it. They’ve played well when their numbers been called. So it was just a matter of trying to match up. And it was nothing against Mouse not starting today. It was just everything in trying to try to figure out a good match-up.”
Team Chemistry and Development: The Tac-Tournebize Connection
One of the game’s heartwarming moments came from the connection between Adhel Tac and Alicia Tournebize. Staley’s comments revealed the importance of practice habits and team culture:
“Bless both of their souls. She (Tac) comes to practice every single day, and she is Adhel. She’s communicative. She’s energetic, and she doesn’t know whether she’s going to get a minute or not. She’s very consistent with how she approaches practice. So for her to have just a moment in which she felt comfortable. It’s great.”
On their developing chemistry and Tournebize’s comfort level:
“They’re close. They’ve taken Ali in, and Ali feels really comfortable in her skin. She’s getting more and more comfortable off the court and on the court. It was great to see them. She’s getting more comfortable. And I think the crowd helps her get comfortable. It really helps our players. There’s a certain level of comfort when they hear our fans cheer for them, positively.”
McDowell’s Defensive Identity
Discussing McDowell’s second-half performance, Staley highlighted the intangible qualities that define her game:
“She does that. I’d like to see more of her making threes because the defense is always there. An intangible piece of what she does is diving on loose balls and giving extra, multiple efforts. That is who she is. I’m happy that the ball went down, because I don’t think she’s had a three in a long time in a couple of games. While we are shorthanded, it feels pretty good, especially going into a game like Tennessee on Sunday.”
Defensive Adjustments and Zone Success
Staley credited practice preparation for the team’s defensive improvements, particularly against zone defenses:
“We had two good days of practice. So any time that we see we have some shortcomings, we work on them, and we try to fix them. The zone is something that we have worked on. Just because we have to play a bigger lineup, and they, they played it extremely well. They were moving around. They were connected.”
She noted Mississippi State’s strategic approach:
“I didn’t anticipate that they played as much zone as they did. Maybe they really looked at the A&M game, and they thought that was good. The sequence of slowing us down. They really did slow us down in the first. They anticipated us playing this a little bit more zone. Probably not on Sunday, though.”
Looking Ahead: Tennessee and Injury Status
When pressed about the availability of Ta’Niya Latson and Agot Makeer for Sunday’s Tennessee matchup, Staley remained characteristically tight-lipped:
“I’m not going to tell you. What was Ta’Niya yesterday (on the availability report)? She’s questionable.”
Conclusion
The press conference revealed a coaching staff navigating roster challenges with strategic creativity while maintaining development priorities for players throughout the rotation. With Edwards’ milestone achieved and multiple players approaching their own 1,000-point achievements, South Carolina continues building depth and chemistry heading into a pivotal SEC showdown. The Tennessee game will provide answers about player availability and test the tactical adjustments that proved successful against Mississippi State, as both teams battle for SEC supremacy at Colonial Life Arena.
