A Final Four rematch between the No. 1-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks and No. 9-ranked NC State Wolfpack headlines the 2024 Ally Tipoff in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, Nov. 10 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Gamecocks, of course, triumphed in that Final Four showdown, using a 29-6 third quarter to pull away for a 78-59 win. South Carolina was powered by a 22-point and 11-rebound double-double from Kamilla Cardoso, an advantage they will be without now that the 6-foot-6 center is in the WNBA. The Gamecocks should have the services of junior forward Ashlyn Watkins. Watkins, who corralled 20 rebounds in the Final Four game, is expected to make her season debut, having been suspended from the team due to assault and kidnapping charges that were dismissed last week.
However, both South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and NC State head coach Wes Moore will be more concerned about what the matchup means for their teams this season, rather than what happened in April. Neither squad looked particularly sharp in their season opener.
On Monday, South Carolina struggled to put away a spunky Michigan team, eventually escaping Las Vegas with a 68-62 win. The Wolverines stymied the Gamecocks’ offense with a zone defense, a strategy which was made more effective…
