South Carolina Basketball vs. NC State Wolfpack
Thumbs Down 1: 1st-Half Turnovers
The Gamecocks have struggled at times this year with giving the ball away. In most of those struggles, Carolina turns the ball over due to poor decision-making and/or playing "not their game" on offense.
That happened in the 1st half against NC State as Carolina gave the ball to the Wolfpack 5 times in the 1st quarter and 5 more times in the 2nd period. The turnovers allowed NC State to overcome a disadvantage in every other statistical category and make things just a 1-point game heading into halftime.
USC bounced back to win on Friday, but giving extra possessions to Caitlin Clark could prove fatal on Sunday, so the Gamecocks will need to clean things up with their ball security.
South Carolina Basketball vs. NC State Wolfpack
Thumbs Down 2: Fouls
Gamecock fans might argue that the officiating leaned toward favoring NC State in the National Semifinal (and, at times, it did). However, Carolina fouled the Wolfpack too much in this game.
16 personal fouls isn't a horrible number, but with how much contact the referees allowed in this game, 16 fouls felt like a lot. Those 16 fouls also allowed NC State to take 18 free throws, a big number considering the way the game was played and officiated.
Playing against Iowa, fouls will prove costly. Caitlin Clark, Hannah Stuelke, and Sydney Affolter are all high volume free throw players (and, frankly, they love to flop on contact). If the Gamecocks get too many whistles going against them on Sunday, they will be in trouble.
USC also took just 4 free throws in the entire game against NC State on Friday. They've got to get to the line for freebies more often.
South Carolina Basketball vs. NC State Wolfpack
Thumbs Down 3: Situational Struggles for Important Players
It isn't fair to say that any Gamecock struggled in their first Final Four game of the year. However, it is fair to say that some important contibutors struggled in certain aspects of their games.
Te-Hina Paopao and MiLaysia Fulwiley combined for 7 turnovers in 41 minutes. Chloe Kitts and Bree Hall combined for just 3 points on 6 shots as starters. Ashlyn Watkins and MiLaysia Fulwiley were inefficient as scorers. Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall lost some NC State guards on defense a few times in the 1st half before locking in after halftime.
Some of these are a bit nit-picky. However, Iowa could give South Carolina more problems than NC State was capable of if given the opportunity.