The driving force behind No. 1 Gamecocks’ surprise success? ‘Freedom,’ Dawn Staley says
This South Carolina team is unlike any other in the Dawn Staley era.
High-powered offense, speed and perimeter shooting have propelled the Gamecocks to a perfect record through non-conference play (plus their SEC debut against Florida Thursday) and quelled concerns about their lack of experience.
The key to such success: freedom.
“They’re creating something that we really haven’t had because they’ve got the freedom to do what they want,” Staley told The State. “They still have the knowledge of discipline and how we want to play, but they’ve got the creativeness to play how it makes them feel good in a certain style.”
That certain style seems to be dominating. Through its first 13 games, the 2023-24 Gamecocks squad has assembled a net rating of 51.2 (which HerHoopStats defines as margin of victory per 100 possessions) — the best of any USC team under Staley’s tutelage since HHS began tracking in 2009.
Losing “The Freshies” — two-time National Player of the Year Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, Laeticia Amihere and Olivia Thompson (plus the graduation of 2022-23 starters Victaria Saxton and Kierra Fletcher) created a level of roster turnover unlike any Staley had experienced before.
She takes some of the blame for putting the program in that situation. Her staff brought in such a large, highly touted class with three Day 1 starters (Boston, Beal and Cooke) that managed to stay together for four years. It’s an unheard of feat in the age of the transfer portal and one the sport won’t likely witness again — at least any time soon.
Success with a new-look roster
When the 2023-24 team first came together in the summer, Staley felt transported back to 2008 — her first season as head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball (which posted a 10-18 record). There was just so much newness, especially with the addition of three freshmen and two transfers. She didn’t know where to start.
“You started with a blank canvas and allowed the players to shape it,” Staley said. “(But) it was an odd shape. Then, same thing as Year 1 here, you had to start seeing what people are bringing to the table. And then you start molding and forming the shape of what you want.
“I do think we’re still shaping it.”
Staley is putting on a sculpting masterclass this season. While she has remained adamant that this is not a “rebuild year,” the Gamecocks returned just 33.8% of minutes played and 33.5% of scoring from their 2022-23 roster. Contrary to most outsiders’, and even Staley’s expectations, USC is posting all-time scoring totals and margins of victory.
Through 13 games, the 2023-24 team ranks first among the last 15 South Carolina squads in points per game (90.8), margin of victory per game (39.8), offensive rating (117.6; defined as points scored per 100 possessions), net rating (51.2), pace (77; defined as possessions for each team per 40 minutes), rebounds per game (50.7), assists per game (20.3), steals per game (9.5), blocks per game (9.5), 3-point shooting percentage (41.4%) and made 3s per game (7.1).
Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey didn’t hesitate to call South Carolina a Final Four team after their season opener in Paris. Maryland coach Brenda Frese went as far as to say this USC team is better than last year’s, which played an undefeated regular season and fell 77-73 to Iowa in one of the NCAA Tournament national semifinals.
South Carolina maintained a perfect record through the non-conference schedule, including four victories against ranked opponents (then-No. 10 Notre Dame, then-No. 14 Maryland, No. 24 North Carolina and then-No. 11 Utah), which leads the country alongside No. 2 UCLA and No. 12 UConn. The Gamecocks have two more ranked teams on their schedule, as of the Week 9 AP Top 25 Poll: No. 7 LSU (Jan. 25 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and UConn (Feb. 11).
USC’s 2018-19 team, the first after South Carolina legend A’ja Wilson graduated, went 24-10 and ended its season in the Sweet 16. The 2023-24 team has greater aspirations.
“My team goal is to win a national championship,” junior guard Bree Hall said at SEC Media Day. “Get that getback.”
SEC play begins Thursday night at Florida. After USC won its non-conference finale at East Carolina 73-36 Saturday, Staley said she believes her team’s novelty has worn off.
Everyone knows the Gamecocks can play. Now it’s about how they’ll respond to their immediate success.
“Just keep living up to the challenge of who we’re facing,” Staley said post game. “Because we’re facing people who are ready to play against us. They get amped up.”
These Gamecocks are learning by doing
The “Freshies” era USC teams knew exactly what Staley wanted them to do, how to do it and when to do it. Whatever she asked of them, she knew they could and would deliver. This year’s team: “They’re trying,” Staley said, “but they’re different.”
Sophomore point guard Raven Johnson started three games last season — more than any other player on the current roster. Some athletes — like freshmen MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson and Sahnya Jah — are adjusting to college basketball in general. Others — like Oregon transfer Te-Hina Paopao, junior college transfer Sakima Walker and returners Johnson, Hall, Kamilla Cardoso, Ashlyn Watkins, Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin — are adjusting to new roles with loftier expectations.
But they’re all learning by doing. And Staley is giving them the space to do so — to a point.
“I like new mistakes,” she said. “Old mistakes, they bother me. They eat at me.”
Fulwiley embodies that mindset. The freshman played just three minutes (compared to her then-23.5 average) in USC’s gritty 65-58 win Nov. 30 over No. 24 UNC because she kept losing her player on defense. But a few days later against Duke, Fulwiley finished the game for South Carolina, punctuating her impressive performance with a kickout pass to guard Hall for a 3-pointer to secure the 77-61 win.
“She really understands the process,” Staley said. “But when she’s complete, like, you think she’s pretty good right now. I think she’s pretty good right now. But when she’s able to play in between those magical moments that she makes in the game, that’s the meat and potatoes of basketball. It ain’t you wow us here, you wow us there. It’s in between those moments. When she’s able to play between those things, she’s gonna be a heck of a player.”
Kitts, too, has grown a lot since she enrolled early at South Carolina in December 2022. Staley hoped Kitts would be more game-ready when she got to Columbia, but two factors have contributed to her success over the last 12 months: being immersed in college basketball and her gold-medal performance with USA Basketball at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup over the summer. In December, Kitts led the team with 9.3 rebounds per game and averaged 11.8 points on 52.9% shooting.
Watkins is another example. She played 32 games last season averaging 10.7 minutes, 4.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. This season she’s averaging 17.5 minutes, 9.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, three blocks and one steal per game.
“Complete 180,” Staley said, “but she hasn’t really scratched the surface in how good she’s going to be.”
“Greatness happens gradually,” Staley added. “Sometimes we don’t have the patience for it. You can’t see it as you’re going through it. But once you get there, you look back and you’re thinking, ‘I shouldn’t have complained so much through the process.’”
Staley’s players came to campus over the summer so out of shape that the staff couldn’t delve into refining their skillsets until trainers Molly Binetti and Craig Oates helped strengthen them. Staley also found she had a group of “gamers” on her hands, meaning these Gamecocks don’t practice like they play — a less-than-glowing review from a coach who takes pride in preparation and multi-page scouting reports for every opponent.
But, “they’ve conditioned us to say, ‘Tomorrow will be better,’” Staley said.
As one phase of the 2023-24 season fades into the next, Staley has finally reached her “happy place.” This team is not without flaws, but it has managed to cover them up well and proven itself capable of greatness.
This story was originally published January 3, 2024 at 6:45 AM.
