No. 3 South Carolina Opens SEC Schedule Without Ta’Niya Latson
SEC Play is Here for South Carolina
SEC play begins tomorrow for the No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks, and they will be without guard Ta’Niya Latson. Latson, who went down on Sunday, is day to day according to Coach Dawn Staley earlier today.
“No, no practice today. Won’t play tomorrow,” Dawn Staley told a reporter today.
When asked about her possible status for Sunday’s game at Florida, she responded, “Taking it day by day, I’m hoping. I’m praying. If not, we gotta keep going. We gotta keep going.”
Latson, in 14 games played, is second on the team in both total points and points per game at 16.9. She is also shooting 52 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three point range.
Playing through non conference action has this team prepared to play different roles if needed. So I don’t necessarily believe that South Carolina will have issues while Latson is out. Not saying she won’t be missed, but South Carolina is not thin in production or depth.
South Carolina has had its full 10-player roster in just five games this season, according to South Carolina Athletics Communications.
Joyce Edwards, who does it all, is trending towards possible player of the year talk. Edwards is at 21.4 points per game, and also leads SC in blocks and steals. Along with her are Tessa Johnson, Madina Okot, and Raven Johnson who Staley says is excited about SEC play.
“I think Raven yesterday was like, ‘It’s SEC time!’ She was really excited about it. I don’t know if she’s saying that because this is her last go-round, but I just think she was really excited about SEC play.”
Against ranked opponents this season, all starters are averaging double digits in scoring. The bench has also stepped up. Over the last five games, bench production has averaged 22 points per game, accounting for 21.8 percent of scoring in that span.
Tomorrow, the No. 3 Gamecocks host No. 24 Alabama, who is currently 28th in the NET with a 14-0 record. South Carolina will look to make it 13-5 in SEC openers under Staley, and four straight.
The Crimson Tide is led by senior Jessica Timmons. Timmons has started all 14 games, and averages 15.5 points a game, along with 42 assists that leads the team.
Essence Cody, who returned to play after a four game absence against Troy, averages 15.4 points per game. Cody can get it done inside and out, and has a good presence on the floor whether it’s a block or steal on defense, or cutting through the lane for an easy bucket.
Another player to watch for the Tide is Karly Weathers. Weathers leads the team in minutes per game at 31.5, and averages right under 10 points a game. What I like most about Weathers is she has a versatile game, and she will get hot from beyond the arc if you give her space.
As for the gauntlet that is the SEC, Coach Staley and her players are ready. There is no hiding from it, and their expectations are clear.
“It’s here. There’s no hiding from it. You just gotta, you gotta take it straight on. Like, it isn’t for the faint at heart. It is for programs that want to win national championships. If you play in the SEC, it affords you to compete for national championships, and we’re excited about that,” said Staley.
When asked what she is happiest about with this team at this moment, Staley said she is pleased with the way the Gamecocks are practicing and playing. That tells me they have their minds in the right place.
“Like, we’re practicing like we want to play,” said Dawn Staley. “And that’s really a really good thing. So, we’re not surprised by the progress that we’re making in game because we’ve been practicing that.”
On No. 24 Alabama tomorrow, Staley acknowledged the challenge they always bring. However, she hopes the home atmosphere will help South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.
“I think they have a silent, like, intangibles that, you know, they play like an SEC Team, which is gritty, which is, like, hard nose, which is, they, they find a way to, to decrease your momentum. Like, throughout the 40 minutes, and it always takes a really long time for us. We’ve had success, but it’s taking a really long time for us to just kind of create some separation,” she said.
“We’re going into this game thinking the same thing. Like, it’s been hard. So hopefully we can use this place as a home court advantage, like we have in the past, and get our first SEC win.”
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Featured Image Credit: South Carolina Athletics
