The Gamecocks narrowly escaped their second consecutive loss of the season when they beat Louisville 79-77 after a clutch layup from Raven Johnson and a made free throw from Madina Okot. While South Carolina got the win, the game highlighted an unfamiliar issue plaguing the team this season.
Dawn Staley usually assembles deep rosters. Last season, for example, nine players averaged between 18 and 25 minutes per game, and the Gamecocks led the nation in bench points per game with 40.3. This season, Dawn Staley is leaning heavily on her five starters and struggling to get consistent production out of her bench.
After the win over Louisville, Staley said, “They [the five staters] gotta play heavy minutes for us until we develop our bench a little bit more.” She also added that she didn’t “feel strong enough” to make lots of substitutions in the second half.
South Carolina lacks depth and sorely misses Chloe Kitts
Last season, Joyce Edwards was the Gamecocks’ leading scorer despite coming off the bench. Since Edwards was only a freshman, Staley opted to start Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin in the frontcourt, giving her bench a supercharged sixth player. Staley also had Tessa Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley coming off the bench. Johnson was the team’s leading 3-point shooter, and Fulwiley was one of three players who averaged over ten points per game.
This season’s depth pales in comparison. Johnson and Edwards moved into the starting lineup since Bree Hall and Sania Faegin went pro and Chloe Kitts is out for the season with an ACL tear. Fulwiley transferred to LSU, leaving Staley with a rather thin bench.
Tessa Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, and Madina Okot all average between 26 and 31 minutes per game. Agot Makeer is the only bench player to average more than 15 minutes and five points per game. As a team, the Gamecocks currently only average 15.9 bench points per game according to the NCAA stats website.
No reserve played even ten minutes against Louisville, and Ayla McDowell and Adhel Tac combined for only four points. Meanwhile, Louisville got 73 combined minutes and 34 points from its bench. A lack of depth was also an issue in South Carolina’s first loss of the season. Maddy McDaniel was the only reserve to play more than 10 minutes, and Adhel Tac was the only one to score, contributing two points. Texas only played two players off the bench, but both contributed heavy minutes and combined for 17 points.
If Chloe Kitts weren’t out for the season, South Carolina’s depth would look much different. As a senior, Kitts would likely have continued in the starting lineup, playing in the frontcourt alongside Madina Okot. Having Edwards come off the bench again would significantly boost South Carolina’s depth. Even if Staley had opted to start Edwards, either Okot or Kitts would have had to come off the bench, giving the team at least one reliable reserve.