The No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs, 85-52, in the Fort Worth Hoopfest WBB Challenge at Dickies Arena on Sunday.
For TCU (9-1), it was the biggest game in program history. For the first time, the Horned Frogs played a Top 10 team as a Top 10 team, as they entered the AP Top 10 at No. 9 last week. The Gamecocks (9-1) are the defending national champions and have won three titles under coach Dawn Staley.
South Carolina is also used to playing Top 10 teams. The Gamecocks’ record in 49 games against Top 10 teams as a Top 10 team was 42-17 going into the game.
So, this was a measuring stick game for the Horned Frogs. And they learned a lot.
Hailey Van Lith was the only Horned Frogs player in double figures with 21 points. Center Sedona Prince was held to six points and two rebounds while Madison Conner, one of the top 3-point shooters in the country, was held to five points.
South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley led the Gamecocks with 20 points, while Te-Hina Paopao scored 11 points and Raven Johnson added 11 points. Key for the Gamecocks was 51% shooting and forcing 20 TCU turnovers, which they turned into 30 points.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
Keep it Close
That was TCU coach Mark Campbell’s mantra in the first quarter — TCU couldn’t let the game get away from it. And the Horned Frogs didn’t, as they were down six, 20-14, after the first 10 minutes.
Both teams were a bit sloppy to start with. The Horned Frogs withstood a bit of a mini-run by the Gamecocks late in the quarter, thanks to a Van Lith 3-pointer and Conner batting away a court-length pass on the other end.
When playing a team like South Carolina, one can’t win the game in the first quarter. But the game can be lost and in the context of those first 10 minutes. The Horned Frogs accomplished what they wanted in that first quarter. They didn’t allow the game to get away from them.
The Experience Factor
But, in the second quarter, the Gamecocks ran away with it. This is where experience in the NCAA Tournament and in big games pays off. South Carolina ramped up the defense, started shooting better and ended up outscoring TCU, 24-9, to build a 44-23 lead at the break. It never looked back.
Superior programs build superior depth. The Gamecocks have it all over the place. Going into the game nearly 50% of their scoring comes from the bench. I have to imagine that if that doesn’t lead the nation, that’s darn close. South Carolina played 10 by halftime and nearly all of them had points. That’s balance and depth few can compete with — and TCU couldn’t.
Teams like South Carolina also find a way to take superior players out of a game. While Van Lith had a solid game, the Gamecocks ran waves of defenders at Prince and made her a non-factor. That isn’t easy to do with a player like her, but South Carolina had the bigs to do it. The South Carolina defense did the same to Conner.
What This Means for TCU
My mind hasn’t changed — this is a team that can win the Big 12. The Horned Frogs are one of five that can do it. This was a learning experience for a program that hasn’t been in this sort of situation before.
If the Horned Frogs want to win this league and get deep in the NCAA Tournament, then they have to learn from games like this.
So what does TCU need to learn? First, depth is critical. The loss of guard Maddie Scherr for the season to an injury hurts that depth. Now it’s on making sure they can get more out of Aaliyan Roberson, Agnes Emma-Nnopu and others to ensure the Big Three don’t get worn down.
Second, the Big Three have to be the Big Three every night, especially against a team like South Carolina. One big game from one player won’t do it. To beat an elite team, your elite players all have to fire at the same time. At one point the Horned Frogs had one field goal in 10 minutes. That won’t cut it.
Third, keep your pace. South Carolina got TCU out of its rhythm offensively. The Horned Frogs want pace and possessions. For the first time this season that didn’t happen. The Gamecocks took the Horned Frogs out of their game. To be a great team, one has to find a way to adjust to the adjustment.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
