The madness continues into the Sweet 16 that will tip-off today in various locations across the country. More specifically, in Greensboro, the Battle of the Carolinas will occur where the No. 5 seed, the North Carolina Tarheels, will take on the No. 1 seed, the South Carolina Gamecocks. Surprisingly, despite close proximity, these two teams have not played each other since 2015. Coincidentally enough, this was the Sweet 16 in Greensboro. The Gamecocks defeated the Tarhills in this 2015 matchup by a score of 67-65, but can they do it again? Here is The Battle of the Carolinas Preview.
No. 1 South Carolina
After an unexpected loss in the SEC championship, South Carolina is more hungry than ever. In their first two NCAA tournament games, the Gamecocks have only let opponents score 54 points total. The Gamecocks’ defense will definitely serve them well in the NCAA tournament.
People cannot say enough about the national Player of The Year finalist Aliyah Boston and rightfully so. Boston is on a 26 game streak for consecutive double-doubles. The Tarheels will need to strategically play defense to shut Boston down which most teams are unable to do. Against the Canes, Boston had 16 rebounds which is an impressive stat.
A not-so-hidden player is 6’7 sophomore Kamilla Cardoso who has been a great 6th man for the Gamecocks. Cardoso’s role has only increased as the season has progressed, becoming a huge offensive and defensive asset. The PG for the Gamecocks is 5’7 senior Destanni Henderson, do not let her height fool you; she is quick, can shoot, and can get rebounds.
If the Gamecocks can utilize their bench and use their height to their advantage then this will help them be successful. Having a constant rotation of players and not just relying on Boston to score will pose a challenge for the Tarheels. Defensively the Gamecocks will need to rebound per usual and then run the floor after rebounds where their offense is highly successful. Combining these keys could bring a victory for the Gamecocks after the final buzzer.
No. 5 North Carolina
The Tarheels continue to be successful in the tournament thus far earning their spot in the Sweet 16. With an impressive win over Arizona, they punched their ticket to Greensboro. After a 25-6 season, the Tarheels continue to be hungry for wins in the tournament. This team is successful with offensive rebounds and high-scoring games that will serve them well in the NCAA tournament.
The most notable player for the Tarheels is sophomore guard Deja Kelly. Kelly earned All-ACC first-team after earning a spot on the All-ACC freshman team last year. She is an excellent shooter and has been a leader for the Tarheels in only her second year. She will pose a challenge for defenders, but if Kelly is able to score, the Tarheels will have success.
An All-ACC second-team honoree sophomore guard Alyssa Ustby is another key player for the Tarheels. With a high shooting percentage and rebounding machine, she will need to be successful against the Gamecocks in order to advance to the Elite 8. Another key player will be sophomore guard Kennedy Todd-Williams, the leading scorer against Arizona.
The Tarheels’ defense will have to be the best it has been all season going up against the Gamecocks. Utilizing the wide variety of guards will be helpful for them since they will be going up against a post heavy team. Additionally, the Tarheels must limit the Gamecocks’ rebounding and shut down Boston in order to win. Combining these keys could bring a victory for the Tarheels after the final buzzer.
Prediction
I believe this matchup will be a battle to the end, but only one team can win and I predict South Carolina will win. The Gamecocks have several Top 25 wins this season and they know what it takes to win in the NCAA tournament having several Final Fours and a national championship under their belt.
Tune in at 7 pm ET on ESPN to watch the Battle of the Carolinas.
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