South-Carolina
What lessons South Carolina women’s basketball learned in narrow victory vs Georgia
COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball hasn’t had to scratch and claw in many of its victories this season.
The ones they did came against tough teams like North Carolina, LSU and Tennessee. On Sunday, with bottom-of-the-SEC Georgia in town, the Gamecocks (25-0, 12-0 SEC) were expected to roll.
Instead, with ESPN’s “College GameDay” in town and the fourth sell-out crowd of South Carolina’s season, it was the Bulldogs (11-14, 2-10) who entered with the energy and momentum usually expected of the nation’s No. 1 team.
Thanks to a 21-point second-half advantage, the Gamecocks fought their way to a 70-56 win, but they have struggled in two straight games, and coach Dawn Staley said it was their time for a slump.
“Some teams have gone through this all season long,” she said. “For us, it’s our turn. We don’t want it to be, but it’s our turn to work through the next step of continuing to improve on things.”
Even while the Gamecocks work through a miniature skid, however, they’re still breaking records. The win against Georgia was their 43rd consecutive regular-season SEC victory, breaking a record held by Tennessee. They also became the first SEC program to start 25-0 in back-to-back seasons.
“We’ve been fortunate that we learn lessons through winning,” Staley said. “You don’t want to take a loss and learn a lesson. Lessons are right there in front of us — we just have to do a better job of executing.”
One lesson she emphasized to her team on Sunday: An open shot isn’t always a good shot.
The Gamecocks forced 17 3-point attempts before halftime, making just six and digging a seven-point deficit. They took only eight shots within the arc in the half, a trend they worked to reverse after the break.
“Our coaches told us to be smart, be disciplined,” freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley said. “We were just going up there and making things harder than they were supposed to be. Once we settled down and did what Coach wanted us to do, I feel like we started to make great plays.”
Staley said South Carolina moved the ball better in the second half, allowing the offense to find soft spots in Georgia’s defense, especially for senior center Kamilla Cardoso, who had plenty of room to work in the second half and recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds. She finished the game with team highs with 16 points, 16 rebounds and tying for five assists. Sophomore forward Chloe Kitts was able to work off Cardoso’s success, adding 10 of her 12 points in the half.
“(Cardoso) was being super aggressive,” Kitts said. “She was using her moves we work on in practice. Five assists — she’s not just worried about herself, she likes playing with her teammates.”
The Gamecocks also switched up the defensive strategy against Georgia fifth-year forward Javyn Nicholson. After she went for 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half, Staley opted to roll with Cardoso against Nicholson instead of Kitts.
The added length Cardoso brought on defense helped slow Nicholson, who scored just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting in the second half. She finished the game with a season-high 27 points and 12 rebounds.
SOUTH CAROLINA MEN’S BASKETBALL: South Carolina basketball loses to LSU on free throws in final seconds
The Gamecocks whittled their magic number to 1; they can clinch a share of the SEC title and the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament with a win Wednesday at home against Alabama.
South Carolina has the luxury of possessing talent that allows wins like Sunday’s, when it needs a comeback to win a game in which it struggled early. With a team full of new starters after roster turnover from last season, Staley said that would make an SEC title a little sweeter.
“It’s a work in progress,” she said. “We’ve got to get it together because it just gets tougher and tougher as we continue down this road, down the end of the season into the postseason.”
South-Carolina
Former Western Kentucky Offensive Lineman Rodney Newsom to Transfer to South Carolina
South Carolina continues to bolster its offensive line depth, as former Western Kentucky guard Rodney Newsom is expected to transfer to the Gamecocks
Newsom, who was one of the top-performing interior offensive linemen in Conference USA this season, brings experience and proven ability to the South Carolina offensive line unit. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Newsom earned the fourth-highest grade among all Conference USA guards in 2023 and boasted the second-highest pass-blocking grade in the conference.
Standing out with his versatility and ability to protect the quarterback, Newsom’s addition is a significant move for South Carolina as they aim to strengthen their trenches ahead of next season.
Newsom’s impact was also recognized nationally. On3 Sports recently ranked him as one of the top 10 interior offensive linemen in the transfer portal, citing his consistency, technical skill, and high ceiling.
South Carolina’s offensive line has faced challenges in recent years, but the Gamecocks have prioritized recruiting and transfer portal additions to shore up the position. With Newsom expected to join the program, he could compete for a starting role immediately and provide veteran leadership to a young and developing offensive line group.
This move also highlights South Carolina’s ability to recruit high-caliber talent from the portal, especially players who excel in specific areas like pass protection. Head coach Shane Beamer and his staff continue to address critical needs, ensuring that the team has the depth and talent necessary to compete in the SEC.
With his experience at Western Kentucky and a proven track record, Newsom has the tools to make an immediate impact in Columbia.
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South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is probably popping bottles of champagne to celebrate his new QB addition.
Former Ohio State QB Air Noland announced Monday night that he’s taking his talents from Columbus to the Gamecocks in Columbia.
He has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting in 2024. You can check out his official announcement below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
Air Noland transfers from Ohio State to South Carolina.
For those who might have forgotten, Air Noland was supposed to be the next big time player for the Buckeyes. Ryan Day’s staff convinced him to commit over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M, Utah and several other major programs.
The consensus top-10 QB recruit ultimately landed with the Buckeyes, and he didn’t last long. It’s not too different from Quinn Ewers also taking a redshirt and then dipping out.
Why is he leaving? There are likely many reasons, but the Buckeyes are also grooming former five-star recruit Julian Sayin to be QB1 and five-star recruit Tavien St. Clair is a member of the incoming class. There’s only so much room for QBs on the roster, and Air Noland must have thought he was about to be the odd man out.
Former Ohio State QB Air Noland transferred to South Carolina. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
As for South Carolina, Beamer just landed himself a legit QB prospect with plenty of potential. The young man had so many suitors coming out of high school because he’s ridiculously talented. Now, he’s stacking up talent in the QB room.
Starting LaNorris Sellers will remain the starter in 2025 and then could end up leaving for the NFL after his redshirt sophomore season. That would mean Noland would sit for another year developing and then could be the runaway favorite to be the starting QB for Shane Beamer’s program.
It’s best to have options, and that’s exactly what the South Carolina coach now has.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer added Air Noland to his QB room. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
What do you think of the transfer addition? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
The Kentucky Wildcats have the chance to land another cornerback out of the portal, this time via Ball State’s Myles Norwood.
In an interview with Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Norwood said that he is planning to commit on Christmas Day and that his visits are over. Norwood is down to the Cats and South Carolina.
“[I’m looking for] the best fit for me and where I see myself going in and making an immediate impact. I want to go somewhere that will change my life in 2025,” Norwood said.
Norwood visited Kentucky this past weekend and spoke about the culture that Mark Stoops is trying to rebuild after a disastrous 2024 season in Lexington:
“What stood out the most to me was the coaching staff, the defensive scheme, and the culture Coach Stoops is trying to bring back after this past season,” Norwood said. “They see me fitting in either playing as a nickel or a corner. I bring versatility and intelligence to play either. I have to come in and compete for a spot. Nothing is given.”
Norwood has one year of eligibility remaining after beginning his career at Iowa State before landing at Ball State.
With Maxwell Hairston off to the NFL Draft, Kentucky could use some more firepower at cornerback.
Will Norwood answer the call?
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