South Carolina coach Dawn Staley won all of her national championships with a dominant post presence on her team. A’ja Wilson was the center for the 2017 title-winning squad, while Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso were the featured bigs in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Last year, the Gamecocks paid the price for going small-ball, especially in the final against UConn. The Huskies dominated them inside the paint, 36-26, resulting in a 23-point loss in the title game.
This season, Staley secured the commitment of 6’6″ center Madina Okot from the transfer portal. The Kenyan big started in South Carolina’s 94-54 win over Grand Canyon on Monday but played only 17 minutes, finishing with 12 points and four rebounds. Those numbers didn’t please the veteran coach, who said the team would need more production from Okot to have a better chance at winning the NCAA Tournament.
What Did Dawn Staley Say About Madina Okot’s Performance Against Grand Canyon?
In a postgame press conference after the Gamecocks’ dominant debut win over the Lopes, Staley said that Okot, who played for Mississippi State last season, needs to step up and dominate to help the team advance to the knockout rounds and possibly win a fourth national title.
“We need Madina to be dominant. No doubt about it,” the three-time champion coach said. “I don’t think we go very far if we don’t have her contributing a little more than what she’s doing.”
Staley saw her three-guard combo of Ta’Niya Latson, Tessa Johnson, and Raven Johnson dominate Grand Canyon, combining for 50 points and nearly eclipsing the Lopes’ total output. Forward Joyce Edwards wasn’t in her element but still finished with 13 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one block.
However, the Hall of Fame bench tactician knows that having a center on the team forces the opposing defense to clog the lane, freeing up the guards. This is why she remains patient with Okot and the other bigs, Maryam Dauda and Adhel Tac. She knows her offseason strategy to acquire tall players will pay off in the long run.
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“It’s going to take some time for her to get there, and we’re going to push her towards that,” she said. “I’m hoping she didn’t like the 17 minutes that she played and comes back. You just have to figure out how and when or where those buttons are to push.”
South Carolina will have a three-day break before returning to action Friday against Bowling Green, coached by Staley’s former assistant, Fred Chmiel. The Falcons won their opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, 82-67, with Paige Kohler leading the offense with 18 points.