They say beating a team three times in one season is one of the most difficult challenges in sports. But that’s what South Carolina hopes to accomplish Friday night in a meeting of No. 1 seeds in the Final Four. The Gamecocks and Texas have already met three times this season, with South Carolina winning Round 1, Texas winning Round 2 and the Gamecocks taking Round 3 in the SEC tournament championship last month.
Dawn Staley and Vic Schaefer know each other’s teams well by now. But what will be the difference in the end? How will each team tweak its strategy from previous matchups, if at all? And who needs to carry the load for either side to punch its ticket into Sunday’s national championship game?
The Athletic asked opposing coaches who have faced South Carolina or Texas this season (and some, who have faced both) for their insight, granting them anonymity so they could speak with candor.
The big question: Will there be a big changeup in either’s game plan as they go at it in Part IV?
“I don’t think either one of them can surprise the other with a scheme,” said one coach. “And I just don’t think that’s who they are. Yeah, I think that game is going to come down to who is the best version of themselves.”
A second coach disagreed: “Vic will do something….
