Vic Schaefer is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2018, when his Mississippi State Bulldogs reached their second-straight national championship game. But a daunting matchup awaits Dawn Staley and the defending champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Texas is no stranger to their fellow SEC foe, South Carolina, having played the Gamecocks three times already this season. In this first matchup, the Longhorns fell 67-50 on the road in mid-January. Less than a month later, the Longhorns got their revenge, snapping South Carolina's 57-game SEC regular-season win streak. In the SEC Tournament Championship, a lopsided second quarter proved to be the culprit for Texas. They fell 64-45.
They say one cannot beat a team three times. Will that be the case for Texas on Friday night in Tampa? Here are three keys for Texas to beat South Carolina in the Final Four.
Dominant the paint
Among the key identities for the 2024-25 Texas team has been their dominating presence in the paint. In Texas’ 58-47 win over TCU in the Elite Eight, the Longhorns outscored the Horned Frogs 24-8 in the paint. Size is an asset for the Longhorns, with Madison Booker, Taylor Jones, and Kyla Oldacre towering over six feet.
The Longhorns won’t get trigger-happy from behind the arc, they’ll pound the paint and get action going inside the three-point line. In the NCAA Tournament, Texas has attempted 230 field goals from inside the arc. They have attempted just 24 three-pointers. Nearly 91% of their total possessions come from two.
Contain MiLaysia Fulwiley
South Carolina is the definition of “balance.” Their leading scorer (Joyce Edwards) averages 12.7 PPG. Nine players average 5.0 PPG or higher. But one name that stands out is sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley.
Despite coming off the bench, Fulwiley has been an integral asset to the Gamecocks this season -- and she gave the Longhorns fits in their first two matchups. She collected eight points, four rebounds, and three steals in the first matchup versus Texas. In the second matchup, she notched 13 points, three assists and three steals. Fulwiley saved the day in the NCAA Tournament, helping propel South Carolina past Maryland in the Sweet 16 with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Texas must find answers for Fulwiley if they want to reach Sunday night.
Win the turnover battle and capitalize on second-chance points
According to BartTorvik, Texas has the 14th-best defensive turnover rate (29.3) in NCAA women’s basketball. Simply put, the Longhorns can turn you over as they average over 10 steals per game led by Rori Harmon, who averages 2.2 SPG. To reach Sunday night, winning the turnover battle is crucial.
In addition, the Longhorns are among the top offensive-rebounding teams in the country thanks to their daunting size. Texas grabs an offensive rebound on 42.4% of their possessions, the fourth-best in women's college basketball, according to BartTorvik.
While Texas likely won’t get the chance to snag any long-bouncing rebounds from three, their physicality in the paint is evident, meaning they must capitalize on second-chance points to reach the championship game.