Former players, coach praised for laying groundwork for Gamecocks championship

“It’s great to be a Gamecock”, it read.

Gamecocks football coach Will Muschamp also reacted to South Carolina’s victory, the school’s first-ever NCAA title in basketball.

SC head coach Dawn Staley is past her playing prime but the former college, pro and Olympic star has her Gamecocks poised to make the most of their first-ever appearance in the championship game. However, Staley, the University of SC head women’s basketball coach, knew something was missing from her resume. “I can’t be mad, she was doing what was best for the team”.

The Gamecocks would take their lead out to seven with 8:05 to go in the half.

One ticket scalper said he could get someone in the lower bowl for $400 in the roughly 20,000-seat American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas.

The Jim Phelan award is presented annually to the top coach in division I men’s basketball. I never wanted to, you know, be sitting where I’m sitting. Staley had to roll her sleeves up to get where she is today. That’s what (South Carolina’s championship) means: “I can finally check this box in my career”. It’s what national champions do.

The team defeated Mississippi State 67-55 in the NCAA Championship Game in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday. That blossomed into a four-point lead by the end of the quarter.

From a seat near the Mississippi State bench on Friday, Prescott jumped and threw his arms in the air when Morgan William hit a buzzer-beating jumper to knock off the four-time champion Huskies in overtime. Each time, an A’Ja Wilson jumper stretched USC’s lead to six. And South Carolina has won the national championship.

Forward A’ja Wilson powered the Gamecocks on both offense and defense as she finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

Mississippi State had a huge third-quarter push left in the tank, started by three straight points from star Victoria Vivians. “The fact that she was from 25th and Diamond, went Dobbins, is from North Philly, and talks about it when she’s on television”.

“I thought we had a couple kids today that just didn’t quite have the energy level that we needed”, Bulldogs coach Vic Schaefer said when asked about William’s absence.

A basket by Jazzmun Holmes again brought the Bulldogs within four at 54-50 with 6:52 left. “I think athletic directors need to hire on what’s best for them”. It was a time where I said, ‘I’m not about to play this basketball anymore. SC also pulled down 13 offensive boards to Mississippi State’s nine, giving themselves a few extra opportunities in the process. “It’s just a wonderful thing when one of our own does well and makes us proud”, Mayor Jim Kenney said. The Gamecocks were also in their first appearance in the national finals.

Yes, it’s hard to beat a team three times — but there are a number of reasons why the Gamecocks could do that with Mississippi State. “It should be exciting to go with this group of girls”. Morgan William would break the State cold streak with a lay-up to cut the State deficit to five at 21-16. “I’m honored to wear this state across my chest”. And almost 10 years later and under the direction of coach Dawn Staley, the whole world took notice Sunday. As the final seconds ticked away, there was no doubt which team would come away victorious and the Gamecocks claimed a first national championship win, 67-55.