South Carolina returns to the court Sunday for its final home game before conference play begins.
The Gamecocks have been off for twelve days for exams. They return to action for two games before another break for Christmas. They host Savannah State Sunday and then travel to Philadelphia for a Dawn Staley homecoming game at Temple. They are then off for ten days before a New Year' Eve showdown with Texas A&M.
South Carolina limped into the break with an uninspired and very sloppy 69-43 win against an overmatched College of Charleston team. Staley has been furious with her team's focus, an there are only two games and two weeks to get it corrected before conference play.
Still on the mend
South Carolina will once again be without senior guards Bianca Cuevas-Moore and Lindsey Spann, who both suffered knee sprains. Staley said Friday that Cuevas-Moore, who had been close to returning, suffered a setback in practice and is being reevaluated. Cuevas-Moore has yet to play this season, and if she continues to miss games, a redshirt year becomes a viable possibility.
Spann has yet to return to practice. There was no reason t rush either player back before the exam break, and with just two games over the last two weeks of the year, there is still no reason to rush a return.
Waiting on Te'a
South Carolina is still waiting on another guard, transfer Te'a Cooper. Cooper was injured last season with Tennessee, and transferred over the summer. As soon as Cooper's final grades are submitted (they had not been, as of Friday), South Carolina will apply for a waiver from the NCAA, since Cooper has sat out two full semesters since last playing. Staley expects to hear back quickly with a ruling.
All About A'ja
A'ja Wilson is making her senior season one to remember. She is averaging 24.0 points (0.7 points off the single-season record at South Carolina)Â and 11.5 rebounds per game, along with 2.8 blocks. She has been named to the watch list of every major award. And last week, Wilson earned another honor. She was selected as one of 29 players invited to join the USA Basketball Women's National Team pool.
Available players will convene in Columbia from February 9-11, 2018 to practice. Ironically, despite the practices taking place in Wilson's home gym and under the supervision of Dawn Staley, her own coach, Wilson will not participate in the training camp. Wilson and the four other college players, along with several who are playing professionally overseas, will be excused from participating.
The players will be preparing for the 2018 FIBA World Cup in Spain and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The makeup of the roster will be fluid over the next two years as they prepare for the competitions.
Santa Snaps
It's that time of year. Santa Claus is everywhere, leaving Mrs. Claus alone at the North Pole and in charge of getting the toys ready for Christmas. On Sunday, Santa will be at Colonial Life Arena. He will be in the McGuire Club for an hour before the game and at halftime posing for pictures with fans. Each group will get one free print of their photo. There will also be a special hot chocolate bar on the concourse with hot chocolate and special toppings available for $4.
Scouting Savannah State
South Carolina and Savannah State have gotten familiar with each other over the last few years. South Carolina holds a 9-0 series lead, and the teams have played six of the last seven seasons, though it hasn't been particularly close. Last season, Savannah State hosted for the only time in the series, and lost 70-30. Two seasons ago, the teams met twice, both times in Columbia. The first a 111-49 South Carolina win in December, remains the highest scoring game of Staley's tenure. They met again in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a much closer 81-48 win.
The Ws
Who: South Carolina vs Savannah State
When: Sunday, December 16, 3:00 pm
Where: Colonial Life Arena
Watch: SEC Network+
