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Staley looks to reshape roster in her own image

Difficult schedule awaits new-look team as Gamecocks look to end NCAA drought

Written by JOSEPH PERSON

jperson@thestate.com
Posted on 10.09.08
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South Carolina turned over nearly half its roster, which includes twice as many newcomers as seniors.

But to first-year coach Dawn Staley, they all look like new players.

“The slate is clean for everybody. Everybody’s starting from ground zero,” Staley said Wednesday. “Whatever’s the most impressive collection of players, we’ll put on the floor.”

USC returns two starters from last year’s 16-16 squad: Forward Demetress Adams (10.9 points, 8.9 rebounds per game) and guard Brionna Dickerson (10.4 ppg.) finished second and third on the team in scoring.

And while she pointed to Adams as a team leader, Staley said she has not settled on a starting lineup.

“She put us all on that same level playing field,” Dickerson said. “She said if you didn’t do your workout, you’re in trouble, no matter whether it’s a senior, a freshman, or what was going on.”

Dickerson learned that firsthand. Two days after returning from Costa Rica, where she studied Spanish this summer, Dickerson was required to pass a weightlifting and conditioning test.

Several additional tests await these young Gamecocks, who will face all four of last year’s Final Four participants — defending NCAA-champion Tennessee, LSU, Connecticut and Stanford.

The nonconference slate also includes Penn State, Clemson, Wake Forest and N.C. State; and there are the usual SEC suspects.

But the 38-year-old Staley, a five-time WNBA All-Star who has four Olympic gold medals as a player and coach, is not setting the bar low.

“Our goal is to get to the NCAA tournament, and the best way to do that is to win conference,” she said. “And that’s what we’re going to shoot for.”

USC missed the NCAAs the past five years under Susan Walvius, who resigned in April after posting a 51-103 SEC record in 11 seasons.

Staley guided Temple to the NCAA tournament in six of her eight seasons at her hometown school and left as the winningest coach in program history. But she realizes there will be growing pains for a USC team that lost 56 percent of its scoring.

“We’re playing from an underdog position, and we’ll ride that out until we relinquish that particular role,” Staley said.

Staley, a former point guard, mentioned sophomore Samone Kennedy and freshman Lakeisha Sutton as candidates for that role at USC.

In addition to the six newcomers, Staley has received commitments from a pair of highly rated guards — Monique Willis of Savannah, Ga., and New York native Ieasia Walker, ranked among the top 100 players in the country by ESPNU.

Sophomore guard Lauren Falohun said the influx of young players is exciting, while Dickerson believes Staley’s presence alone should produce a few more wins.

“There were games that we could have gotten last year that we feel that we can pull out this year,” Dickerson said, “especially with the training that we’re getting from the coaching staff.”

Reach Person at (803) 771-8496.

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