South Carolina Gamecocks News: Final Four, spring practice, transfer portal, baseball dominance, more
By Kevin Miller
Here is the latest South Carolina Gamecocks News, starting with the women’s basketball team.
After beating Maryland in the Elite Eight, South Carolina has known for almost five days exactly who they would play in the Final Four. Iowa and Caitlin Clark will be waiting for the Gamecocks in Dallas with a spot in the national championship game on the line. A matchup between the nation’s best offensive player and the nation’s top defense (and top defensive players in Aliyah Boston and Brea Beal) is sure to be entertaining for fans.
Speaking of the Lady Gamecocks, more awards came flooding in this week.
Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston were chosen as the winners of the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year and Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year awards this week. For each of them, this is the second year in a row winning the award. This is Staley’s third time winning. Boston did not win the Naismith Women’s National Player of the Year award again this season; instead, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark brought home the honor. This means that the Final Four matchup between the Gamecocks and Hawkeyes will feature the last two winners of the award.
The men’s team added a new player from the transfer portal.
Ta’Lon Cooper committed to the Gamecocks this week. The South Carolina native previously played at Morehead State and Minnesota but will return to the Palmetto State to help facilitate the offense as the potential starting point guard. Last season’s point guard Meechie Johnson is more comfortable as a lead scoring guard than a facilitator, so theoretically, the two should coexist well. The Gamecocks still have multiple scholarships available.
The football team has continued with spring practice, and fans have learned some things through the media availability that comes with practice.
Coach Shane Beamer updated the media on the offensive line, which is a position group replacing three long-term starters this offseason. He named a top-6 of Jaylen Nichols, Jakai Moore, Nick Gargiulo, Vershon Lee, Trai Jones, and Tyshawn Wannamaker as the players most likely to take the five starting spots if the season were to start today. He also praised Ryan Brubaker, Grayson Mains, Cason Henry, and true freshman Markee Anderson for having impressive offseasons so far.
Spencer Rattler talked a little about his decision to return to South Carolina instead of heading off to the NFL. Rattler credited new Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains and his system as part of the reason he returned. He also cited unfinished business and top target Antwane “Juice” Wells’ return as factors.
A new coach is joining the Gamecock football staff.
Long-time NFL assistant coach Sean Ryan was hired to be an offensive analyst. Ryan has a history of working with quarterbacks and wide receivers and will likely fill the role vacated by Freddie Kitchens when he left the program this offseason.
A Gamecock starter at defensive end was granted an extra year of eligibility.
Jordan Strachan was granted a seventh year of college football eligibility after appealing for a medical redshirt after last season’s ACL tear kept him out of 11.5 of the team’s 13 games. If healthy, he will likely play a big role on the defense again this year.
The baseball team is officially off to its best start ever.
The 25-2 start to the season is the best 26-game record to start a season in the storied history of South Carolina baseball. The Gamecocks also lead the country in home runs, only adding to the perception of this season’s greatness. The #9 Gamecocks are in the midst of a three-game weekend series against Mississippi State and won game 1 of that series on Thursday night to become 7-0 in SEC play for the first time in program history.
Two Gamecocks were selected as players of the week for their efforts in last weekend’s sweep over Missouri.
Ethan Petry was selected as SEC Freshman of the Week, and Noah Hall was the league’s Pitcher of the Week. Both players have won these awards previously this season.
Some injuries are coming into play for the YardCocks.
After Will McGillis broke his arm last weekend, Carson Hornung injured his foot. Coach Mark Kingston said Hornung has a small fracture but is available for light duty and could potentially pinch hit. Presumedly, he is unavailable to play in the field or run the bases more than he has to, but no further details have been given.
The South Carolina softball team continues to scuffle.
After an incredible start to the year, the softball team has lost 6 of 9 games, including 5 of 6 in the SEC. The latest loss came at the hands of the rival Clemson Tigers. Things won’t get any easier as they are in the middle of the hardest portion of their schedule and will take on #11 Florida this weekend.