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University of South Carolina’s Bree Hall (23) recovers a loose ball and pitches it to Te-Hina Paopao (0) during the first half of action in the Colonial Life Arena on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
The sting of South Carolina’s loss to UConn on Sunday seems to have lingered around the Gamecocks for a little bit longer than usual. South Carolina was dominated 87-58 in front of 1.8 million viewers on national television in one of the most anticipated games of the year.
“The team that took the floor against UConn really wasn’t our team,” Staley told reporters Wednesday. “So as a coach, you have a tendency to think, ‘Hey, it ain’t just about basketball. What is it about?’ “ Staley went on to say the loss to UConn, which snapped a 71-game home win streak and was the largest defeat at Colonial Life Arena since 2008, also prompted a team meeting. “We had a come to Jesus meeting, if you will,” Staley said. “We apologized for our performances and we moved on. We’re not going to stay stuck in those spaces. I’m not going to look for things. I’m just going to call it what it is. Players have to step up. Coaches have to step up. If we want to accomplish the goals that we have out there, it’s going to take a collective effort.”
When asked if there were any specific players who stepped up in the meeting, Staley didn’t list names because “everybody” had something to say. “Nobody liked the performance. Nobody, not one person,” Staley said. “But we also have to be honest about ourselves and what we need to bring to the table. I do think players are doing that. Sunday’s loss to UConn was South Carolina’s third of the season and dropped the Gamecocks to 23-3 overall and to No. 6 in the Associated Press Top 25. It’s the first time since 2020-21 the Gamecocks have
The theme of the Gamecocks’ three losses (to UCLA, Texas and now UConn) this year boils down to not playing their brand of basketball, Staley said. “The common thing is whether it was people forced us to play that way, or (it was) self-inflicted, it really just wasn’t us,” Staley said. “We got to get back to us. You take a loss, you have a tendency to think that everything’s broken. Everything’s not broken. It really isn’t. We just got to get back to our good habits playing the way we need to play.” The main takeaway from South Carolina’s come-to-Jesus meeting? Everyone has to be better, Staley said, especially the most experienced Gamecocks on the roster.
Te-Hina Paopao has to“be better, Chloe’s (Kitts) gotta be better. (Sania) Feagin’s gotta be better,” Staley said. “Those are the players with the most experience. They have to be better. They know that.” Staley has never been one to shy away from being vocal about who or what in her program needs to be better, and this season is no different. She acknowledged Wednesday that while South Carolina can be better in some areas, fatigue can play a role 26 games into a season. “I think it’s a little bit of just the grind of the season,” Staley said. “It happens. We’ve done a really good job at camouflaging it. It doesn’t really spill over to a game, and a game of that magnitude, but you’ve got to face the music.
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