South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley addressed the media ahead of Thursday’s road matchup at Auburn, offering insights into opponent Larry Vickers’ coaching, her team’s evolving identity, and individual player development following their statement victory over Vanderbilt.
Respecting Auburn’s Athletic Identity
Staley has previously complimented Auburn head coach Larry Vickers for his coaching acumen, and she expanded on what makes his Tigers dangerous despite being in his first season with the program.
“Well, I don’t think he has all his playbook in. I think he’s playing to the strength of his team, and they got some incredible athletes that like to fly around,” Staley said. “They like to challenge you to keep them in front of them. So, it’s a game in which we have to control the paint, because they like to just put their heads down and go, and actually they have the personnel to do that.”
Staley anticipates Auburn will employ aggressive tactics, including full-court pressure and relentless rebounding efforts. She characterized the matchup as one where intangibles—will, effort, and determination—could prove as important as execution.
“They’re pretty scrappy, so they’ll probably press us. They’ll probably go after every rebound. So, it’s an intangible type of game where their will, our will, and then all the things that you need to do to win basketball games,” she explained.
Paint Control Remains Non-Negotiable
When asked about the importance of controlling the paint—an area South Carolina dominated against Vanderbilt—Staley was emphatic about its centrality to the Gamecocks’ identity.
“I mean, that’s what we do. When we don’t control the paint, there’s an issue. There’s an issue with our offense and what we’re trying to do and what we’re prioritizing,” Staley stated. “So it’s a game that will challenge that as well.”
The emphasis on interior dominance reflects South Carolina’s commitment to leveraging their size and athleticism advantages, particularly through players like Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot.
Lineup Flexibility: A Game-by-Game Approach
Staley declined to commit to continuing with the starting lineup adjustment that worked brilliantly against Vanderbilt, when she started Agot Makeer and brought Okot off the bench.
“It’s a game-by-game. I won’t tell you today though,” Staley said with a smile. “So, we’ll at some point have that lineup in and hopefully capitalize like we did last game.”
The flexibility demonstrates Staley’s willingness to make tactical adjustments based on specific matchups rather than adhering to rigid rotations.
Vanderbilt Performance as the New Standard
The dominant 103-74 victory over Vanderbilt represented South Carolina’s most complete performance of the season. Staley emphasized using that game as a blueprint for sustainable excellence.
“Once you’ve seen it and felt it and you were a part of it, that becomes our standard,” Staley explained. “So any time that you outdo yourself or play to what you feel is your best basketball, it can reoccur. Like, it doesn’t have to be the only time.”
She revealed her coaching approach following such performances focuses heavily on positive reinforcement rather than criticism.
“What you do is you watch film and you praise them for exactly what went on, and you probably do that a lot more than just beat them up, because we beat them up in film sessions where we have lapses,” Staley said. “This one was more of, let’s just continue to grow their confidence and keep their confidence at an all-time high by showing them when we are connected, this is how we play. When we play as a unit, when we share the basketball, everybody can be satisfied at the end of the day.”
Joyce Edwards: Complete Player Development
Edwards’ six assists against Vanderbilt highlighted her growth as a playmaker, not just a scorer. Staley clarified that her expectations for the National Player of the Year candidate encompass all facets of the game.
“Well I want Joyce to score and be a playmaker. It is both,” Staley emphasized. “I just think she is a key component to our success offensively. She’s capable of doing it all. Scoring, passing, rebounding, and when you’re capable of doing it all, and when you don’t do it all the time, you gotta point it out.”
Staley pushed back against the glorification of scoring at the expense of overall contribution.
“Scoring is glorious, and scoring is the very thing that people glorify. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re excelling,” she noted. “Joyce is just capable of doing all those things and me and the staff feel it, and I hope she felt good about her game.”
The coach identified Edwards’ performance against Vanderbilt as potentially her best in a South Carolina uniform, surpassing even her impressive showing against Texas.
“I think Vandy has superseded that. Just her ability, impact on both sides of the ball, and do it effortlessly,” Staley said.
Defensive Starts and Momentum
South Carolina’s aggressive defensive start against Vanderbilt set the tone for the entire game. Staley acknowledged the importance of establishing dominance early, particularly in SEC play.
“Getting off to a good start is incredibly important to any team, especially when you’re playing an SEC school, because momentum shifts very, very quickly,” Staley explained. “If you can get off to a great start and kind of put them back on their heels and kind of give them a taste of how the game is going to go, then the flow may change.”
She noted that while various factors—a great play, foul trouble—can shift momentum, establishing early intensity provides crucial advantages.
“We certainly want to start as quick as we started against Vandy,” Staley added.
Tessa Johnson: Evolution Beyond Three-Point Shooting
The SEC’s leading three-point shooter (46.6%) is developing into a more complete offensive threat, according to Staley.
“I’ve seen Tessa use her voice a lot more. I’ve seen her just not settle on just shooting threes, although it’s a great shot for her,” Staley said. “Her midrange game is equally as good, but I’ve seen her be aggressive and attack the basket. She’s doing it at all three levels.”
Staley identified playmaking as the next frontier for Johnson’s development.
“Where she does have to get better is just playmaking a little bit more, just to get the defense to not think about you as a scorer so much,” Staley explained. “And once she starts completing that—and she did a little bit of that, she keeps doing a little bit of it—but when that becomes part of her game, I think the sky is the limit for her and whoever gets her at the next level.”
The Shooter’s Mentality
When asked about Johnson’s work ethic, Staley offered fascinating insight into the psychology of elite shooters.
“Oh, it’s unmatched. Unmatched,” Staley said emphatically. “Tessa’s always in [the gym shooting]. She’s shooting now, she shoots before, she shoots after. She didn’t like her performance at Texas, so she got in the gym.”
Staley elaborated on what makes shooters unique mentally.
“Shooters are a little…” she said, pointing at her head. “They’re just made up that way. There’s a fluidness to them. There’s a rhythm to what they’re doing, and a missed shot can—I mean, one miss will shake them a little bit, two missed shots, three missed shots, four missed shots. Yeah, they got to get back at it. They’re obsessive with it.”
Rather than viewing this obsessiveness negatively, Staley embraced it as a strength.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. I think when your work ethic drives you to wanting to be perfect, you’re gonna end up somewhere pretty good in the rankings overall,” she concluded.
Looking Ahead
As South Carolina prepares for Auburn, Staley’s comments reveal a team focused on maintaining the standards established against Vanderbilt while respecting an opponent capable of creating chaos through athleticism and effort. The Gamecocks’ ability to control the paint, execute defensively from the opening tip, and continue developing complete players like Edwards and Johnson will determine whether they can extend their 16-game winning streak against the Tigers and build momentum for the challenging February schedule ahead.
