South Carolina Basketball: 6 thumbs up (0 thumbs down) for demolition of Clemson

POINT GUARDS . Thumbs Up. South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley is committed to playing a double-barrelled point guard attack this season. Raven Johnson and Te-Hina Paopao have been excellent this season. They’ve both done everything you could want a guard to do on offense: they’ve shot the ball well, they’ve moved the ball on offense, and they’ve found open teammates. Against Clemson, the two players leaned into one particular area of their games each as Johnson finished with 17 assists (2nd-most in program history) and Paopao made four of five 3-pointers.. . South Carolina Gamecocks

Kamilla Cardoso was named one of the national players of the week and the SEC’s player of the week last week, and she followed that up with another big-time performance on Thursday. In just 22 minutes, the Brazilian post player put up 15 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks while shooting 6-9 from the field. She is a dark horse for the Wade Trophy and John Wooden Award, but her team’s dominance might cut into her minutes enough that someone else will win the national player of the year awards.. . South Carolina Gamecocks. BRAZILIAN BRILLIANCE . Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up. Ashlyn Watkins has gotten off to a tremendous start this season. She has blocked at least 4 shots in each of the Gamecocks’ three games this season, and she has two double-doubles, including another one against Clemson on Thursday night. Watkins only trails Kamilla Cardoso in rebounding, and she is shooting over 50% from the field. As confident as she has ever been, Watkins has played well at both the 4 and the 5. If she can continue playing at a high level, she might force her way into the starting lineup, but having a more offensively-minded power forward next to Cardoso (Chloe Kitts is starting right now) seems to fit better as Watkins can come off the bench at either spot and fill in seamlessly.. . South Carolina Gamecocks. THE EMERGENCE OF ASHLYN WATKINS

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