It has been quite the week for the defending champions.
First, South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear against Mississippi State. The Gamecocks were already adapting to life without Kamilla Cardoso, who was last season’s most athletic and versatile frontcourt player, so Watkins’ injury suggests a calamitous hit to their title chances.
But these are the Gamecocks, who possess the deepest roster in the country — to the point none of the ensemble cast of a one-loss team even merited a sliver of consideration in my Player of the Year debate with Chantel Jennings last week. Watkins’ absence barely registered in a 41-point win against Texas A&M (keep in mind the Aggies were coming off a win over Ole Miss). South Carolina got double-digit scoring outputs from Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards and also found time to unearth Sakima Walker in garbage time.
Still, the toughest test was yet to come against new SEC opponent Texas. The Longhorns entered Sunday’s matchup with the best offensive rating in the country and the fifth-ranked defense, per CBB Analytics, as well as only one road loss (in overtime to Notre Dame). Yet, the Gamecocks obliterated Texas, limiting the Longhorns to 28 percent shooting as Feagin dominated the interior with nine…
