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2019-20 SEC women’s basketball preview: Title should come down to South Carolina and Texas A&M

By Bria Felicien

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 03: South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tyasha Harris (52) dribbles the ball past Georgia Bulldogs forward Caliya Robinson (4) during the first period between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Women's Tournament on March 3, 2018, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Steve Roberts/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 03: South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tyasha Harris (52) dribbles the ball past Georgia Bulldogs forward Caliya Robinson (4) during the first period between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Women's Tournament on March 3, 2018, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Steve Roberts/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 08: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (21) forward of South Carolina shoots a foul shot during the SEC Women’s basketball tournament between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the South Carolina Gamecocks on March 8, 2019, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 08: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (21) forward of South Carolina shoots a foul shot during the SEC Women’s basketball tournament between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the South Carolina Gamecocks on March 8, 2019, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

South Carolina has the pieces

South Carolina has front and back court veterans in Tyasha Harris and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and the No. 1 recruiting class in Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, Aliyah Boston and Olivia Thompson. This season the Gamecocks are without Te’a Cooper, who will spend her last year of eligibility at Baylor. LaDazhia Williams (Mizzou) and Bianca Jackson (Florida State) also transferred. Harrigan, the team’s top rebounder and shot blocker last season, put her name into the transfer portal earlier this year then decided to stay in South Carolina. Staley said one of Harrigan’s goals was consistency throughout the season.

The Gamecocks’ freshman class is expected to offset last season’s losses, but how will the top recruiting class fit into the Staley’s program? How long it’ll take for that the pieces to gel? At Media Day, Staley talked about having 10 players that could be starters as well as having balance and unselfishness, so it’ll be interesting to see how the pieces come together. And title hopes? A non-conference litmus test for the Gamecocks’ national title hopes can come on Feb. 10, 2020 vs. UConn. South Carolina has struggled against the Huskies during the regular and postseasons, and the Huskies lead the series 7-0. That’s not to say the Gamecocks can’t make it to the Final Four, or win a title, without beating them (Mississippi State beat UConn, then Gamecocks beat the Bulldogs to win 2017 title) but it’ll be a good look at what the pieces are capable of vs. one of the nation’s top programs.

Key Returners (2018-19 stats)

Tyasha Harris – logged the most minutes in 2018-19, led the team in assists and steals and averaged 10.9 points per game

Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, 6’2 F – led the team in blocks and finished second in rebounding, averaging 10.4 points per game and 5.1 rebounds

Key Losses

Alexis Jennings (starter, graduated) – started all but one game, led the team in rebounds averaged 6.2 game and 11.2 points.

Te’a Cooper (starter, transferred) – Last season’s leading scorer, contributing 11.9 points per game

Newcomers

Zia Cooke, 5’9 G

Brea Beal, 6’1 G

Aliyah Boston, 6’5 F

Olivia Thompson, 5’8 G

Key Non-Conference Matchups:

Nov. 10 at Maryland

No. 30 vs. Baylor in U.S. Virgin Islands

Dec. 19 vs. Duke

Feb. 10 vs. UConn

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