South Carolina has had its full 10-player roster available in just five games this season.<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alabama Series
<\/b>The Gamecocks lead the all-time series with Alabama 33-15, including a 16-5 mark at home. In the Dawn Staley era (starting 2008-09). South Carolina is 23-0 against the Crimson Tide.<\/p>\n
This marks the second time in as many meetings that both teams are ranked. Last season then-No. 2 South Carolina topped then-No. 19 Alabama 76-58 on Jan. 16 in Tuscaloosa. The Gamecocks were strongest in the first and fourth quarters of the game,\u00a0 jumping out to a 21-12 lead after the opening period behind a defensive effort that allowed just 27.8 percent shooting. Joyce Edwards led the offense with a then-career-high 21 points.<\/p>\n
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Ranked Readings
<\/b>Against ranked teams, South Carolina is 134-72 (.650) in the Dawn Staley era (beginning 2008-09), and even that mark is skewed by the early seasons of her tenure. Since the start of the 2014-15 campaign, the Gamecocks are 119-33 (.783) against ranked teams, including a 49-6 (.891) mark since the start of the 2021-22 season.<\/p>\n
This season, South Carolina is 2-1 against ranked opponents with all three games happening outside of Columbia \u2013 W 69-52 vs. #8\/10 Southern Cal (Nov. 15), L 64-66 vs. #4\/4 Texas (Nov. 27), W 79-77 at #22\/21 Louisville (Dec. 4).<\/p>\n
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Schedule Sketch
<\/b>South Carolina\u2019s schedule continues to challenge and prepare the team for the postseason. This year\u2019s slate features 12 games against teams ranked in the current top 25 \u2013 five home, five road and two neutral sites. Four of the 10 games are against teams in the top 10.<\/p>\n
The non-conference schedule is highlighted by three ranked matchups \u2013 vs. #8\/10 Southern Cal (W, 69-52), vs. #4\/4 Texas (L, 64-66) and at #22\/21 Louisville (W, 79-77).<\/p>\n
In the NET rankings, South Carolina is ranked second and has 12 Quad 1 games on the schedule, including four non-conference matchups. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in the NET rankings and have the best average opponent NET ranking (42).<\/p>\n
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Paint Production
<\/b>South Carolina has long controlled the paint, and this season is no different, even with a guard-dominated roster.<\/span><\/p>\nWith 57.4 percent of the their points coming in the paint, the Gamecocks are second in the nation with 53.3 paint points per game and are out-scoring opponents in that space by an average of 31.3 points, including a +10.7 edge against ranked opponents. They tied the program record for single-game paint points in back-to-back outings with 74 at USF (Dec. 18) and at FGCU (Dec. 20).<\/p>\n
The Gamecocks are shooting 65.9 percent in the paint compared to opponents\u2019 41.1 percent accuracy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n