Dawn Staley slammed her players for not preparing correctly for the season opening win over Michigan, and hopes to restore South Carolina to the high standards set last year

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley claims that her players have taken responsibility after settling for a narrow 68-62 win in the season opener against Michigan.

The Gamecocks trailed at the half but avoided a major upset to start the season with a win, although that wasn’t enough for Staley. South Carolina won the national championship last year after going 38-0, becoming the tenth roster in women’s college basketball history to remain undefeated.

With the No. 1 seed and major expectations, beating the Wolverines by just six points didn’t meet Staley’s standards. Michigan went 20-14 last season, and 9-9 in its Big Ten conference.

The Gamecocks face NC State on Sunday, a team they met in the Final Four of March Madness last season before going on to win 78-59. Ahead of a big game, Staley made sure to send a message to her players and remind them of who they are.

When asked what she told the players after narrowing beating the Wolverines, Staley explained to reporters: “My message was for all of our team. We weren’t that team – we haven’t been that team in a very long time.

“That wasn’t rust – that was just us not approaching the game probably the right way that we need to approach it. It was just not us. It wasn’t the habits that we created. So, hopefully, we got back to the habits this week.

“We talked about a lot of things, we talked about how we felt. We got it out, we responded well on Wednesday, had a really good day today. So, hopefully, we get another prep day in, and we get back to being the team that showed up in Memphis and showed up here against Clayton State.”

The Gamecocks secured the win but didn’t look like they did last season. (Image: Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Staley also explained how Sania Faegin responded after scoring just two points against Michigan as she enters her senior year. “She’s responded. Feagin doesn’t really have it,” Staley said, before adding: “I don’t have an issue with Feagin in practice.

“It’s just – she’s got to give us a little bit more to start the basketball game. So, we’re going to see. We got one more prep day.” Staley also claimed that none of her players pointed the blame at specific individuals, instead accepting that as a group they weren’t good enough.

“I think every single player fell short of how they really wanted to play, even Chloe (Kitts),” Staley added. “Chloe had a double-double, but she took some ill-advised shots. We’re just not that type of team, and they’ve taken responsibility.”

No. 9 seeded NC State also won its first game with a dominant 80-55 over East Tennessee State. Staley and the Gamecocks know that another lackluster showing could see the 39-game streak placed at risk.