LIVE REACTION: South Carolina’s Streak Ends, but No Panic for the Gamecocks
The South Carolina Gamecocks handled business against Georgia, but their historic 57-game SEC winning streak came to an end with a tough road loss to Texas. With the dust settling, let’s break down what we learned from this weekend.
1. No Need to Panic – The Gamecocks Are Still on Top
Losing a conference game every few years? That’s normal. In fact, the last time South Carolina dropped a regular-season SEC matchup, they went on to win the national championship.
Despite the loss, the Gamecocks remain in first place in the SEC—and if the season ended today, a coin flip would decide whether South Carolina or Texas takes the top seed in the SEC Tournament. Plus, the Gamecocks are still projected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, this weekend’s loss puts even more importance on the upcoming UConn showdown.
What’s more, there simply aren’t many teams built like Texas. The Longhorns’ style presents a difficult matchup for South Carolina, which makes the Gamecocks’ dominant 17-point win over them last month even more impressive.
The loss also serves as a valuable learning experience. There were at least a dozen moments where the Gamecocks could look back and say, “If we did this differently, we win.”
2. Offensive Struggles Still Linger
Shooting just 36.8% from the field on Sunday? Not ideal. The only other time South Carolina shot that poorly this season was against UCLA (36.4%). Notice a trend?
Both were road losses to top-five opponents, and the offensive struggles were glaring:
- At UCLA: Only one fast break point and 11 points off turnovers.
- At Texas: Just 13 fast break points and six points off turnovers.
While South Carolina’s offense has improved since November, some issues persist. The Gamecocks thrive on forcing turnovers and converting them into easy points. But when that doesn’t happen, their half-court offense gets exposed.
One key factor: No true post presence. Joyce Edwards has stepped up as the go-to option, but she struggles against bigger, more physical opponents like UCLA and Texas. Outside of Edwards, the Gamecocks still lack a reliable lineup or go-to set when they desperately need a bucket.
Shooting struggles also played a role. Te-Hina Paopao (2-7), Tessa Johnson (1-3), and Bree Hall (2-4) all had good looks from deep but couldn’t capitalize. Those are shots South Carolina can live with, but they need to fall in big games.
Another concern? Free throw struggles. Over the last six games, South Carolina has been inconsistent at the line, and it’s fair to wonder if fatigue is creeping in after a grueling January schedule.
The Gamecocks won’t get much rest either. Their SEC bye week is being used for a massive non-conference battle against UConn. However, with several weaker SEC opponents ahead, they should have a chance to manage minutes and recover.
3. MiLaysia Fulwiley is Still a Star
At times, it feels like MiLaysia Fulwiley has become an afterthought this season. Maybe it’s because her stats are slightly down, maybe it’s because we’ve grown accustomed to her jaw-dropping plays, or maybe it’s because Joyce Edwards is the new rising star.
But make no mistake—Fulwiley is still special.
She led South Carolina with 13 points, three steals, and three assists against Texas. Even more impressively, she had zero turnovers and played outstanding defense. And she did it all while rocking her brand-new player edition Curry Brand shoes.
Much like the SEC Championship Game against LSU, when Texas tried to bully South Carolina, it was Fulwiley who proved to be too quick, too strong, and too athletic to be contained.
Had she not missed four crucial minutes in the fourth quarter with an arm issue, the Gamecocks might have pulled off the win.
What’s Next?
The Gamecocks return home to face Florida before heading into a huge showdown with UConn. Can they bounce back and prove they’re still the team to beat? Stay tuned!
