#1/#1 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS 1-0 (0-0 SEC)
Massey Rating #1 (UNC 27); NET 3 (Nolan) (UNC 19); Torvik 2 (UNC 11)
Last Season 36-4, 15-1 (SEC Conf. Reg. Season Champion), SECT 2-1; NCAAT 5-1(Lost to UCLA 51-79 in Final Four).
Sunday’s matchup for the Tar Heels is with the #1 South Carolina Gamecocks in Charlotte. UNC and South Carolina have met 21 times, with the Gamecocks holding an 11-10 edge. SC has won the last four games, dating back to 2015.
The last regular season meeting was in March 2024 in the ACC/SEC Challenge at Carmichael with the Gamecocks winning 65-58. Three SC players are still active: Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Ashlyn Watkins. All three are likely to start Sunday. Reniya Kelly is the only Tar Heel left from that game.
For Sunday’s game, Massey favors SC by 15, Nolan by 12, and Torvik by 7.
The Gamecocks had two exhibitions, one against Charleston, a D-1 team from CAA (W 91-60), and Benedict College, a D-2 school in SIAC. SC won by just 79 points, 112-34. Benedict is called the Tigers, but since two other SIAC teams are also the Tigers, I propose Benedict change their nickname to the “Arnolds”.
South Carolina has had one regular season game, playing the opener in Paris against Maryland. The Gamecocks won 101-93. Joyce Edwards led SC with 23 poinbts and 8 rebounds. Agot Makeer had 20, including 4 of 4 from three. Maryland’s Addi Mack had 35 in a losing effort.
For South Carolina against UNC, it is likely to be a repeat of the five starters from Maryland, plus one or two reserves. If so, the starters will be the 6-3 junior Edwards, the 6-1 sophomore Makeer; 6-0 junior Jordan Lee (a Texas transfer); 6-0 senior Tessa Johnson; and 6-2 5th year Chloe Kitts. All but Kitts, a forward, are carried as guards. The reserves may be 6-0 freshman Jerzy Robinson and 6-3 F Ashlyn Williams. Both had over 20 minutes against Maryland.
Tthe Gamecocks have six McDonald’s All-Americans to suit up, including starters Edwards, Makeer, and Johnson. Both projected reserves are McDonalds as well. Chloe Kitts is coming off IR, as is Watkins.
The deeper bench reserves include France’s Justine Loubens, a 6-2 freshman G; Kelsi Andrews, a 6-3 freshman F; Kaeli Wynn, a 6-2 freshman G; Oliviah Edwards, a 6-3 freshman G; and McD’s AA Ayla McDowell, a 6-1 sophomore G who made a brief appearance in game 1.
There is more size available with France’s Alicia Tournebize, a 6-7 C who like McDowell made a very brief appearance. There is also 6-5 F Adhel Tac, who has spent much of her career on IR.
Dawn Staley definitely likes size, and the only non-six footer is tiny Brooke Q. Daniels, a 5-7 5th year G from Michigan. In her last year in Ann Arbor she started 31 of 35 games, had 99 assists and a balanced 5.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg. One would think she would work herself in amongst the trees for some significant minutes.
Both the AP Poll and the Coaches’ Poll are still pre-season; understandably so since most schools have played only one or two games. Carolina still sits at 12/11. The gurus, however, are as usual updating their rankings on a game-by-game basis. Massey has UNC dropping 7 spots, from 20 to 27. They have SCar a 15-point favorite. Torvik has the Heels dropping from 9 to 11 but still favor SC by 7. Warren Nolan has apparently awakened from hibernation and has UNC with a NET of 19 and the Gamecocks favored by 12.
If Carolina were to defeat the Gamecocks, it would be a huge upset; even on a neutral court. They are the #1 team in the nation, and deservedly so. Last season ended with a disappointing thud as UCLA whacked them by 28 in the title game. Dawn Staley generally does need any additional motivation and does not particularly care for UNC. Our exhibition game with them last year showed that they will have plenty of fans since they usually lead D-I with 12,000+ and travel very well.
It might be noted here that most UNC-SoCar games have been competitive, and in the four most recent losses three were decided by single digits: 2, 8 and 7 points. Only the 2024 game was a blowout: 47 points.
The Oklahoma game was disappointing with a 13-point loss. In a pattern Heel fans have seen before, the Sooners came out at the start of the 3rd quarter and put it to UNC, outscoring the team by 17, 31-14. Carolina had no good answer for Leelee Bell, who had 25 points. She may not have had the publicity but was clearly the best freshman on the court.
That said, Kate Harpring did not have a ”bad” game although there were some miscues on passes where the intended recipient was not where they should have been. Kate took 26 shots, twice as many as any other player and made 34.6%. That isn’t a bad day for anyone playing guard. Achol Akot was impressive with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Reniya Kelly might have been a touch “rusty” after being out of action for so long, but still had 11 points and 7 assists. Sophie Burrows was solid with 9 points and 8 boards, and Harris (13) and White (10) also contributed. Laila Hull was “off” on her shot, missing all 5 3-pointers she took. Laila is much better than that.
It is hard to figure what the future is for Blanca Thomas and Chloe Clardy. Clardy had outstanding numbers for Stanford last year, a consistent double-figure scorer (12 ppg) and led the club in assists and steals. She played only 4 minutes against the Sooners and one would have to wonder if she is 100% healthy. Thomas does not appear to have progressed over her first two seasons.
Game time is 5:30 PM EDT. The game will be carried by ESPN. Radio provided by GoHeels with Matt Kraus.
Massey Rating #1 (UNC 27); NET 3 (Nolan) (UNC 19); Torvik 2 (UNC 11)
Last Season 36-4, 15-1 (SEC Conf. Reg. Season Champion), SECT 2-1; NCAAT 5-1(Lost to UCLA 51-79 in Final Four).
Sunday’s matchup for the Tar Heels is with the #1 South Carolina Gamecocks in Charlotte. UNC and South Carolina have met 21 times, with the Gamecocks holding an 11-10 edge. SC has won the last four games, dating back to 2015.
The last regular season meeting was in March 2024 in the ACC/SEC Challenge at Carmichael with the Gamecocks winning 65-58. Three SC players are still active: Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Ashlyn Watkins. All three are likely to start Sunday. Reniya Kelly is the only Tar Heel left from that game.
For Sunday’s game, Massey favors SC by 15, Nolan by 12, and Torvik by 7.
The Gamecocks had two exhibitions, one against Charleston, a D-1 team from CAA (W 91-60), and Benedict College, a D-2 school in SIAC. SC won by just 79 points, 112-34. Benedict is called the Tigers, but since two other SIAC teams are also the Tigers, I propose Benedict change their nickname to the “Arnolds”.
South Carolina has had one regular season game, playing the opener in Paris against Maryland. The Gamecocks won 101-93. Joyce Edwards led SC with 23 poinbts and 8 rebounds. Agot Makeer had 20, including 4 of 4 from three. Maryland’s Addi Mack had 35 in a losing effort.
For South Carolina against UNC, it is likely to be a repeat of the five starters from Maryland, plus one or two reserves. If so, the starters will be the 6-3 junior Edwards, the 6-1 sophomore Makeer; 6-0 junior Jordan Lee (a Texas transfer); 6-0 senior Tessa Johnson; and 6-2 5th year Chloe Kitts. All but Kitts, a forward, are carried as guards. The reserves may be 6-0 freshman Jerzy Robinson and 6-3 F Ashlyn Williams. Both had over 20 minutes against Maryland.
Tthe Gamecocks have six McDonald’s All-Americans to suit up, including starters Edwards, Makeer, and Johnson. Both projected reserves are McDonalds as well. Chloe Kitts is coming off IR, as is Watkins.
The deeper bench reserves include France’s Justine Loubens, a 6-2 freshman G; Kelsi Andrews, a 6-3 freshman F; Kaeli Wynn, a 6-2 freshman G; Oliviah Edwards, a 6-3 freshman G; and McD’s AA Ayla McDowell, a 6-1 sophomore G who made a brief appearance in game 1.
There is more size available with France’s Alicia Tournebize, a 6-7 C who like McDowell made a very brief appearance. There is also 6-5 F Adhel Tac, who has spent much of her career on IR.
Dawn Staley definitely likes size, and the only non-six footer is tiny Brooke Q. Daniels, a 5-7 5th year G from Michigan. In her last year in Ann Arbor she started 31 of 35 games, had 99 assists and a balanced 5.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg. One would think she would work herself in amongst the trees for some significant minutes.
Both the AP Poll and the Coaches’ Poll are still pre-season; understandably so since most schools have played only one or two games. Carolina still sits at 12/11. The gurus, however, are as usual updating their rankings on a game-by-game basis. Massey has UNC dropping 7 spots, from 20 to 27. They have SCar a 15-point favorite. Torvik has the Heels dropping from 9 to 11 but still favor SC by 7. Warren Nolan has apparently awakened from hibernation and has UNC with a NET of 19 and the Gamecocks favored by 12.
If Carolina were to defeat the Gamecocks, it would be a huge upset; even on a neutral court. They are the #1 team in the nation, and deservedly so. Last season ended with a disappointing thud as UCLA whacked them by 28 in the title game. Dawn Staley generally does need any additional motivation and does not particularly care for UNC. Our exhibition game with them last year showed that they will have plenty of fans since they usually lead D-I with 12,000+ and travel very well.
It might be noted here that most UNC-SoCar games have been competitive, and in the four most recent losses three were decided by single digits: 2, 8 and 7 points. Only the 2024 game was a blowout: 47 points.
The Oklahoma game was disappointing with a 13-point loss. In a pattern Heel fans have seen before, the Sooners came out at the start of the 3rd quarter and put it to UNC, outscoring the team by 17, 31-14. Carolina had no good answer for Leelee Bell, who had 25 points. She may not have had the publicity but was clearly the best freshman on the court.
That said, Kate Harpring did not have a ”bad” game although there were some miscues on passes where the intended recipient was not where they should have been. Kate took 26 shots, twice as many as any other player and made 34.6%. That isn’t a bad day for anyone playing guard. Achol Akot was impressive with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Reniya Kelly might have been a touch “rusty” after being out of action for so long, but still had 11 points and 7 assists. Sophie Burrows was solid with 9 points and 8 boards, and Harris (13) and White (10) also contributed. Laila Hull was “off” on her shot, missing all 5 3-pointers she took. Laila is much better than that.
It is hard to figure what the future is for Blanca Thomas and Chloe Clardy. Clardy had outstanding numbers for Stanford last year, a consistent double-figure scorer (12 ppg) and led the club in assists and steals. She played only 4 minutes against the Sooners and one would have to wonder if she is 100% healthy. Thomas does not appear to have progressed over her first two seasons.
Game time is 5:30 PM EDT. The game will be carried by ESPN. Radio provided by GoHeels with Matt Kraus.
