South Carolina vs. North Carolina: Key Concerns, Players to Watch and What the Gamecocks Must Improve
As South Carolina prepares for its matchup against North Carolina, there are several important areas Dawn Staley and her coaching staff will want to address. Despite opening the season with a 101-93 victory over Maryland in Paris, the Gamecocks have some concerns to resolve before facing a talented Tar Heels squad.
South Carolina demonstrated its offensive firepower in the season opener, but its second-half performance exposed areas that could become costly against stronger competition.
From maintaining defensive intensity to finding opportunities for more players in the rotation, here are some of the biggest storylines heading into the matchup.
Two Major Things to Watch for South Carolina
1. Avoiding Another Second-Half Collapse
One of the biggest concerns coming out of South Carolina’s season opener was the team’s inability to maintain its dominance throughout the entire game.
The Gamecocks established a commanding 31-point advantage against Maryland, putting themselves in an excellent position to secure a comfortable victory. However, that cushion nearly disappeared as Maryland mounted an impressive second-half comeback.
South Carolina eventually escaped with a 101-93 victory, but the closing stages offered an important reminder that maintaining concentration and defensive intensity for all four quarters is essential.
Against a competitive North Carolina team, the Gamecocks cannot afford another extended stretch of inconsistent basketball.
Dawn Staley’s team will need to demonstrate better defensive discipline, limit its opponents’ scoring opportunities and maintain control when holding a substantial lead.
The ability to finish games as strongly as they start could become one of South Carolina’s biggest determining factors this season.
2. When Will Big Oh and Adhel Tac Get Their Opportunities?
Another storyline surrounding the Gamecocks is the availability and playing time of highly regarded young players Oliviyah Edwards and Adhel Tac.
Edwards, a former five-star recruit who finished No. 3 in last year’s recruiting class, did not feature in South Carolina’s season opener against Maryland.
During Friday’s media availability, Staley addressed the situation, explaining that both Edwards and Tac probably should have received playing time but ultimately missed out because of how the game unfolded.
Staley indicated that had South Carolina maintained its commanding lead instead of allowing Maryland to make a significant comeback, there would have been more opportunities to distribute minutes among other players, including Edwards and Tac.
Their absence from the rotation is therefore an interesting development to monitor.
Both players bring potential depth and additional options to South Carolina’s roster. As the season progresses, their opportunities to contribute could become increasingly important.
The question now is when Staley will find the right circumstances to expand their roles and give them opportunities to showcase their abilities.
South Carolina and North Carolina: Two Players to Watch
Beyond the team storylines, individual performances could have a significant influence on the outcome. Both programs have talented young guards who deserve attention.
South Carolina G Agot Makeer: Building on a Career-Best Performance
Agot Makeer enters this matchup following an outstanding performance in South Carolina’s season-opening victory over Maryland.
The sophomore guard delivered one of the most impressive outings of her young collegiate career, finishing with a career-high 20 points in Paris.
Her shooting numbers were particularly impressive:
- 20 points
- 8-of-10 shooting from the field
- Four three-pointers, a new career high.
Makeer’s ability to score efficiently from different areas of the floor provided another glimpse of the offensive potential she possesses.
Her performance was especially encouraging because of how effectively she converted her opportunities. She demonstrated confidence as a scorer and showed that she could make a meaningful contribution alongside South Carolina’s established stars.
As the Gamecocks prepare for North Carolina, Makeer will be someone worth watching closely.
If she can carry that shooting confidence into another contest, she could become an important offensive weapon for Staley’s team.
North Carolina G Kate Harpring: Freshman Already Making Her Presence Felt
On the opposite side, Kate Harpring is another young player attracting considerable attention.
The highly regarded freshman made an immediate impression during North Carolina’s season opener against Oklahoma in Paris, despite the Tar Heels suffering a defeat.
Harpring, who was ranked the No. 4 recruit in the 2026 recruiting class, finished with an impressive statistical performance:
- 21 points
- Six rebounds
- Five assists
- Two steals
One particularly notable detail was her shooting volume. Harpring attempted 26 shots in her first collegiate appearance, suggesting that North Carolina is prepared to place considerable offensive responsibility on the talented freshman.
Her ability to contribute as both a scorer and playmaker makes her an important part of the Tar Heels’ offensive plans.
South Carolina will need to pay close attention to her movements, limit her scoring opportunities and prevent her from becoming comfortable offensively.
Harpring has already demonstrated that she is capable of making an immediate impact at the college level, and her matchup against South Carolina will provide another major opportunity to establish herself.
Final Takeaway
South Carolina enters its matchup against North Carolina following an entertaining but somewhat concerning season-opening victory.
The 101-93 win over Maryland demonstrated the Gamecocks’ offensive capabilities, but nearly surrendering a 31-point advantage highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency throughout an entire game.
Meanwhile, the situations involving Oliviyah Edwards and Adhel Tac remain worth monitoring as Staley continues evaluating her rotation.
On the positive side, Agot Makeer’s career-high 20-point performance provides another encouraging development for South Carolina, while North Carolina freshman Kate Harpring presents a challenging matchup after her impressive 21-point debut.
The Gamecocks have plenty of talent, but their next challenge will require more than offensive production.
Can South Carolina deliver four complete quarters, get contributions from its emerging players and slow down North Carolina’s talented freshman?
Those are the major questions heading into the matchup.
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