Congrats to the Women's BBall Team - SEC Champions

It's been a fantastic season for the Gamecocks....especially when you consider that during the SEC Media Days for the sport back in October, the media picked USC to finish SEVENTH in the conference for this season!!!

They picked based on what they saw on paper that was lost from the team: 3 starters in Bruner, Walker, and White gone from the team. Ieasia was the only highly regarded prospect of the bunch, while Ashley was a non-rated over-achiever that was all heart, and Sanchion was a defensive specialist.

But the losses of 3 players were replaced by better talent: the height and depth in the paint was never there last season, until the final 10 gms or so when Ibiam found her game. The true talent on the team minus Walker was returning, with enough returning talent at the point to bridge the loss, but far more talent being added with Ibiam and Coates.

I also am very impressed with Olivia Gaines' contributions, and have stated this in the past. She's a ferocious defender and annoying knat in the tradition of Sutton, Grant, and Walker on past teams. She has confidence that she belongs on the team and never hesitates to take shots or drive to the basket if she feels those opportunities are there. She makes her shots too. She doesn't hesitate or defer to her more experienced teammates when she's on the floor...

Both the development of Gaines and the late-season improvement IMO of Davis has helped secured the shaky PG position. Yesterday's game vs UF was a great test for our guards as the Gators played aggressively and physically on the perimeter. That's what we'll see in the NCAA tourney, and IMO may decide how far we'll go in it. IMO the paint and interior positions we'll be in solid shape...