The NCAA is not launching a key this year, but in Swish appeal we decided to do one anyway, based on this formula created by our Zack Ward. Here is a recap of one of the 64 teams that made the cut according to Swish appeal Support:
South Carolina’s No. 1 Gamecocks
The Gamecocks (32-1, 16-0 SEC) started 2019-20 in 8th place on AP Poll and ended up as the country’s No. 1 team in the last 10 weeks of the season. His only defeat came on November 28 against No. 20 Indiana Hoosiers at Paradise Jam; Gamecocks regrouped and dominated from that point on.
South Carolina won a total of 12 games against teams that finished in the Top 25 and also defeated Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who was in 22nd place at the time (February 2). In a season in which the No. 2 Oregon Ducks, No. 3 Baylor Lady Bears, No. 4 Maryland Terrapins and No. 5 UConn Huskies were extremely talented, South Carolina was the one that shone most with victories over the Lady Bears (November 30), Terrapins (November 10) and Huskies (February 10).
Highlights: South Carolina defeats UConn for the first time
With COVID-19 forcing the NCAA Tournament to be canceled, Gamecocks never had a chance against the Ducks, which many considered throughout the season to be the best team in the country. But South Carolina may have been the favorite in a championship game clash, which shows how well the team’s chemistry came together in Columbia – Oregon was a big favorite to win everything in the preseason.
The national freshman of the year and SEC defensive player of the year, Aliyah Boston, could have made a difference if the Gamecocks had met the Ducks in the final Big Dance game. Boston’s defensive skills and the ability to create for itself in painting would have given South Carolina more advantage in half-court sets than Oregon’s transition advantage.
Add to Boston the seasoned game of senior point guard Tyasha Harris, who joined Boston on the All-SEC First Team, as well as the speed of freshman point guard Zia Cooke and the scoring boost of senior striker Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and you’ll get a great time. around the South Carolina team.
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Boston (2.6 blocks and 9.4 rebounds per game) led the team to a better national ranking of 8.6 blocks per game and a result in third place on the rebound margin (12.4). Gamecocks also finished third in the country by scoring margin (25.9).
Harris, Herbert Harrigan, Boston, Cooke and freshman Brea Beal started in every game, while Destanni Henderson (8.5 points per game) and LeLe Grissett (6.4) were the main contributors outside the bank. Herbert Harrigan was part of the All-SEC Second Team before she and Harris were selected in 6th and 7th place, respectively, in the WNBA Draft 2020.
Meanwhile, Gamecocks’ stabilizing force, Dawn Staley, was named national coach of the year.
On March 8, South Carolina ended its season with a SEC Tournament championship – the last piece of the puzzle of the best curriculum in the country.