Wilson Jersey Retirement, Auburn on Deck for Gamecocks Sunday – University of South Carolina Athletics

Gamecock Notables

• South Carolina will retire A’ja Wilson’s jersey in a pregame ceremony on Sunday. The 2018 graduate was the program’s first National Player of the Year and four-time All-American while becoming the first three-time SEC Player of the Year in league history. The first No. 1 recruit to sign with the Gamecocks, Wilson led her hometown team to its first Final Four and first National Championship and capped her career by becoming the program’s first No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick.

• The Gamecocks did more than survive the gauntlet of their last five games all against top-20 opponents. They remained undefeated in the SEC, winning those five games by 18.6 points per game thanks to a defensive effort that allowed just 57.4 points per game over the stretch that included three of the league’s five highest scoring teams. Offensively, five Gamecocks averaged at least 2.0 assists with the team assisting on 59.0 percent of their field goals.

• South Carolina’s league-best 6.88 blocks per SEC game include 2.63 per game by guards, led by MiLaysia Fulwiley’s 1.0 blocks per conference game, which rank ninth in the league.

• Forward Joyce Edwards is making her case for SEC Freshman of the Year as the Gamecocks’ top scorer overall (12.4) and in league play where her 14.75 points per game are 17th in the conference. Her .618 field goal percentage against league foes is second in the conference. Her team-high nine games leading the offense include five against ranked opponents. Against five ranked SEC foes, she averaged 16.0 points on 60.4 percent shooting in just 22.4 minutes.

• Point guard Raven Johnson has thrived over the last three games, averaging 4.0 assists and 8.0 points  on 47.6 percent shooting over the stretch. Against SEC teams, she leads the league with a 4.17 assist-to-turnover ratio and is 11th with 1.88 steals per conference game.

• Junior Chloe Kitts’ steady performance on the glass has her ranked ninth in the SEC overall (7.5 rpg) and in league play (7.25). Her overall rebounding average includes 2.65 on the offensive end, which ranks 13th in the SEC.

By the Numbers
12 – South Carolina’s bench, which leads the nation in scoring, has outscored its opponent’s starting lineup in 12 games this season.

33.7 – Opponents have shot just 33.7 percent against the Gamecocks, which ranks them fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense.

47.6 – Of South Carolina’s 21 games this season, 47.6 percent (10) have been against ranked opponents.

The Auburn Series
The Gamecocks are 30-21 all-time against the Tigers with an 18-3 mark in the Dawn Staley era (beginning 2008-09) and a 16-7 slate in Columbia.

South Carolina has won the last 15 meetings, including last season’s 76-54 victory in Auburn (Feb. 1). The Tigers slowed down the Gamecock offense in the first half, holding it to just 28.6 percent shooting to trail by just five at halftime, 27-22. South Carolina bounced back in the second half to hit 56.3 percent from the field, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range to pull away for the win.

All About Balance
Like last season, South Carolina’s greatest asset is its depth with the 2024-25 roster featuring six Gamecocks who averaged at least 18.0 minutes and scored at least 8.1 points per game last season.

This season, 10 Gamecocks have played at least 15.0 minutes per game. Seven average at least 7.0 points, including five who average 9.0 or more. Five players have grabbed at least 4.0 rebounds per game. Eleven Gamecocks have scored in double figures at least once, including six who have done it at least five times, and six players have led the team in scoring at least once.

Paint Production
South Carolina has long controlled the paint, and this season’s numbers have upheld that standard.

With 51.0 percent of their points coming in the paint, the Gamecocks are sixth in the nation with 41.1 paint point per game, according to CBBanalytics.com, and are out-scoring opponents in that space by 15.7 points per game. They are shooting 54.0 percent in the paint compared to opponents’ 39.1 percent accuracy in the space.