“Just very scrappy”: Dawn Staley previews South Carolina’s season opener vs Michigan

Dawn Staley foresees having a tough test against the Michigan Wolverines in the South Carolina Gamecocks' 2024-25 season opener. Ahead of their trip to Las Vegas, the Gamecocks head coach addressed the media following the team's practice session this past Friday, speaking about the Nov. 4 showdown.

Staley will take on a familiar face in Wolverines' head coach, Kim Barnes Arico, with the duo serving as assistant coaches for USA Basketball's U18 and U19 teams in 2014 and 2015, respectively. She expects the Wolverines' talented roster to give them a run for their money, drawing insights from their exhibition game against the Northland Timberwolves on October 27.

"Just very scrappy," said Staley. "They'll be physical, they'll challenge us 'cuz, in their exhibition game, they started five guards. So, our bigs will be challenged and having to defend on the perimeter, and then our challenge is to get the ball to them inside.

"Probably zone, probably little sagging man, probably something that will slow us down a little bit. So, we'll be prepared for whatever defense is thrown at us."

Dawn Staley and Kim Barnes Arico assemble top 10 2024 signing classes

Dawn Staley added another feather to her cap this past season, leading the Gamecocks to their second national championship in three seasons. While they lost some of their top talents from last season, the most prominent being center Kamilla Cardoso, Staley assembled the third-best signing class in the nation per espnW.

Dawn Staley won her third national championship with the South Carolina Gamecocks last season.

The Gamecocks' signing class is highlighted by forward Joyce Edwards, the second overall ranked prospect in the country. It also features two top 30 recruits in Maddy McDaniel and Adhel Tac, as well as talented Arkansas transfer Maryam Dauda.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines have assembled a signing class which ranks eighth in the country per espnW. Their class is highlighted by five-star guard prospect Syla Swords, ranked fourth overall in the Class of 2024. Barnes Arico also managed to land 20th overall prospect Olivia Olson and four-star point guard Mila Holloway, bolstering their backcourt ahead of the upcoming season.

Despite making March Madness in each of the last four seasons and assembling a top 10 signing class, the Wolverines do not feature on AP's Top 25 women's college basketball poll. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks hold top spot in the poll, solidifying their credentials as preseason favorites.