South Carolina runner-up Gamecocks faces Stanford Cardinal’s runner-up in the first of two ESPN Final Four fights at 6 pm ET. The two programs have not met since the 2017 Final Four, when South Carolina won on the way to a national championship.
Both teams won their double-digit tournament games, but it was Stanford who needed a second-half turnaround against Louisville to advance to this stage. Despite an unstable first half of Stanford in the regional final, the two teams dominated the year. Stanford boasts the second best defense percentage of pitches in the country (32.9%), while South Carolina occupies the 27th place in the country (36.2%). The scoring defense is again in favor of Stanford with 53.4 points, with South Carolina allowing 57.9 points per dispute.
Offensively, the Cardinal and Gamecocks have some similarities, but also some striking differences. One area of resemblance is the notable posting players. For the cardinal, Haley Jones and Cameron Brink have a great partnership on the front lines. Jones contributed 12.7 points and 7.5 rebounds, while Brink, the freshman striker, established himself as a protector of the rim. Brink has an average of 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. For Gamecocks, Aliyah Boston is a force with 13.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. His attacking companion, Victaria Saxton, is not a scorer with just 9.2 points, but is strong defensively.
If teams need a basket at the end of the game, where will they look? For Stanford, the answer is Kiana Williams. Williams leads the team with 14.5 points and three assists and is shooting 38 percent beyond the arc. For South Carolina, Zia Cooke has been the team’s top scorer, leading the team with 15.6 points. Cooke has failed to reach double digits in just four games this season.
Game information
No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks seed (26-4, 14-2 SEC) vs. No. 1 Stanford Cardinal seed (29-2, 19-2 Pac-12)
When: Friday, April 2 at 6 pm ET
Where: The Alamodome in San Antonio, TX
How to watch / listen: ESPN / Radio: 107.5 The Game (South Carolina)
Key to the confrontation: The 3-point shot can definitely be a factor. Stanford hits 38 percent as a team in 23 attempts, while South Carolina hits 33 percent in 13 attempts per game. South Carolina’s ability to control offensive rebounds and obtain second-chance points can counteract the threat of Stanford’s 3-point shot. Expect a game with few goals, as both teams have defensive intensity.