How to watch
Where: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT
When: Monday, February 8, 7 pm
TV: Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
Chain: FoxSportsGo.com
Radio: UConn IMG Sports Network
South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 15-1 (10-0 SEC)
Localization: Columbia South Carolina
Head coach: Dawn Staley (season 13)
UConn women’s basketball will face its biggest test of the season to date, receiving the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks at the Gampel Pavilion. Gamecocks secured their first victory over UConn last season, 70-52. The Huskies will try to avenge that loss on Monday night.
South Carolina boasts one of, if not the best female college basketball curriculum this season. His only loss came in early December to the state of NC. Gamecocks also have an impressive 10-0 score in the SEC game so far and are in first place in the league, which has seven teams ranked in the AP Top 25.
The central point of this game will be in the post, in particular in the confrontation between Aliyah Boston and Olivia Nelson-Ododa – both nominated among the top ten of the Lisa Leslie Award, which goes to the best center in the country.
Boston is South Carolina’s best player on both ends of the court, averaging a double-double with 13.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. It will probably be the toughest fight Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards face in the entire season.
“It’s a lot for Liv, but she is ready,” said coach Geno Auriemma of Nelson-Ododa’s role on Monday night. “I think this is a good time for her. I think she’s fine now. Her game is very good right now. “
Nelson-Ododa has fought in the other great Huskies games against Tennessee and Arkansas, but comes from a solid performance at Marquette, where he scored eight points with eight rebounds and seven assists in one of UConn’s most complete performances of the season. Huskies will need a similar tour on Monday night.
Edwards will also be a critical part of the attack confrontation for UConn and his physicality within should be advantageous for the Huskies against an elite center. Edwards can provide the size if Nelson-Ododa is in trouble – an option that UConn did not have last season. Playing it alongside Nelson-Ododa also allows the Huskies to play big and attack the post more.
“Aaliyah will have to keep our attack flowing,” said Auriemma of his expectations for the freshman. “We use it a lot to facilitate our attack.”
Edwards seems ready for a critical role on the offensive side is something after standing out in his last games. In the last three UConn matches, she averaged more than 14 points per game with 78% of pitches from the ground.
Although the frontline battle occupies the center of the stage, the fights on the backcourt should not be ignored. South Carolina has two elite guards in Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson. Cooke leads the team with a score of 16.7 points per game and is also the biggest threat to Gamecocks by far, reaching 42.4 percent beyond the arc this season.
Henderson is South Carolina’s best facilitator, with 5.9 assists per game. She also excels at reaching the finish line and has scored more than 20 points in some games this season, including against tough opponents like Gonzaga and Kentucky.
Cooke and Henderson will pose a major challenge for the defense of UConn, who has struggled to contain the top guards this season (look no further, as Chelsea Dungee’s 37-point performance in the Arkansas defeat).
Between Paige Bueckers, Christyn Williams and Evina Westbrook, the Huskies shouldn’t have too much trouble to make things happen in the attack. But if they can’t slow down South Carolina guards, even Bueckers’ shots may not be enough to save them.
UConn game keys
Avoid a slow start: In last year’s game, UConn’s fate was sealed when it started off historically slow and scored just two points in the first quarter. Slow starts have plagued the Huskies throughout the season. If they get another one on Monday, they can play instead of trying to get out of a hole.
Inner defense: Zia Cooke is the only Gamecock that averages more than one deep make per game. Although UConn needs to avoid leaving it open outside, the home defense will make or break the game. South Carolina will seek to score most of its points in the painting and around the basket, which means that the Huskies will need to limit opportunities for visitors in the countryside.
Rebound, rebound, rebound: South Carolina is the elite in the cup, ranking first in the country in defensive rebounds per game and fifth in offensive rebounds per game, according to Her Hoop Stats. UConn struggled with defensive plates in the first quarter of Friday’s game against Marquette and will need to avoid a similar trap on Monday.
Enjoy Friday’s performance: UConn tied together a strong performance at both ends of the track against Marquette. If the Huskies can continue to build on the defense and movement of the ball they displayed on Friday, they will be in a great position to come out with the victory.