Four Biggest Questions Facing South Carolina as Preseason Practice Begins / sportsearchers.com

Monday marks the start of preseason practice across college basketball, and while Dawn Staley likes to point out it’s really just the day “offseason” practice technically becomes “preseason” practice, the season is undeniably drawing near. With that in mind, here are four major questions facing South Carolina over the next six weeks.

1. Who Handles Point Guard?

The point guard position remains unsettled entering the season — and it’s likely to stay a talking point well into the year. This was supposed to be the season Maddy McDaniel finally took over after two years of development, but her offseason departure left Tessa Johnson and Agot Makeer, both emergency fill-ins last season, as the most experienced options remaining. The uncertainty was significant enough that Staley added fifth-year transfer Brooke Quarles Daniels in August — a late addition that speaks to real concern about the position. The staff also has to determine whether freshman Jerzy Robinson can contribute there as well.

2. Managing a Long List of Injuries

Six players are working back from some form of injury heading into the season: Ashlyn Watkins, Chloe Kitts, Adhel Tac, Alicia Tournebize, Kaeli Wynn, and Kelsi Andrews, with severity ranging from season-ending to minor day-to-day concerns. Given South Carolina’s difficult schedule, the priority is ensuring the roster peaks by March rather than rushing players back too early — even if that means holding someone out in November for the sake of long-term health. The concern is real, as noted with Kitts: “remember back in the spring when Kitts was spotted shooting jumpers after practice, only she hadn’t been cleared to jump yet?” Both players and coaches will need to stay disciplined and pragmatic through the process.

3. Team Chemistry With So Much Talent

While a good problem to have, South Carolina faces a genuine challenge in blending its roster. The team returns 169 combined career starts, headlined by multiple All-Americans, an SEC Tournament MVP, and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. On top of that returning core, the Gamecocks add 118 career starts from newcomers who’ve reached two Final Fours and an Elite Eight, plus a loaded recruiting class featuring two top-six national recruits. Fitting all that talent into defined roles is a real task — and given South Carolina’s brutal non-conference schedule, the team doesn’t have the luxury of a slow build; it needs to be playing well within just six weeks.

4. Managing Expectations Across the Roster

Closely tied to the chemistry question is how coaches manage expectations, particularly for newcomers who may see less playing time than they’re used to. Without many “guarantee” games early in the schedule, and with Staley historically leaning on experience in close games, newer players could grow frustrated watching peers elsewhere in the country accrue more minutes or stats. The staff also has to guard against letting any early-season losses spiral into a larger, season-long confidence issue.

South Carolina’s approach to navigating all of this is already reflected in this year’s team theme, “Pro” — built around the concepts of “program,” “process,” and “progress,” all deliberately team-first, big-picture ideas meant to keep individual expectations in check while reinforcing the broader mission ahead of a season carrying real championship weight.