Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox Talking Gamecock's women's basketball Final Four preview, Baseball picks up a midweek win and the football team holds a scrimmage. Okay, here we go.
[00:00:55] Okay.
[00:00:56] Welcome to episode three, 383 of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I am your host, Tim Cox, where I will keep every episode from 1801 to 2001. And what a week it's been, y'. All. I mean, my goodness, coming off of a fantastic weekend of college basketball. I mean, the men's side of things, UConn shot one of the best you're ever gonna see in your life. We have the Gamecocks in action then you're just building up to this weekend, which is just going to be pressure packed, incredible, elite level college basketball. And this is why we march. I know we're in April now, but who cares, right? It's still March. As long as the tournament is still going on, legally speaking, it's still March. I don't know if anyone's ever told you that, but that is actually true. You should look it up. So we're still in March. We are marching our way through the tournament and wow. Yeah, it's just been a great week. Looking forward ahead to the weekend, just seeing a lot of excitement and everything on social media, talking amongst our fans and things like that. And it is just so, so cool to see. Of course, I'm going to dive into that in a little bit here, but before I do, let's do a quick, and I mean quick, because there's not a lot going on. Week in review.
[00:02:19] Monday, this is the only thing I got. I got Monday. Softball unfortunately lost to Mississippi State 4 3.
[00:02:27] In other news this week, not really score related here, but football, I mean, we'll take any chance we get to talk ball here. The football team held a scrimmage, so we're talking practice here, shout out AI here. But yeah, the football team held a scrimmage and that happens every year. And you get some insight. More you got more insight than others on, on fee with these. But I think when we talk about having an entirely new offensive system and several new coaches on both sides of the ball here, any piece of intel that you can get from this set of spring practices. But really the scrimmages, when we're still talking about install and things like that, when you get the results that we did in that they were positive, that's what you want to hear. And that's exciting. And it's funny because you know, Shane Beamer even talked about this where he said they ran about 60 plays of 11 on 11, and there was only one turnover, which was something that he was very complimentary of. We've turned the ball over far too many times in his tenure on the offensive side of the ball, so that's great. You know, that tells you that the guys are getting the system. He said that there were a couple of drives that were over 10 plays. That's exactly what you want to hear. This team is still learning and gelling with that system, but it seems to be that early on, they're at least grasping maybe the basics or maybe more than the basics here to be able to do some of that. But it is funny because on the flip side of it, what has made our team challenging to play against in a lot of times has been creating turnovers, and that's won us plenty of ball games under Clayton White. So it's this funny give and take. Where is the defense going to be able to create toner verse where there are a couple of younger players who are going to be playing in some big spots. But for me, I want good intel. I want positive notes on this offense because it's an entirely new and exciting system.
[00:04:30] And if not now, when. When we talk about making a. A good stride forward with Shane Beamer and with this group that we have here. So it was neat to see some good intel from the scrimmage. There's just been some other good reporting on young players, which is usually typical this time of year. But again, there's going to be some players on both sides of the ball who are young and who are going to need to step up and play big roles. So you don't want to hear reports of, hey, some of these guys are behind the eight ball that they maybe thought would be ready to go.
[00:05:04] No, none of that. All good things. So all signs seem to be pointing positive this spring after we dealt with some of those injury news earlier in the year.
[00:05:16] But. All right, let's turn our attention to the main attraction here, folks. What do y' all say, huh? I'm talking women's basketball here.
[00:05:23] Little bit of a recap here.
[00:05:25] Monday night, the ladies faced TCU in the Elite eight. And it was a battle early on that first quarter.
[00:05:34] You know, some of that first half, it. It was a battle, right? But steadily and surely, the women found their groove and ultimately ended up winning the game in dominant fashion, 78 to 52, which brought the ladies to yet another Final Four. I mean, oh, my gosh, like, you know, it was, you know, There was a little bit of a sweat there early in the game. There's a lot of pressure, a lot on the line.
[00:06:05] Everyone has a target on South Carolina, and I don't know, maybe. Maybe it felt a little good to have some of that pressure and just. And to come out on the other side of that.
[00:06:16] And maybe it was good for this team to not just have a total cakewalk when there is some of that pressure. And I. Ultimately, I think the team responded incredibly well. But it just brings me back to just how special it is having this program right now. Like, to be alive during this time and to be, like, very much an participating fan, like, where you can really comprehend the importance of it. It's just a blessing. I mean, it's almost where we're just so used to it, right? And there are these mainstays in women's college basket, like a South Carolina, like a UConn. You know, UCLA has been doing it for a few years now, and you almost can get used to it, but you just. You have to take a step back. Like, getting to Final Fours is hard, and we have done it time and time again, multiple in a row now. And, you know, if a TCU makes it to the Final Four, that they're. That their having a parade, right? We get to the Final Four, we're like, okay, like, we're still hungry. What's next? And it's just a blessing. Don Staley has been an incredible steward for our university and for the game of women's college basketball, and it's just a blessing to have her coaching our team and creating what she created. So really, it is kudos to Dawn Staley for the coaching job she did this entire year, where you dealt with injuries, you dealt with some adversity, the depth wasn't at the level that you're used to, and you still managed to do this. Kudos to all the players for responding in the right way and for accepting roles that maybe were a little different and whatever, right? And kudos to the fans. You know, I mean, we can't really complain, right? Like, yeah, we had a couple of bumps along the way, but here we are. But kudos to us for sticking through it and supporting and for anyone who traveled and watched this team or who going to travel, like, kudos to y'. All. It's just incredible. And as we do, the Gamecocks are headed to the desert for the Final Four, which is being held in Phoenix and facing none other than the Yukon Huskies yet again.
[00:08:43] Sitting here today talking to y' all the GameCocks are currently six and a half point underdogs, which is a crazy thing to just see and say and write to be underdogs. But that's. That's the case. The Huskies are undefeated on the year. They've leaned on their defense these last couple of rounds in the tournament to really just bully their way into this Final Four. They have had a heck of a year. They've faced some ranked competition outside of their conference, and they've done well.
[00:09:14] You look at the run they did in the tournament, and it's just kind of. You're just seeing the story of UConn, which is their defense is elite. You know, offensively, they have players to hurt you, like they very much do. And some of their offensive stats are right there at the top of the country. But the thing that I think has really separated them from some of these other teams has been their defense. I mean, when you look at it, UConn is holding their opponents to about 50 points per game, whereas South Carolina is 57. And we've had some games where we've really stepped on the necks of some people. So it just goes to show that they really are doing a very good job at UConn of making it difficult to score the basketball. They are really good at creating turnovers and generating points off that. And, you know, it's definitely going to be a challenge because on top of that, they do still have some elite players. And you've seen even in this tournament, some of that be on display, offensively speaking, that is. But, you know, when we talk about this tournament, you know, this particular Final Four, it really does feel like the four teams are head and shoulders above the rest. You know, it's the four number one seeds.
[00:10:36] You look at all their paths. They generally handled the games very well.
[00:10:40] Wide margins of victory.
[00:10:43] So the Gamecocks are peaking. Or like, you know, I'm like, you have four teams that are head and shoulders above the rest, but you also have a Gamecocks team that's getting contributions from everyone and really playing as good as they have been on all year.
[00:11:05] So when you combine that with experienced veterans, it's. It's. It proposes a very interesting scenario where maybe you can come out of the gate with this one and stick it to UConn. And if you do that early, I'm very curious to how UConn is able to respond, because when you do look at their path to the Final Four, I mean, not unlike South Carolina, they. They dominated. So it just begs the question of well, what happens if they have a team that can stick it to them and can play with them? And I think that's really what it is, because you look at South Carolina and you do have those veterans in Raven. Tessa. You know, Joyce has really come into her own this year and is that star player, and she has experience in tournament.
[00:11:59] But then there's some other players who haven't been on this type of ride with South Carolina before.
[00:12:05] And you have some, you know, moments this tournament where you're seeing things click in many different areas, and it's what's led to some of these performances in the tournament.
[00:12:19] So, again, it just begs the question where if you get that and you can make UConn sweat a little bit, can. Can you do this? Right? I mean, you're sitting there as the underdog. I mean, there's absolutely no reason, though, why South Carolina can't. Can't be on top at the end of this one. I mean, Don and Geno obviously know each other very well, and both teams are going to be really prepared. But does South Carolina come into this one with maybe a little extra motivation going up against this program?
[00:12:55] There's a lot of history, a lot of recent history, right? So you can come in with a little chip on your shoulder. Instead of being the one hunted now, you're the hunter. You know, that's a different mentality and lets people play a little free. And then when you do talk about Joyce Edwards, who has had a phenomenal year and has grown into that true top option for this team, and the type of player that Don Staley has always had, like, you know, she has seen some of this before, and maybe she doesn't have as much nerves and feels and has that confidence and can weather some early storms, right, you're going to have to protect the ball. You have to limit fast break points, and you have to dominate on the glass. These are the things where if you can limit what UConn does well, but really accentuate what we do well, I mean, that's. That's the winning recipe right there.
[00:13:49] Now, if I'm going to put a crow to the game on this one, I'm going to say we need Latson to show up. You know, someone who is an experienced player who has done some really good things for us this year, but rather objectively hasn't been the most consistent and maybe has been a little bit more inconsistent than I think anyone would have thought given the experience she has. But when you look at the type of player that she is, especially Being a little bit older, that's the type of player who can get hot. And you say, hey, for two games, if you give us everything and you, and you are up to the maximum capabilities, you pair that with both Johnson's and Joyce and now all of a sudden you're feeling good and you get Makir thrown in there. Like, that's, I think, what you need. You need one of the unusual suspects to continue to shine in this tournament. If they can all come together, maybe you can make something happen. And then, you know, I'm not even, I'm not even saying what's, what's ahead of this one. You really can't. I mean, this whole tournament run, I've been saying, well, if the seeding holds true, then you would play this or this. No, no, no, no, no. We're not even talking that. Okay? Obviously we know what's at stake going into this one.
[00:15:12] This is, this is no joke. You're going against the overall number one seed in the tournament. You have to take them very, very seriously. They're having a phenomenal year. But that's not to say that South Carolina can't match up against these guys, right? So let's freaking go.
[00:15:26] Let's freaking go.
[00:15:29] Another Final four banner in colonial life, but let's fight for, for more.
[00:15:35] So, Jazz, I'm so happy for this team. I'm so happy for this team. You know, it felt, you know, you talk about South Carolina basketball, you're. You're right at the top of the rankings all year. You know, you feel like, yeah, this team can do something special.
[00:15:50] It felt a little different this year, but you just knew it. Like, it just feels inevitable.
[00:15:55] I absolutely love it. I'm so stoked.
[00:15:58] So ready for Friday? Let's go.
[00:16:02] All right. Now, changing gears rather drastically here. Got to start off with, with, with, with the women's basketball, but we're going to, we're going to wrap things up here with baseball. Talking Yardcocks here. The Yardcocks got a midweek win on Tuesday night, defeating Wofford 11 to 1. Run ruled them. And it's just funny, like at this point, to me, there's still that fresh aura with this team that, you know, Monary's out of here. Like, it just. Anything positive that happens with this team, win wise, it's just a feel good story. Like, and anything positive for this team, for Monty and the boys, I'm going to take it. We're not going to talk about the tough weekend in Athens. No, we're going to, we're going to overshadow that for now because you beat the crap out of Wofford.
[00:16:51] But up next, and really currently, I should say for the Gamecocks, is a series against Texas, which got started Thursday. So by the time y' all are listening to this, maybe the Gamecocks got a win. But Texas comes into this matchup in Columbia, one of the better teams in the SEC 7 and 2 record before the Thursday game. And a good showing this this weekend would go a long way with everyone who is invested in this program, and it'll be pretty great to see. And could y' all imagine, like, picture a scenario where baseball has a good weekend against Texas and a potential national championship against South Carolina and Texas in women's basketball? Like, wow. Just absolutely. But again, task at hand.
[00:17:45] Handle business against UConn Yard. Cox, handle business against Texas one game at a time.
[00:17:51] Let's go. But with that, y', all, that wraps up this episode. Please follow me on social media, Twitter or X is Cox Gamecox. Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks. And please, like, subscribe and review the podcast. I appreciate all y'. All. Go Cox.
