South Carolina women's basketball: Slow starts have plagued the Gamecocks, and Dawn Staley has a theory why
If one time is an accident, twice a coincidence, and three times is a pattern; then South Carolina has a pattern of slow starts this season. South Carolina fell behind 7-0 to Michigan, trailed most of the first quarter and 25-21 in the second quarter to NC State, and trailed Coppin State 16-13.
South Carolina went on to win all three games, but the slow starts are concerning. It's not hard to figure out why they are happening, but that doesn't make it easy to correct.
The Gamecocks have three fourth-year players in the starting lineup: Seniors Bree Hall and Sania Feagin and redshirt junior Raven Johnson. That group has struggled to start the season, meaning only two starters are procuring at a high level.
Johnson does a lot more than score – she is averaging 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. – but she is also shooting 3-27 dating back to the national championship game against Iowa. She played less than two minutes in the second half on Thursday.
Hall isn't shooting as badly, but she isn't scorching the nets either. She had eight points Thursday but is shooting 37% for the season and 33% from three. The Gamecocks have gotten more production from reserves MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson.
Feagin had contributed occasionally. She's averaging 4.0 points and 3.7 rebounds, but that is down from 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds last season, and she can't stay out of foul trouble. Feagin picked up two fouls in the first 49 seconds of the third quarter that gave her four for the game. Ashlyn Watkins replaced Feagin, and the Gamecocks immediately started clicking. Feagin never got back in the game and only played seven minutes.
But why is this group struggling? Dawn Staley has a theory.
"When we have our WNBA-eligible players, sometimes, it happens during the season at some point," Staley said. "It hasn't happened this early. And maybe that's not what they're thinking about, but I'm sure they are thinking about it. It makes you press, and it gets you out of your normal routine of focusing on the game – your focus becomes something else. And then the things that you do well aren't up to par."
It seems like it is only a matter of time before Watkins replaces Feagin in the starting lineup. If she hadn't been suspended, she most likely would have been the starter from day one. In the meantime, the adjustment to having Feagin in the starting lineup has been a struggle.
"Feagin moving into the starting lineup – it's new for her," Staley said. "And one player can change the whole trajectory of everything and the whole chemistry. I'm not saying this is her – it's just the unit playing together. And, sometimes, she gets off to slow starts."
Staley isn't planning to make a lineup change any time soon.
"I'm not worried – like, I'm not worried about them at all," she said.
