South-Carolina

South Carolina’s Kamila Cardoso, at 6-foot-7, gets leading role as the latest big for the Gamecocks

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2023

South Carolina’s Kamila Cardoso, at 6-foot-7, gets leading role as the latest big for the Gamecocks

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso has been content the past two years to come off the bench behind one of college basketball’s best in All-American teammate Aliyah Boston.

Now, with Boston excelling in the WNBA, it is up to the 6-foot-7 Cardoso to take her place front and center for the Gamecocks.

“Kamilla,” coach Dawn Staley said after practice, “has got to be dominant.”

If she is, look for the sixth-ranked Gamecocks, long on talent yet short on experience, to contend for more titles going forward.

Cardoso gave a preview of what’s ahead in an exhibition against Rutgers on Oct. 22. She hit eight of 11 shots for 17 points with five rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot in just 17 minutes of work.

“She’s putting it here,” Staley said of Cardoso’s practices, “the next step is to be dominant every play that she’s on the floor.”

That is a jump many have expected since the native of Brazil left her family as a middle-schooler to develop her game in the United States.

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso tries to get past Iowa’s Monika Czinano during the first half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinal basketball game, March 31, 2023, in Dallas. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez

Cardoso joined Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she grew about half-a-foot, learned to speak English and attracted the attention of about every Division I powerhouse. She selected Syracuse over offers from Staley and South Carolina among others.

Cardoso was Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year in 2020-21, averaging 13.6 points, eight rebounds and nearly three blocks a game. When Cardoso left the Orange that offseason, she reconnected with Staley knowing full well she would sit behind the 6-5 Boston, who was a first-team All-American that year.

Cardoso played 1,101 minutes over 68 games the past two years at South Carolina without a start.

But she and Boston became a hard-to-stop, 1-2 punch down low. They each shot better than 54 percent from the field and combined to block 136 shots on the way to the national title in 2022.

South Carolina's coach Dawn Staley argues a call during their... — South Carolina’s coach Dawn Staley argues a call during their game against Tennessee in the second half of the championship game of the Southeastern Conference women’s tournament in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 5, 2023. South Carolina 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso has been content the past two seasons playing in the shadow of All-American teammate Aliyah Boston. Now, Cardoso must step into the spotlight and be as dominant as Boston if the Gamecocks hope to continue contending for championships. It’s a role Cardoso’s coach Dawn Staley, her teammates and others say she’s been building toward the past few years. Credit: AP/Mic Smith

Boston and Cardoso increased their production last season, combining for nearly 23 points and 18 rebounds a game as the Gamecocks started 36-0 before falling in the national semifinals.

Is Cardoso capable of filling the starring role for South Carolina?

Debbie Antonelli, a former standout at North Carolina State and now a veteran TV broadcaster for the women’s game, said she believes Cardoso can. Cardoso has the talent to achieve bigger things, Antonelli saying “We’re going to do see that more and more this season.”

Cardoso’s teammates have seen that growth throughout the offseason. Raven Johnson, a third-year sophomore taking over the starting point guard position, said Cardoso has asserted herself at workouts and scrimmages this fall.

“I already know what she brings to the table,” Johnson said. “I feel like this year she’s going to show the world what Kamilla can do.”

Johnson confirmed that meant a few bruises for anyone who took the ball into Cardoso’s area. Staley has acknowledged that she has sometimes had to stoke the fire to get Cardoso to play up to her potential as she prepares for the WNBA and international play.

Besides a strong presence under the basket, Staley said Cardoso’s got to shoot more from the outside.

“She’s very, very unselfish and a lot of times, much like Aliyah, will pass out to people who shoot half her field goal percentage,” Staley explained. “Can’t do that. You can’t. You’ve got to bet on yourself sometimes.”

Cardoso showcased her drive this summer, earning MVP of the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup where she averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds as she helped Brazil defeat the United States team in the finals that featured Cardoso’s teammate in Johnson.

The season begins with an International flair, Cardoso and the Gamecocks traveling to Paris to face No. 10 Notre Dame on Nov. 6. Count on Cardoso to play a big role in the outcome in the City of Lights — and for the Gamecocks’ prospects this season.

Get alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here

Source link

Related Topics:college basketball Featured Sports Wires bot

Click to comment

South-Carolina

It's decision day for Irmo standout Donovan Murph

Published

1 hour ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

It's decision day for Irmo standout Donovan Murph

Decision day has arrived for Irmo (S.C.) class of 2025 four-star wide receiver and priority South Carolina target Donovan Murph.

The 6-foot-1.5, 190-pound wideout will announce his decision at Thursday’s Under Armour All-America game. The game itself kicks off at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 but Murph’s decision will take place right before kickoff.

South Carolina, Clemson, Colorado, Ole Miss, and Tennessee are his finalists.

“I’ve been to those schools and I’ve been able to build a connection with the coaches and staff there,” Murph told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I’ve been able to see what they’re doing. A lot of the teams are, if not Playoff teams, nine-win teams. I see a future at those schools and they’ve been able to build a relationship with me. I really feel like home at a lot of those places.”

South Carolina Transfer Portal Resources:

Murph – who holds 35 offers – took an official visit to Columbia for the Gamecocks’ game against Texas A&M on Nov. 2.

“I think just seeing the little things today and yesterday (stood out),” Murph told GamecockCentral after the visit. “We already had like a great relationship with all of the staff, but we just made it closer. But it really like solidified what Columbia is really like. So that was a big win for the team, and I’m just excited to see what they do in the future.”

Murph, who reclassified from 2026 to 2025, has built a strong relationship with receivers coach Mike Furrey.

“The couple of months that he’s been there, what stands out about him is just the type of person he is,” Murph said. “He’s a great coach from a developmental standpoint but he’s a great person as well. He just continues to talk to me about more things that’s not about football. It’s about more, it’s about life, you know, it’s about, how can how can I use football to better myself as a young man.”

Murph is the No. 291 overall prospect and No. 44 wide receiver in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. He is the No. 7 prospect in South Carolina for his class.

Source link

South-Carolina

Mizzou Women’s Basketball Set to Face No. 2 South Carolina; The Buzz, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Mizzou Women’s Basketball Set to Face No. 2 South Carolina; The Buzz, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

Just a few short years ago, the Missouri Tigers women’s basketball team knocked off No. 1 South Carolina at home.

It was quite the miracle, due to the fact that they only had eight players available heading into the game against a top opponent. They had also never beaten a No. 1 team before.

It took the Tigers past regulation time to get the 70-69 win in 2021, but they did it in the end. The final shot happened with just .1 second left on the clock.

That year, South Carolina served as their first SEC game of the season. This is also the case for the 2024-25 season. Missouri will take on the Gamecocks on Jan. 2 at 6 pm.

The Tigers had a five game win streak to their name earlier in the season, but that was lost when they fell to Oral Roberts on Dec. 18. Missouri is looking to build that streak back up following a 90-51 win against Jackson State.

This game will serve as a true test for Missouri as they kick off SEC play with one of the most talented teams in the country. They currently hold a three-game losing streak against the Gamecocks.

Today’s Schedule

Did you notice?

Three Missouri Football players officially declared for the NFL draft. Running back Marcus Carroll and defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. took to X to share their respective decisions. Running back Nate Noel shared his news with a post on instagram.

Thank You Mizzou 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/uSWMhsjCKQ
— Johnny Walker (@JohnnyW15_) January 1, 2025

Defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. ended his Mizzou career with the longest streak in the nation of consecutive games with a sack. He racked up seven in a row to close out his final season as a Tiger.

More from Mizzou On SI:

Wide Receiver, Safety Announce Returns to Mizzou for 2025 Season
Starting Trent Pierce Was an ‘Easy’ Decision for Mizzou’s Dennis Gates
‘You Have to be a Finisher”: Another Comeback Win a Perfect Ending to Mizzou’s Season

Check out our social media…

X (formerly known as Twitter): @MizzouSI
Instagram: MizzouOnSI
Facebook: Missouri Tigers On SI
YouTube

Source link

South-Carolina

3 Big Takeaways From Illinois Football’s Citrus Bowl Win Over South Carolina

Published

17 hours ago

January 1, 2025

Press Room

3 Big Takeaways From Illinois Football’s Citrus Bowl Win Over South Carolina

Games like Tuesday’s Citrus Bowl don’t come around very often for Illinois, and seasons like 2024 have been even less frequent around Champaign.

Consider that as recently as 2016-2018, the Illini were able to pull together just nine wins over a three-year stretch. With their 21-17 upset over South Carolina on New Year’s Eve, the Illini topped that total in 2024 alone – only their fifth 10-win season in program history and first since 2001.

There was plenty to process after Illinois’ fifth fourth-quarter comeback this season – this one without late-game heroics of receiver Pat Bryant – but we’ve landed on three big-picture takeaways worth breaking out:

The month between Illinois’ win over Northwestern in its regular-season finale and Tuesday’s Citrus Bowl triumph wasn’t a bye, per se, but it underscored how well Bielema teams have performed – especially in recent years – when they have extra time to prepare.

Now 6-1 coming off bye weeks, the Bielema-coached Illini were on point in just about every way against the Gamecocks. They shut down South Carolina’s biggest threat (quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ scrambling), matched Shane Beamer’s mass-substitution machinations, managed the clock effectively and committed no penalties.

Too late to recast ballots for 2024 Big Ten Coach of the Year?

Reports of the Big Ten’s death, as it turns out, were exaggerated. Indiana’s 10-point loss to Notre Dame has somehow been held up as the avatar for all that is wrong with the College Football Playoff and the supposed overblown reputation of the Big Ten. But let’s take stock of just the past 10 days, shall we?

Penn State smashed SMU. Ohio State took Tennessee to the woodshed. You can still smell the lamination on USC’s Big Ten credentials, but the Trojans still topped Texas A&M. Nebraska topped Boston College, Penn State slapped around Boise State and, in what had been considered to be an embarrassment of a season for the reigning national champions, Michigan beat No. 11 Alabama.

So much whining about Bama having been denied its rightful place in the CFP. So little proof.

Meanwhile, Illinois did its part to rep the Big Ten, and quarterback Luke Altmyer wasn’t shy about sharing his feelings of vindication after the Illini’s win over the Gamecocks – particularly when faced with that special brand of SEC snobbery.

#illini QB Luke Altmyer said some South Carolina players thought they were Syracuse at a combined team event this week.
“Been hearing all this talk about SEC, SEC in the playoff and things like that, and I’m just tired of the disrespect. Illinois has been a disrespected program… pic.twitter.com/i5o3ECvAdb
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 1, 2025

It’s silly for anyone outside an organization to pretend to know exactly what’s going on behind the curtain, but as a natural cynic who has covered Illinois football for more than 30 years across seven coaching regimes, I’ll say this: These Illini seem different.

Bielema has a plan and values culture (practicing, not merely preaching it), which means he’s simpatico with athletic director Josh Whitman. And it’s amazing what can be accomplished when you throw smart, experienced people into the same boat and they all row in the same direction together. That has been the mark of Illinois athletics in recent years, but it has also been the m.o. of Bielema’s program, seemingly from top to bottom.

The last few steps to the top of the mountain are the hardest, and you know what they say about staying there. Solving NIL will be the key to Illinois’ long-term success, but a 10-win season culminating in a Citrus Bowl win over an SEC team that many believed belonged in the CFP should help properly equip the Illini for the climb.