Imagine, if you will, a post-game press conference where the coach of a team just dismantled in the SEC Tournament final blames… the crowd. Not the missed layups, not the turnovers, but the sheer volume of support for the other team. With a wave of his hand, Schaefer dismissed the on-court dominance of Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks, citing a ‘huge advantage’ for the home crowd. But was it really the noise, or was it a smokescreen for a team simply outplayed? In a world where accountability is currency, Vic Schaefer chose to pay with a flimsy alibi, while Dawn Staley, as always, let her team’s performance speak volumes.
He said the Gamecocks had a “huge advantage” because of the crowd in Greenville. But let’s be real—Texas’ shooting woes didn’t start there. The night before, on a neutral floor, they shot 18-of-57 against LSU. Against South Carolina? Even worse—16-of-54. That’s not the fans. That’s just bad basketball.
And South Carolina didn’t even light it up.
They hit just three threes and shot seven free throws all night. This wasn’t about crowd energy. It was about Texas getting locked up. South Carolina doubled them in assists (15 to 5), owned the paint (40 to 18), and even edged them out on the boards (37-35). That’s not a home-court advantage. That’s just getting outplayed.
Vic Schaefer of #Texas mentioned that the home crowd was a huge advantage for the #Gamecocks today.
When asked if he wanted to see the location changed, he said “We’re not enjoying it right now as much as South Carolina is.”
Here’s my issue with blaming the crowd for shooting…
— Cole Bryson (@TheColeBryson) March 9, 2025
Texas struggled in back-to-back games. Against LSU, they shot 31.6% from the field and 20% from three. LSU dominated the glass (43-32) and forced 18 turnovers. Even with Texas shooting 85% from the free-throw line, it didn’t matter. That’s not about the arena. That’s about a team not being ready when it counts.
Even Schaefer admitted they need to be better. “It’s not just about effort; it’s execution.” But then he circled back to the crowd. Come on now. This is big-time hoops. If noise throws you off, you’re not built for March.
Selection Sunday is coming, and Staley isn’t sweating where they play. “We just hoop,” she’s said before. That’s the difference. While Schaefer talks about arenas, Staley talks about winning. Texas better figure out how to make shots. Because right now, South Carolina isn’t just better. They’re on a whole different level.
Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks Don’t Make Excuses—They Make Statements
Dawn Staley doesn’t make excuses. She wins. And when it comes to March, she owns Vic Schaefer. Every time they match up, she sends him home. This one locked up South Carolina’s third straight SEC title and ninth in 11 years.
Staley’s squad didn’t complain—they just got stops. Texas managed only 16 first-half points. Madison Booker didn’t even score until late in the second quarter. That’s not the crowd. That’s South Carolina’s defense putting on a clinic.
After the game, Staley kept it simple—her team was built for this. “It took experience,” she said. “Most of our players have been here before. We played on the biggest stage last year in a national championship game. When you have players who’ve been in these moments, you use it to your advantage.”
That’s the difference. Texas got rattled. South Carolina stayed locked in. Schaefer’s squad couldn’t hit shots. Staley’s team executed. They controlled the paint, outworked Texas, and made it clear who the better team was.
“I thought the crowd was great. I thought our execution was great.” She added, “I thought our will to win was great. And we beat a really good Texas team. I’m super proud of our players. You beat three really good teams in three days.”
That’s championship basketball. No shortcuts. No excuses. Just results. They handled Vanderbilt, took care of Oklahoma, then ran Texas out of the gym.
Staley’s teams don’t just win—they impose their will. Tough, prepared, never outworked. When the lights get bright, they don’t blink. That’s why South Carolina is built for another title run. And that’s why nobody wants to see Dawn Staley in March.
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