The South Carolina Gamecocks of Dawn Staley are having fun, and they learnt what the future holds for them during the Big Dance. During Selection Sunday, a video of the veteran coach engaged in a shooting contest with a junior guard, Tessa Johnson, went viral.
To everyone’s surprise, and despite having been retired for the better part of two decades, Staley defeated Johnson in the shooting contest.
In far more important news, the Gamecocks found out that they are the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento Region of the NCAA Tournament. They’re the fourth team in the bracket behind UConn, UCLA, and Texas. South Carolina will host the first two games in Columbia, and if they advance, they will move to play the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in California.
Dawn Staley’s team doesn’t know its first-round rival yet, as they will play the winner of the First Four game between No. 16 seeds Southern Tigers and Samford Bulldogs. If they do advance, they will then play the winner between No. 8 Clemson and No. 9 Southern Cal.
Dawn Staley on South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament Seeding
Dawn Staley spoke with the press shortly after the official NCAA Tournament bracket was announced. She seemed content with the place where the Gamecocks ended up, if she wasn’t necessarily happy with it.
“I think it played out the way it’s supposed to play out,” Staley said. “We were in control of our own destiny, and we didn’t take care of that. But Sacramento isn’t a bad place.”
“I think the work that you put in throughout the season and the body of work that you put together, that you’ll be able to host, it gives you an advantage,” Staley added. “It gives us a double advantage, because we lead the nation in attendance, and no matter whether it’s the NCAA Tournament or just another not-well-known opponent, the fans are going to show up. So we’ve had that support, and we look forward to seeing them feel Colonial Life Arena like they think they have all season long.”
Staley lamented South Carolina’s participation in the SEC Tournament last week. Despite the Gamecocks winning the regular season title of the SEC, they fell to the Texas Longhorns in the conference’s championship game.
Regardless, they remain one of the top four teams in the nation. Can Dawn Staley win her fourth national championship?
Read More: ‘Cant Wait to See Your Moves’: Paige Bueckers Drops Ecstatic Comment on Sarah Strong’s Big East Celebrations Post
Also Read: Dawn Staley’s Punishment Revealed as Aliyah Boston Recalls Unique Gamecocks Treatment
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