South Carolina’s growth can be seen in Dawn Staley as well as its players

CLEVELAND — Beneath the dim lights of their locker room in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, members of the South Carolina women’s basketball team curled up or stretched out on the carpeted floor. Dawn Staley couldn’t help but smile. She has likened her job to running a daycare and reiterated her point by posting a video of the slumber session.

“Get your mats,” she wrote. “You don’t have (to) sleep … but you … have to lie down. #daycareduty”

What began as a playful moment quickly turned into a long discussion among Gamecocks coaches about Staley’s verb usage. Wanting a neutral opinion, Staley opened her media session with a question.

“You guys are writers, right?” she said. “Our players were in the locker room lying or laying down?”

“Lying,” someone answered.

“You sure?” Staley said. “Well, I told our coaches (that) someone taught me you lie to get laid.”

Laughter erupted. Who knew Staley could deliver punchlines as well as victories? However, there is no joking when she says she is shocked her Gamecocks are in the Final Four for the fourth consecutive year, undefeated, top-seeded and preparing to face NC State on Friday night.