South Carolina Dawn Staley WIN over LSU for SEC tourn. title, addresses Cardoso fight and ejection
Summary
TLDRThe South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate their SEC tournament victory with a press conference, where student athletes and Coach Don Staley reflect on the team's performance, the challenges faced, and the unity and support within the team. Despite the emotional rollercoaster of the games, the team's poise under pressure and their ability to rally around each other, especially the younger players, is highlighted as a key factor in their success.
Takeaways
- 🏆 South Carolina Gamecocks won the SEC tournament championship with a strong performance from their young team.
- 🎉 Freshman Tahina Powell's first championship experience was special, highlighting the importance of teamwork and composure under pressure.
- 🤝 The team's huddle discussions focused on staying composed and finishing the game strong, emphasizing mental strength and unity.
- 👀 Coach Staley acknowledged the team's competitiveness and the need to handle high-stakes situations better, despite the victory.
- 🙏 Camila's post-game apology and Coach Staley's appreciation for good sportsmanship show the team's values beyond winning.
- 🥇 The newcomers, including Tessa Johnson and Malaysia F, expressed gratitude for their championship rings and the journey ahead.
- 🌟 Myia's confidence and determination to improve led to a strong performance in the championship game, showcasing her growth.
- 🤔 Coach Staley's reflection on the team's dynamics and the unique accountability they have for one another was highlighted.
- 🚫 The ejection of key players due to bench violations was a significant moment, with Coach Staley taking responsibility for the team's reaction.
- 🏀 The team's resilience and ability to close out tight games were evident, with a focus on maintaining high levels of play for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
- 🏆 Despite the challenges, the team's unity and 'family' atmosphere were emphasized as crucial to their success and future performance.
Q & A
How did the South Carolina Gamecocks' victory in the SEC tournament feel to the student-athletes?
-The student-athletes felt a mix of excitement and gratitude. As freshmen, this was their first time experiencing such a significant win, and they felt blessed and excited to be part of the team and the journey.
What was the atmosphere like during the post-game press conference?
-The atmosphere was a mix of pride and reflection. The team discussed the challenges they faced, the importance of composure, and the support they felt from their fans and each other.
How did the student-athletes maintain their composure during the intense moments of the game?
-The student-athletes focused on staying composed and mentally strong, emphasizing the importance of sticking together and supporting each other throughout the game.
What was the main point of discussion in the huddle before going back out to end the game?
-The main point was to finish the game strong, emphasizing the mental aspect of the game and the need to stay composed and supportive of each other.
How did Coach Staley describe the incident where players were ejected from the game?
-Coach Staley acknowledged that the situation escalated and that the players did not handle it well. She appreciated the officials' efforts to calm the situation and noted that the penalties were within the rules.
What did the student-athletes feel about the support they received from their fans?
-The student-athletes felt grateful for the fans' support, noting that the fans traveled far to see the game and were very appreciative and happy for the team's success.
How did the student-athletes describe their confidence and mentality going into the last two games of the tournament?
-The student-athletes emphasized the importance of confidence in basketball and described feeling locked in and ready to play their best, with a strong belief in their abilities.
What was the impact of the team's unity and closeness on their performance?
-The unity and closeness of the team played a significant role in their performance, as they held each other accountable, encouraged each other, and worked together to overcome challenges during the games.
How did the coaches plan to prepare the team for the upcoming NCAA tournament?
-The coaches planned to give the team some rest, including a few days off from practice, while still focusing on maintaining their academic commitments and working with the athletic trainer and performance coach.
What did the coaches learn about their team's ability to close out games during the last 48 hours?
-The coaches learned that their team is poised and competitive, not panicking under pressure, and has a strong sense of accountability and closeness that helps them fight off comebacks and close out games.
How did the coaches feel about the team's young core performing in high-pressure situations?
-The coaches were proud of the young core's performance, noting that their experience and ability to maintain a high level of play in critical moments were impressive and essential for the upcoming run.
Outlines
🏆 Post-Victory Press Conference: South Carolina Gamecocks' Triumph
The South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate their SEC tournament victory in a press conference with head coach Don Staley and student athletes. The athletes, including a local freshman, express the significance of the win and discuss their composure during a tense final moment. Coach Staley addresses a post-game incident, highlighting the team's unity and the importance of sportsmanship. The press conference also touches on the team's preparation for future challenges and the impact of the fans' support.
🤝 Team Dynamics and Fan Interaction
The Gamecocks reflect on the emotional support from their fans and the team's close-knit dynamics. The players discuss their confidence and mentality leading up to the championship games, emphasizing the collective spirit and mutual support that contributed to their success. Coach Staley shares his pride in the team's maturity and ability to handle high-pressure situations, as well as the role of key players in the team's victory.
🥳 Celebrating Success Amidst Challenges
The press conference continues with Coach Staley expressing bittersweet feelings due to the absence of some team members during the celebration. He talks about the importance of the fan base and the team's plans for rest and preparation before the NCAA tournament. The coach also discusses the team's strategy during a critical moment in the game and the role of younger players in securing the win.
🌟 Young Talent in the Spotlight
The young core of the Gamecocks is praised for their performance in high-stakes situations, showcasing their resilience and ability to learn from experience. Coach Staley discusses the growth of these players and the team's accountability towards each other. He also reflects on the team's closeness and how it contributes to their success on the court.
💪 Overcoming Adversity and Team Unity
In the final part of the press conference, the team's ability to fight off comebacks and close out games is highlighted. Coach Staley comments on the unique accountability and unity within the team, which he finds refreshing. He also addresses the emotional complexity of the team standing up for each other while navigating penalties, emphasizing the strength and closeness that will carry them forward.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡SEC Tournament Champion
💡Composure
💡Team Chemistry
💡Mental Strength
💡Newcomers
💡Celebration
💡Adversity
💡Accountability
💡Confidence
💡Fans
Highlights
South Carolina Gamecocks win the SEC tournament championship.
Head coach Don Staley and student-athletes Tahina Poto and Malaysia F join the press conference.
Tahina, a local product, describes the championship as a special moment, especially as a freshman.
The team's composure and huddle conversation during a hectic moment are discussed, emphasizing the need to finish the game strong.
Coach Staley addresses the post-game incident, thanking officials for calming the situation and noting the ejected players' regret.
The team's unity and support for each other are highlighted, with a focus on their shared journey and blessings.
Newcomers to the team express their gratitude for being part of the championship win and the SEC tournament championship rings.
The role of energy provision by certain players when the team is stagnant is mentioned, along with the importance of genuine trust and support among teammates.
The impact of fan support and the emotional connection with the team are discussed, emphasizing the fans' dedication and the team's gratitude.
Myia's mentality and confidence leading into the last two games are explored, highlighting her determination to improve and excel.
The team's collective experience and closeness are discussed, with a focus on the positive impact of adversity on group cohesion.
Malaysia's performance and her confidence during the third quarter are praised, showcasing her growth and readiness to take over games.
The team's strategy and focus during the final stages of the game are detailed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure and executing the game plan.
Coach Staley reflects on the bittersweet victory, expressing a desire to celebrate with all team members and acknowledging the lessons learned.
The significance of the team's fan base, referred to as 'fam,' is discussed, highlighting their unwavering support and the mutual respect between the team and its supporters.
Plans for preparing the team for the NCAA tournament are outlined, with an emphasis on rest and recovery for the players.
The poise and competitiveness of the young core of the team are praised, especially their ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
The team's accountability and mutual support are highlighted as key factors in their ability to close out close games.
The unique chemistry and closeness of the team are discussed, with Coach Staley noting the genuine connection between players.
Coach Staley reflects on the team's unity and support for one another, acknowledging the complexity of balancing pride and adherence to rules.
Transcripts
welcome to the press conference for the
SEC tournament champion South Carolina
Gamecocks we're joined by head coach Don
Staley student athletes tahina powpow
and Malaysia F Wy we'll begin with
questions for the student athletes
please raise your hand we'll bring a
microphone to
you here in the in second row yeah my AG
obviously local product you've wanted to
be in A Moment Like This for South
Carolina ever since you were a kid to
come up big like that just how special
was this moment for you you know it
meant a lot to me uh considering the
fact that I'm only a freshman so it's my
first time around and this is a great
first experience for me and my team and
the other freshman Tessa Johnson and the
newcomer pop I'm just blessed to be here
and
excited front row we go here and then
there uh for either of you guys a hectic
moment there in the end how do you
maintain your composure and what's your
uh conversation like in the Huddle
before you go back out to end the
game the main point was just we got to
finish it out um these last two minutes
we just got to finish it out be composed
it's all it's a mental thing and we got
to stick together and at the end of the
game we just got to you know be there
for each other and finish with um High
heads High heads up right
here My AG you were right in the middle
of that I guess can you just kind of
take us through what you H what happened
there at least or at least what you
saw I'm not
sure Allan I I I'll answer that um well
I mean what you saw were two teams um
highly competitive teams um try to win
that try to win a a conference
Championship
and they did not handle it well our
players didn't their players didn't and
it escalated and and I you know I I want
to thank the officials and everybody
that jumped in and just kind of um calm
the situation down and then the
penalties
were um what they were like they were
well within the rules of ejecting the
players that that left the bench um even
if they just stepped over the the line
of the bench you can't you have to sit
there and keep your composure um but I'm
going to say this fly Jay came to me
after the game right after the game and
she just apologized and said she's not
that type of player and I really
appreciate that there something that
somebody won't ever hear if I didn't say
anything and she's not she's a really
good person um things just got escalated
um I'll take responsibility for what
happened from our side of it um which is
we
don't you
know we we we talk about these these
things as a you know as a as a team and
we we try to as much as possible um
Express to them how not to react in in
those type of situations um but real
time is real time and I know that you
know anybody Camila as well as the other
four or five players that were ejected I
know if they had a chance to do it all
over again they would do it differently
but now we have that I just don't want
um the people who are tuning in women's
basketball see that and think you know
that is our game because it isn't our
game is a really beautiful thing um and
to be quite honest this is this is a
part of it now so we have to fix it and
we have to move
on we'll continue with questions for
student athletes we'll go to the back
first this is for both athletes on a
positive note you two are newcomers this
year how does it feel to have your SEC
regular season championship and now your
SEC tour tournament championship
rings first um it hasn't sunk in just
yet um today's uh game but just being
able
to be called Champions is just a great
feeling it's a great blessing and a
great opportunity just to keep the the
journey going and just really blessed to
be here I'm very grateful for our team
the program and just everyone that's
been supporting us and um has been
living on us over here on the left
Rick Myer do you see uh one of your
important roles for this team is when
things are going a little stagnant
there's a lack of energy to come in and
provide that energy and that burst that
your teammates
need um my role on this team is just go
out there and be who I am so when I get
on the court I just feel like I just go
out there and do whatever's ask from the
coach here in the front well ladies you
guys have signed a lot of autographs and
taken a lot of selfies on a court
throughout this season but to do it here
and to see those fans stick around what
did that mean well I think you stopped
at every single person along that one
sideline what was that moment like what
were the fans telling you in this moment
with so much emotion around you guys um
they were just telling us how far they
traveled to see this game how much they
appreciate Us and how much they're happy
for us so I'm just appreciative to have
great fam like we do they come they
stick with us through thick and thin
it's just I just feel grateful to just
be in a predicament in a team like this
it's a blessing second row here
for myia after the quarterfinal you said
that you were really nervous but you
said tomorrow it's not going to be that
way and obviously you had a great
semi-final and even better Championship
can you just describe your mentality
going into these last two games that had
you completely locked
in um I feel like basketball is a
confidence that's the key to basketball
I feel like my confidence is out the
roofs when I step on the court feel like
nobody can guard me check me so I just
got it's really a mind thing and I just
told myself that I have to lock in and
play better stay in the second row uh
pal you got this team was on the biggest
stage you guys faced adversity in each
game in different ways describe how
closer this experience has brought this
group uh heading into a run where you
guys will have to go six and0 to cut
down the Nets yeah no this is a first
experience for everyone um as I said
before the emotions hasn't sunk in yet
and I don't know when that's going to
sink in but um it definitely brought us
closer together um you know their family
I love them so much we just love each
other very very much we're just so
genuine with each other we trust each
other we support each other in every
aspect and it's just it's going to help
us in the long run because we we felt
what it felt like yesterday we that
close game like we didn't want to feel
like that ever again but this feeling I
think everyone everyone wants to feel
this feeling again so we just got to get
back in the lab and uh get back to work
and just keep doing what we're doing
front row
Cor de I wanted to ask you about myah
saying she was going to be better the
next two games just the way she impacted
the next two games what did you think of
her Poise her confidence and just the
way that she got better with each game
man that's how she is um she's a
superstar she a Hooper she a baller
she's always going to come game ready um
I'm super proud of her performance today
um she C she stepped up really big for
us and I'm just really proud for her
proud of her she trusted the process um
she's still trusting it she's going to
write her journey and I'm just super
proud of how she um was so composed
today and her confidence was out the
roof as she said and when you got a
player like Le she's just you just got
to let her go be who she is and just let
her ride the wave and um I'm just super
proud couldn't couldn't say any much
front row of course for either of you
what ises that celebration like at the
end of the game when you're missing half
your
team good question it was
heartbreaking you know we couldn't have
done it without them I mean we're a team
for a reason we're a family and it was
it was really hard for us um just a lot
of emotions and we really wanted them to
celebrate with us but we went back in
the locker room and you know we did our
little celebrations together but it was
really heartbreaking but you know we're
a team we're going to get we're going to
bounce back from that and um learn from
our mistakes we'll take a couple more
for the student athletes second row
Pete Taha this was another game where
they came back at you um you know they
cut it to one I think it was up to 13
they cut it to one there what did you
guys do to dig in and and kind of get
this Victory we just told each other we
got to lock in and just get a stop once
you get a stop you got to get a bucket
and we just got to keep doing that you
know the game is a basketball is a game
of runs so they had their little run and
then we had our our run and we ended up
on top so we just got to keep being who
we
are take one more here in the
front Malaysia 10 points in that third
quarter and I don't think you missed a
shot in that quarter um at what point do
you realize that you're kind of in the
zone and you can kind kind of take over
a game like that when it is starting to
get pretty
tight um I really just be out there
hooping really honestly I just I just be
hoping I feel like my team they do a
great job with giving me the ball when
I'm open or getting me open so I'm just
thankful and blessed to have great
teammates like I
do ladies thank you for your
time
congratulations we'll now take questions
for Coach Staley right here in the
front coach some high highs and some low
lows for Camila this weekend did you get
a chance to talk with her during the
review or after the game about what she
should take away from this experience
overall I I haven't I haven't been back
I haven't been to the locker room yet um
but I mean Camila understands she she
really understands I think if you if you
talk to Camila about things she probably
say she let her emotions get the best of
her um and she's got to handle them
better she's got to she's got to be
better she's that important to our team
that important to the you know to the
state of women's basketball come's a
star and we just really can't have her
in a position where she's in the Locking
room um for anything other than have
time in the into the basketball
games in the back or second row first
two we go to the back he coach obviously
we've talked about F multiple points
during this season she's had huge
moments all year long but this one may
kind of take the cake a bit what's it
like for you to see her out there and be
hooping as she saying um I mean her
maturation process has been great you
like um she's a she's a learner I know
she just said she's out there hooping
but she's out there hooping and learning
and and and grasping what it takes to
play at a high level all the time like
all the time like she had it going on
today like you know she was able to
score she was able to um find teammates
um I think just her presence her speed
her ability to create her own shot was
needed today um like no
other back
row Don today's game was a game between
the the past two national champions uh I
know there's still a lot of games to be
played in March Madness but do you feel
like this is the best two teams in the
country and you could meet again in the
the final four in in the championship
game um
I don't I don't know if we're the best
team in the country um I know there's a
ranking that says we're number one um
but I I think that's subjective um LSU
is really good like for them to be where
they are you know having um lost a
couple of players along the way and
still stay where they stand and while
I'm at it I I really hope that um
um um last tier PO is okay I I know
she's was back at the hotel um I hope
she gets healthy quickly um because she
makes them better um to to have who they
have um Angel playing the way she plays
Ana playing the way she's playing I
think fly J is has much improved there
were if there was a you know a most
improv I would certainly give fly Jay uh
my vote um her ability to play on both
sides of the basketball you know
Michaela Williams is
um our our rookie of the year in this
league and can take over basketball
games um Haley van lift is playing her
best basketball for LSU right now so um
I do think they have the experience and
the talent um to be considered one of
the best teams in our in the country
we'll go here in the
middle Don you've experienced this
winning feeling so often but can you
take us through what you're feeling just
today after this win yeah it's
bittersweet it really is it's it's you
know I I I want to be there for the
players that were able to to end the
game and celebrate with them you know
but part of me was want wanted to be in
the locker room to to celebrate with the
players who weren't able to to do that
um but we put ourselves in that position
we we made decisions
that that that forc Force our hand to be
in that situation so I'm hoping that
it's the last of a last hope it's the
biggest lesson
any of our any of our teams have to
experience front row on the right Don
I've talked to you so many times about
your fam but today to be able to connect
with them after a moment like this and I
don't know was it uplifting in all when
you talk about those conflicted feelings
you were having but to know that that
they're there and what they mean to you
guys and vice versa I mean they were
professing their love for you and
respect for you and especially that
apology that you made there on that
court in the biggest moment um I'm
always going to find time for our fam
always always um they've uh they've
created something truly special at South
Carolina uh for them to come for for
them to travel for them come to our home
games um anywhere we are there's there's
always somebody in the stands um
cheering us on um and welcoming us to to
town um
so there's always going to be a special
place in my heart for for our fam and I
will I will I will always take a picture
I will always sign an autograph I might
not be able to do all of them but a you
know a lot of them I'm going to do and
for time's sake um I'll get as many in
as I can go
here Don you've got some time now before
your next game what's going to be the
plan the process to get this team ready
for the NCA tournament especially your
players who are going through this for
the first time y I mean rest rest a lot
of rest like we'll we'll probably take
uh the next 3 or 4 days off from
practice uh spring break usually lands
on this week but it was on I mean this
the next week but it actually was this
week so they'll they'll have their days
off from practice but not from class um
and some of the stuff that uh they'll
have to do with um our athletic trainer
and our performance coach no practice
though front
row
after everything kind of happened your
team looked pretty comfortable over the
last two minutes stretch to close out
the game what did you tell them before
everyone went back on the court to kind
of refocus them on on winning a
tournament
Championship well I mean we we had a lot
of time to just kind of
um just
deescalate um and you know before we
knew exactly what was going to happen I
didn't I didn't I didn't I mean I knew
Camila was gone I knew she was going to