South Carolina coach Dawn Staley (Image Credits: IMAGN)

Dawn Staley’s South Carolina is preparing for its final game before Christmas break on Thursday against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. The Gamecocks are in the midst of a perfect December, going 4-0 with big wins over top-10 ranked opposition in Duke and TCU.

With the players set to return home soon, Staley was asked during her media availability on Tuesday how she manages to keep her players focused on the games.

“You threaten them. I mean, I did,” coach Staley said. (3:04) “I’ve been in college before. I’ve been in this situation before. I understand, you know, the play on the mind to be in two places and to want to get home and you can’t fight that, you know

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“So it has to be your discipline. You have to be where your mind is and if your mind is at home, your player is going to say so. If your mind is here, you are going to do what you’ve been doing and be the disciplined athlete that you are. So it’s really a mental test for all of us. But for me, (it) is for us to play to our standard always.”

No. 2 ranked South Carolina is attempting to defend its 2024 national championship win and has managed to stay afloat thus far, despite losing to UCLA. After the break, the Gamecocks prepare for conference games, which will impact their postseason run.

Dawn Staley comments on her team’s consistency struggles

Despite retaining most of their players from last season, when they went undefeated, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks have already displayed signs of struggles. Players like MiLaysia Fulwiley and Chloe Kitts, who are considered core pieces for this year’s campaign, have yet to put in consistent performances with every outing.

After Sunday’s win over South Florida, Dawn Staley commented on her team’s consistency struggles, saying:

“I think sometimes when we get out to a quick start, we think it’s going to be a lopsided win. So we really just focus on offense. And then we get really careless and undisciplined defensively. And then teams will show you who they are and they capture the momentum of the game and they make you pay.”

Staley also added that the lack of experienced players who can lead the defense is affecting their games.

“They’re young, though. They fall victim to just the crowd,” Dawn Staley said. “Just offensively, they get really up for making baskets. They forget about how we build our lead and we build our lead on what we’re able to do defensively.”

The South Carolina vs Charleston Southern game is scheduled to tip-off at 12 P.M. EST at the Colonial Life Arena and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.