No. 2 South Carolina WBB’s next test is No. 17 Tennessee, former Gamecock
South Carolina (19-1, 7-0 SEC) will travel to Knoxville on Monday for it’s fifth-straight matchup against a ranked opponent.
The Gamecocks, coming off a 66-56 win over No. 5 LSU on Friday, are set to take on No. 17 Tennessee (15-4, 3-4 SEC) in their only regular-season matchup against the Lady Vols.
Tennessee’s unique style of play
ESPN has described Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell’s up-tempo offense as “relentless” and its press defense as “crushing,” and the numbers certainly support it.
It’s not often a team has the nation’s top-scoring offense while also being in the top 10 for forcing turnovers.
Dawn Staley said she’s seen Tennessee’s style of play, just typically not by any team in the SEC. The unique challenge the Volunteers’ system presents will be a good experience to have when South Carolina reaches the NCAA Tournament, she said.
“They make you adjust, which I think is good,” Staley said. “It’s good for our league. It’s good for just different styles of playing. It’s good for if you have a team like that, in the NCAA Tournament, it’s good to have played that style.”
Tennessee leads the country with 93.4 points per game. The Volunteers lead the nation in 3-point makes (11.1) and attempts (33.9) per game. Tennessee’s adjusted efficiency rating on offense (121.5) is No. 6 in the country, per metrics expert Bart Torvik.
Caldwell’s team also plays fast. Tennessee is No. 7 in the country in adjusted tempo (76.1), per Bart Torvik.
Tennessee averages 19.4 offensive rebounds a game, No. 2 in the country.
“It’s a great up-tempo style,” Staley said. “It is fluid. Anybody has an opportunity to shoot 3s. They space you out. It’s just really different. They rebound the basketball as well. They pressure you. There’s certain things that we need to take care of. The ball is one. Two is defending our turnovers, if we do turn the ball over. Three is obviously transition and the 3-point line. Four is we’ve got to defend. Although you’re not going to disrupt them so much because they space you out. You’ve got to handle being able to guard one on one.”
Defensively, Tennessee records an average of 13.1 steals per game (No. 9 in the country) and is tops in the SEC (No. 7 in the country) with 24.58 turnovers forced per game.
Former Gamecock thriving at Tennessee
Talaysia Cooper is having a breakout year for Caldwell and the Volunteers.
She’s leading Tennessee with a career-high 17.8 points per game and leads the team, as well as the SEC, with 3.3 steals per game.
“Great player,” Staley said of Cooper. “We recruit great players. We have great players in our program, and I’m happy for Coop. I’m really happy that she’s found her happy place. She’s a bear to deal with because she can do it all. She can defend, she can score three levels, she can play multiple positions. And I think the style of play fits perfectly for (Tennessee).”
Cooper spent just one season for the Gamecocks.
The state of South Carolina product saw the floor in 24 games during her freshman year in the 2022-23 season. She averaged 2.3 points per game and 8.4 minutes of play that season.
Cooper redshirted last season because she decided to transfer to Tennessee after the portal window had closed.
It’s a boy!
When Caldwell takes the sideline on Monday, it will be exactly one week after giving birth to her son, Conor.
Caldwell did not travel to Austin on Thursday when Tennessee played Texas, so Tennessee’s matchup with South Carolina will be her first game back.
What channel is the South Carolina-Tennessee game on?
Who: No. 2 South Carolina (19-1,76-0 SEC) vs. No. 17 Tennessee (15-4, 3-4 SEC)
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
Where: Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee
TV Network: ESPN2
Stream: ESPN app and ESPN.com
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Brad Muller)
