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🏀 SOUTH CAROLINA MOVES ON
HIGH STAKES AND HIGH DRAMA IN PHOENIX
Photo via the NCAA.
Connecticut’s dreams of going back-to-back melted in the Phoenix heat.
In our preview of the Connecticut vs. South Carolina matchup, I wrote the following:
“For South Carolina to get over and through Connecticut, they will need to dominate the rebounding category. The Gamecocks were seventh in the country in rebounding this year, led by Madina Okot in the middle. If SC is able to control the boards and create extra possessions on offense, it will help keep Connecticut at bay and force them into playing their style...”
The number of the game was 15.
That was the margin in favor of South Carolina in the rebounding category. SC grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and won the points in the paint matchup 34-20. Connecticut could not find success in the paint and scoring was incredibly hard to come by.
Connecticut’s 48 points were their lowest in a game since… 2022 when South Carolina held them to 49 points in the National Championship game. The dynamic duo of Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong could not find it tonight as well. Fudd’s recent struggles continued as she shot under 50 percent from the field for the fourth time in the past five games. Strong had her worst game of the season as she shot just 4-16 from the field.
Prior to the fourth quarter, Geno Auriemma spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and objected to the foul discrepancy, free throw discrepancy, among other things
It didn’t end there as there was a fracas during the handshake line between Auriemma and Dawn Staley in the final seconds of the game. The moment between the two coaches was part of the postgame discussion as people tried to figure out what happened.
"I have no idea," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. "But I'm going to let you know this, I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did.”
“There are a lot of things that happened in that game,” Auriemma said. Unless you’re on that sideline, you have no idea what’s what’s happening on that sideline.”
Auriemma released a statement Saturday, apologizing to South Carolina.
There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.
After sleeping on it, the winningest coach in NCAA Basketball seems to have come to his senses. However, is the statement too little, too late?
Reply to this email with your thoughts on the matter!
Either way, South Carolina moves on and Connecticut heads to the off-season.
The Lineup
Here’s what you need to know today:
🏀 Final Four, take 2
Who will be joining South Carolina in the Final?
📝 Expansion Draft results
The WNBA Expansion Draft is complete as the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire start putting their rosters together.
📰 What we’re reading
Some of our favorite writing that’s come across our desks.