South Carolina Prepares for Elite Eight Clash Against Resurgent Duke

Defending champions South Carolina aim to leverage experience and depth to secure a Final Four spot in their pursuit of back-to-back NCAA titles.

South Carolina advanced to its fifth consecutive Elite Eight with a narrow 71-67 victory over Maryland, showcasing resilience despite early struggles.
Coach Dawn Staley emphasized the importance of experience and toughness as the Gamecocks face a Duke team returning to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2013.
Guard Te-Hina Paopao highlighted the need for South Carolina to start games with intensity and establish dominance early, following slow starts in recent matchups.
The Gamecocks lead the nation in bench points per game and rank fifth in blocks per game, underscoring their depth and defensive strength as key advantages.
Duke enters the matchup on a nine-game winning streak, with coach Kara Lawson focusing on adaptability to counter South Carolina's interior dominance.