South-Carolina
South Carolina women's basketball: Three things we learned from last week
South Carolina has cruised to a 4-0 record in the SEC. Here’s what we learned from the sweep of the Texas teams, including a statement win over the no. 5 Longhorns.
1. The offense is fixed
After the loss to UCLA, I wrote that South Carolina’s offense was broken. Here’s what I wrote the next day:
“There were frequent possessions on Sunday when I would watch an offensive possession and have no clue what the Gamecocks were trying to accomplish.”
I added that it was fixable, and they have definitely fixed it. Since the Christmas break, South Carolina has scored 93, 83, 95, 90, and 67 points. The last game was the best proof of how far they come.
Even when scoring 67, the Gamecocks shot 71% in the first half and 51% for the game. Despite committing a season-high 22 turnovers, Dawn Staley was happy with the offense.
“It’s all about taking good shots,” Staley said. “I think you can have a night, as far as having as many turnovers as we had, with taking good shots, you lose games taking bad shots. And for us, we were finally getting to that point where we’re taking better shots, and we’re taking rhythm shots, and it’s paying off, especially in the game like this.”
South Carolina has found its identity. Spread the floor, move the ball around, and run the floor. They sprinkle in some post-ups with Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts, but mostly, they play face-up basketball and get open looks by moving the ball around.
2. The defense is still elite
While the offense struggled earlier in the season, Staley consistently said she wasn’t worried about the defensive end of the court. The performance didn’t always back that up, but it is now.
Texas entered Sunday’s game with one of the best offenses in the country: sixth in field goal percentage (49.6%), first in free throws made and attempted (19.2/25.4), fourth in scoring offense (90.4 points), and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34).
The Gamecocks held the Longhorns to 27.8% shooting, 5-10 free throws, 50 points, and a 0.58 assist-to-turnover ratio. All were season-lows.
[South Carolina-LSU WBB: Win tickets]
South Carolina did it without Ashlyn Watkins, the Gamecocks’ best defender. So what’s working?
It starts with all the athletically gifted defenders South Carolina has, but the key to defense is effort and commitment. Nobody exemplifies that more than MiLaysia Fulwiley. Her focus wanders at times, but latel,y she has been locked in.
It was on display in the third quarter. After a Texas flop drew a charge on Chloe Kitts, Staley called Fulwiley over. From their body language, it was clear Staley told her to go get the ball back (it’s not on the broadcast so you’ll have to take my word for it). Fulwiley initially knocked the ball away from Rori Harmon, and then after Harmon recovered, drew the offensive foul.
“When Lay’s locked in, she impacts it on both sides of the basketball,” Staley said. “I would like for her to really understand her power from a defensive standpoint. So we’re always encouraging her. The only reason why she comes out of the game is her not defending.”
3. Watkins has become South Carolina’s rallying point
Let’s make one thing crystal clear: There is no way, shape, or form in which the Gamecocks are a better team without Ashlyn Watkins.
But…
Losing Watkins seems to have given her teammates something to rally around. Last season was all about the Revenge Tour, even for the players who weren’t around two seasons ago. The Repeat Tour clearly didn’t carry the same weight this season.
Now the other frontcourt players know they need to step up and Staley said they are playing more “free.” The guards, like Fulwiley, seem more committed to playing all-around basketball. They’ve found the proverbial chip on their shoulder.
“I’m really proud of them,” Staley said. “They’re playing together. They’re playing for Ashlyn. They’re playing to make sure people don’t look at us as not contenders.”
“The biggest thing for us is we play for each other,” Bree Hall said.
Sooners On SI will break down Oklahoma’s 2026 schedule, opponent by opponent, for a series dubbed “Know Your Foe.” You can look forward to an opponent breakdown each day. Catch up by checking out the preview for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Former Oklahoma assistant coach Shane Beamer finds himself on shaky ground heading into 2026. This is a make-or-break year for Beamer, whose South Carolina squad retained a great deal of talent while also adding some exciting names.
For Beamer, it could very well come down to how his team performs in his second game in Norman as an opposing head coach.
How the Sooners enter their third consecutive matchup with the Gamecocks could very well tell us how the rest of the 2026 season is going to go. South Carolina is banking on experience to extend Beamer’s future.
How will the Sooners fare against the Gamecocks? But first, some history.
Past Battles
South Carolina has been sort of a spotlight game for Oklahoma in their initial two seasons in the SEC.
In 2024, following their second loss of the season, the Sooners returned to Norman with their sights set on rebounding with a win to set up a strong finish. Those hopes were dashed immediately when the Gamecocks scored 21 points in the blink of an eye, leading to a comfortable victory. OU’s season would not rebound.
2025 saw the Sooners in a similar spot. After losing their first game of the season to Texas, OU traveled to Columbia for the first time ever hoping to rebound. They didjust that—setting them up to have an opportunity for a strong finish.
Returning Starters
The dynamic LaNorris Sellers returned to Columbia despite rumors speculating that he may try and find greener pastures elsewhere. This was more than good news for Beamer. Sellers’ big play ability keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Wide receiver Nyck Harbor followed suit by returning to South Carolina as well. Harbor gives Sellers and the USC offense a gamebreaking factor that pairs well with Sellers’ capabilities. Last year, Harbor scored six touchdowns and had three games of 100 or more yards receiving.
Edge rusher Dylan Stewart—who OU was able to avoid last year following a hip injury sustained early in the first quarter—also announced he would return for a final season of college ball. At 6-6, 250 pounds, Stewart projects as one of the more talented defensive players in the country.
New Faces
With 25 new players via the transfer portal, Beamer left no stone unturned to try and right the wrongs of 2025.
After sitting out the last two seasons due to injuries and some legal trouble, Jayden Gibson landed in Columbia to attempt to revive his career. When he was healthy in 2023, Gibson proved to be a valuable pass catcher with his size and hands.
Big 6-5 tight end Max Drag chose to play for the Gamecocks following a career jumping from Appalachin State to UCF. Drag was primarily used as a blocker, which bodes well for USC’s QB-run oriented attack.
Linebacker Kelby Collins came in from Alabama. In a rotational role, Collins earned two sacks and three tackles for loss last year. Oklahoma saw Collins twice in 2025.
Key Departures
Edge rusher Byrant Thomas Jr. entered the draft, taking away USC’s one-two punch at defensive end. Thomas’ blend of size and speed made him a force on the defensive line for South Carolina.
Big play pass catcher Vandrevious Jacobs took his 17 yards per catch talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Hurricanes.
Tight end Michael Smith was on his way to a promising start of his Gamecock career following a solid true freshman outing in 2024, but was limited last season due to injuries.
Schedule Placement
For OU, the back half of their schedule begins after hosting USC. With two tough home games bookended by two tough road games, Oklahoma’s matchup with the Gamecocks could prove pivotal for how the rest of the season goes.
If the Sooners navigated their initial brutal three games of Michigan, Georgia and Texas well, then by the time they’ve made it to late October, the Gamecocks should only serve to provide Oklahoma as a final open-book test sort of matchup.
But if OU goes 1-2 or worse in those initial three games, then the Sooners may be fighting for their season’s very life hosting the Gamecocks.
USC finds OU on the crucible section of their schedule. The Gamecocks travel to Knoxville the week before Norman, only to then play Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia and Clemson.
South Carolina women’s basketball starting guard Tessa Johnson was not listed on the injury report Feb. 28 for the Gamecocks’ final regular-season game at Kentucky.
Johnson was practicing on Feb. 27 after missing the 112-71 win over Missouri, but coach Dawn Staley wouldn’t confirm her status for the next game.
No. 3 South Carolina (28-2, 14-1) travels to play No. 18 Kentucky (21-8, 8-7 SEC) on March 1 (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network) to close the regular season.
South Carolina called it an “upper body contusion” on social media not long after she was listed as out on the SEC injury report that published an hour before tipoff vs Missouri.
Staley joked that media would post on social media that Johnson was practicing with the starters, setting the tone that she isn’t hiding the latest on Johnson’s health.
Johnson is a junior guard averaging 13.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. She leads the SEC in 3-point shooting at 45.5%, which is also eighth in the nation.
Johnson struggled in her two most recent games. She went combined 2-of-13 for six points against Alabama and Ole Miss, just after going 8-of-13 for 21 points against LSU.
Staley said sophomore reserve post/center Adhel Tac is day to day dealing with a lower leg injury. Tac hasn’t played since Feb. 5. She’s still using a medical scooter to move around and has been sitting out practices. She was listed as out again vs Kentucky.
Tessa Johnson injury update, status for Kentucky
The Wildcats have talented guards who can score and defend, in addition to post players like 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack, who averages 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. Tonie Morgan scores 14.4 points and dishes a nation-high 8.3 assists a game.
Johnson is third in the nation in 3-point shooting at 45.5%. By posing a threat behind the arc, players like Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot get more action in the paint.
Raven Johnson hit a career-high four 3-pointers against Missouri and Maddy McDaniel drained two, but there’s no denying how much Johnson elevates the offense.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
BLUFFTON, S.C. – Kentucky men’s golf begins the month of March at the Colleton River Collegiate this Sunday and Monday at Colleton River Club (par 72, 7403 yards).
UK joins a 15-team field for the 54-hole event, which will consist of 36 holes of continuous play on Sunday, followed by 18 holes on Monday. An 8 a.m. shotgun start will kick things off on Sunday, while Monday’s final round will begin with another shotgun start, this time at 7:45 a.m.
UK is paired with Indiana, Kansas State and Ohio State for the first day of play.
The Wildcats will utilize the same starting five, albeit in a different order, as was featured at the Watersound Invitational just two weeks ago. There, the Cats finished seventh in a loaded field and found themselves as high as third place during the final nine holes.
Sophomore Jacob Settles had the best showing of his collegiate career, finishing tied for seventh at 5-under par, while senior captain Jack Schoenberger had his highest finish of the season, placing tied for 14th at 2-under.
Jacob Lang, Luke Coyle and Cole Stockard will complete UK’s starting five alongside Settles and Schoenberger, the fourth time in six events the Wildcats have featured this starting unit.
Freshman Cameron Phillips will tee it up as an individual once again after an impressive showing in the same role at the Watersound where he tied for 29th and had two rounds under par.
Fans can follow along with live scoring on the Scoreboard Powered by Clippd website.
Kentucky Lineup:
- Jack Schoenberger: Senior, Alpharetta, Ga
- Jacob Lang: Sophomore, Alvaton, Ky.
- Jacob Settles: Sophomore, Winchester, Ky
- Luke Coyle: Junior, Campbellsville, Ky.
- Cole Stockard: Freshman, Dalton, Ga.
Ind. Cameron Phillips: Freshman, Portsmouth, Ohio
Competing Schools (15): Chattanooga, Cincinnati, ETSU, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers
For the latest on UK Men’s Golf follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram @UKmensgolf, and online at ukathletics.com.
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