USF women's basketball faces massive challenge Sunday at South Carolina

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has built a juggernaut program
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has built a juggernaut program | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

USF women’s basketball team vs. 3rd-ranked South Carolina

When: Sunday, 2 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C.

Records: USF 5-5. South Carolina 9-1

TV: SEC Network

Internet radio: Bulls Unlimited

The first ten games of the season have had a roller-coaster effect on USF. The Bulls  have played tough against top opponents like Louisville, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State.

The other side is that they were blown out by UConn and TCU, the latter coming in an 87-46 drubbing by TCU in the Cayman Islands Classic.

What’s to expect when USF continues with its brutal non-conference schedule and travels to 3rd-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina?

Put it this way: Carolina walloped 9th-ranked TCU 85-52 last Sunday. It is the Horned Frogs’ only loss.

Gulp!

Bulls coach Jose Fernandez knew what he was getting into when he scheduled this non-conference gauntlet.

“Playing this type of schedule helps you in a lot of different facets. Number one, I think this is the type of schedule that recruits and players want to play, right? Number two, I think the schedule definitely prepares you for that, because you've played against some of the best players and coaches in the country,” he said.

“Three, in regards to your mental strength of schedule, there's no denying that the committee can really look at us, that we went out of our way to play a very competitive November and December, right?”

It’s arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the country, and it’s designed to get the Bulls ready when the American Athletic Conference schedule begins. Lest we forget, USF is the preseason pick to win the AAC.

The Gamecocks, however, are elite in every sense. To win or even stay close in this game is a massive challenge.

“You’ve got to knock down open shots. We’ve got to finish around the rim,” he said. “I'd like us to take much better care of the basketball, or rebounding collectively.”

South Carolina is 9-1 entering this game after going wire-to-wire undefeated last season. The Gamecocks’ 43-game winning streak ended on November 24 in a 77-62 loss at UCLA, and it wasn’t that close. The Bruins roared to a 43-22 halftime lead and cruised home.

South Carolina has been in beast mode in the four games after that loss, including two against ranked opponents, outscoring opponents 341-209.

Like Fernandez said, however, it’s a chance for his team to gauge where it stands before conference games begin.

“I think we're a lot better than a five-and-five team. It's a great opportunity for our program and our kids. But yeah, I mean, it's going to be a physical game. We know that we're going to have to play very, very well,” Fernandez said.

“We're going to have to finish around the rim, not give South Carolina extra possessions. It’s going to be a special environment. It'll be an NCAA tournament (environment). There are a lot of reasons why you play these games, and there's a lot of reasons why people shy away from playing them.”

Say one thing for the Bulls’ coach: He’s not shy.

Schedule

Schedule