COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina began its run to perfection a year ago in the City of Lights.
A season after its Paris opening, the top-ranked Gamecocks in another high-glam, glitzy locale when they take on Michigan in Las Vegas on Monday night. “What do I like about it?” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said Friday. Where should she start? First, Staley said big-time games gave a chance for the unknown, talented, but untested Gamecocks to find out what they had.
It was also a bonding experience where players, several who had not been out of the country, visited landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum to view the “Mona Lisa.” Staley knows this will be a different experience. There's not so much need for getting to know each other since the bulk of last year's undefeated, national title-winning squad is back.
But Staley wants to see them under pressure against a top-level opponent like the Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference, who've received six NCAA Tournament berths the past seven seasons. “Yeah, it's good to do that,” Staley said. Her Gamecocks appear ready for the season to start.
Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley was an unpolished player when she played her first game in Paris. But that talent shown through with even the great Magic Johnson taking notice of Fulwiley's full-court rush with a behind the back finish. Fulwiley acknowledged she had some growing to do to fit into Staley's rotation and, eventually, she became a reliable, high-quality .
