UNC Women’s Basketball vs. South Carolina: Game preview, info, prediction and more
When a college basketball game features the University of North Carolina, it’s typically the Tar Heels who sport a top-ranked team.
In the case on Thursday, Nov. 30, it’s the exact opposite.
While the UNC women are enjoying a solid start to their 2023-2024 campaign, sitting at 5-2 and ranked 24th in the latest AP Poll, their next opponent is perhaps the greatest in women’s college basketball.
You guessed it – South Carolina.
The Gamecocks, who sport the game’s best coach (Dawn Staley) and arguably most talented roster, will find themselves at Carmichael Arena on Thursday night as part of the newly-developed, ACC-SEC Challenge.
This game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
South Carolina, the 2017 and 2022 National Championships who our friends down south claim is the “real” Carolina, currently sits at 5-0. The Gamecocks have already beaten two ranked teams (18th-ranked Notre Dame, formerly 14th-ranked Maryland), plus they obliterated Mississippi Valley State on Thanksgiving Friday, 101-19.
The Tar Heels are facing a bit of heartbreak and a mini cold stretch, losing their past two to Kansas State and Florida Gulf Coast. They are led by returners Deja Kella and Alyssa Ustby, two of the best at their respective positions, plus they sport a few solid transfers in Maria Gakdeng, Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar.
While South Carolina is expected to win big, any rivalry game brings out the best in both teams. What can the real Carolina do in hopes of pulling off an upset?
Key to victory for UNC
The Heels HAVE to find a way to prevent South Carolina from scoring 100 points.
In all but one of their five games (78-38 win vs. South Dakota State), the Gamecocks have reached the century mark in points. The closest an opponent has come to beating South Carolina was Notre Dame, who lost the season-opener by a 100-71 mark in Paris, France.
Led by 6’7″ center Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina sports five players averaging double-figures.
For contrast, Deja Kelly (16.7 points per game) and Maria Gakdeng (11.1) are the only Tar Heels in double-figures.
Whether it involves full-court pressure, zone or individual defense, UNC head coach Courtney Banghart needs to draw up her best defensive gameplan of the hyear.
Something to watch
UNC played four home games – and won them all – before heading down to Estero, Fla. for the Gulf Coast Showcase.
The Tar Heels played to just a 1-2 mark, with their lone victory coming against Vermont on Day 1 (Friday, Nov. 24). Carolina played Kansas State (63-56) and host Florida Gulf Coast (65-64) close, but ultimately lost both games.
With a sellout crowd expected on hand for tomorrow night’s marquee matchup, let’s see how well UNC performs against the country’s elite.
What you need to know
WHAT? UNC (5-2) vs. South Carolina (5-0)
WHEN? Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. ET
WHERE? Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV? ESPN (Watch and stream the game live on ESPN)
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
LINE? N/A
LAST MEETING? South Carolina beat UNC, 69-61 on March 25, 2022 in Sweet 16
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 7-4
PREDICTION? UNC 78, South Carolina 74
