"Formidable opponent": Dawn Staley reveals what she expects from well coached rivals Mississippi State

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley talked about what she expects from her team when they face Mississippi State in a Southeastern Conference showdown on Sunday. Despite the Bulldogs losing 91-69 to No. 16-ranked Kentucky on Friday, she knows they shouldn't underestimate their opponents.

"Probably everybody losing if Kentucky makes as many threes as they made against them," Staley said on Friday, via WACH FOX's Matt Dowell. "Formidable opponent. They still scored 77 something points so they can score it. They are coached well. They are very calculated and (know) what they want from an offensive standpoint.

"Defensively, they’re a little stingy, you know. I think it’s going to be a wheel of discipline for us and what we need to do to continue to get another road win on in our conference.”

The No. 2-ranked Gamecocks are coming off an 83-52 win over the Missouri Tigers on Thursday and are 13-1 this season.

Dawn Staley says South Carolina women's basketball doesn't have WNBA starters

Dawn Staley made an interesting statement about the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday.

South Carolina has consistently displayed offensive versatility with multiple players averaging over seven points per game. However, Staley still thinks they are not good enough to start in the WNBA.

"They can start anywhere else in the country," Staley said, via ABC Columbia's Noah Chast. "Tessa (Johnson), Lay (MiLaysia Fulwiley), Ashlyn (Watkins), Joyce (Edwards), all of them can be starters in other places. But they know that it's not totally about starting.

"It's about the big picture, which is preparing them to be a pro. Because I don't think we have anybody on our team that can go into the WNBA and start. Not anybody. So to be able to play a role like that, that will be a natural role for you in the league in the very beginning, it's not a bad thing."

South Carolina remains one of the frontrunners to win the NCAA title this season as it guns for its fourth national championship title under Staley's leadership.