Third-ranked South Carolina makes another road trip to face No. 25 Alabama on Thursday night in what could be one of the more intriguing matchups of the SEC slate. Here’s what to keep an eye on.
🏀 Getting Back to Defensive Basics
Without being asked, Staley used her Wednesday media session to address what she felt went wrong against LSU on the defensive end. She was not satisfied.
“Our defense was not…was not good at all,” Staley said. “Just our off-ball defense was not good. I mean, we are hanging on the players, and they didn’t shoot it well from three, but we surely were playing them like they were shooting the lights out from three. No. Just unaware. We were so unaware, and in a game like that, you seem to get a little bit tighter to your player and less about what your normal discipline and routines are. So hopefully we’ve taken a look at it and hopefully we get back to just playing our half-court defense the way we need to, and hopefully get another win on the road.”
The raw numbers offer some cover — LSU shot 40% from the field and just 16.7% from three-point range. But the Tigers managed only nine turnovers and left points on the board from the free throw line, which gives Staley’s critique some weight. Sloppy tendencies left unaddressed tend to surface at the worst moments.
🏀 Who’s Available?
The injury picture is a mixed bag heading into Tuscaloosa. Maddy McDaniel, who has been sidelined for the past two games, is trending toward a return. She was on the floor for warmups before the LSU game and was back in practice on Wednesday — encouraging signs, though her name was absent from the availability report that evening. That same pattern appeared before she sat out against Tennessee, so nothing is confirmed until tip-off.
Adhel Tac is a more complicated situation. She was spotted wearing a boot on her left foot both at the LSU game and during the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to observers. Coach Dawn Staley described her status simply as day-to-day with a lower leg injury, offering little clarity on a timeline for her return.
🏀 The Trap Game Factor
Alabama may be ranked, but this matchup lacks the emotional electricity of a game against LSU. The Crimson Tide draw modest home crowds — averaging around 2,530 fans per game — and South Carolina has been thoroughly dominant in this series, winning 24 consecutive meetings, most of them without much drama.
That combination of familiarity and low stakes can be dangerous. It has the hallmarks of a classic trap game. What works in South Carolina’s favor is that the SEC title picture gives this game real weight — you cannot win the conference on Sunday without handling business on Thursday first.
Staley also pointed to the mental reset that followed Saturday’s LSU win as a positive.
“I do like the mindset,” Staley said. “We had two days off prior to playing LSU. And I do think some of the people really needed it. I don’t know if we needed it as a whole, just to stay in some kind of rhythm. But it’s a normal week for us, so we practice Tuesday, Wednesday — there’s some normalcy to it when it comes to preparations. I don’t think we’re lacking in that. But we’ll see tomorrow night.”
🏀 What Happened the Last Time These Teams Met
South Carolina and Alabama squared off to open SEC play on January 1st, with the Gamecocks coming away with an 83-57 victory in Columbia — and they did it without Ta’Niya Latson in the lineup. The game was largely settled early, with South Carolina building a lead and leaning on its home environment from there.
Thursday night flips that dynamic entirely. Playing in Tuscaloosa is a different challenge, and Staley acknowledged it — though she handled the question with characteristic humor.
“Move the game to CLA,” Staley joked. “Most of our SEC teams are really good at home. A lot of issues happen on the road, and rightfully so — great crowds, the comforts of home is something we built our reputation on and that’s what teams in the SEC are doing. So it’s another test, and hopefully we’ll be able to pass it.”
The data, for what it’s worth, supports South Carolina’s confidence. Every time Staley has coached in Tuscaloosa, the Gamecocks have won by at least 12 points. The last two trips resulted in wins of 13 and 18 points respectively — closer than before, but still comfortable.
