South Carolina’s top-ranked women’s ba,sketball narrowly team kept its perfect season alive in the SEC Tournament semifinal against Tennessee. Kamilla Cardoso hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Gamecocks a 74-73 win.
Following the game, a common question popped up. Where was the defense? And it’s a fair question. Trailing 73-71, South Carolina’s Raven Johnson inbounded the ball from midcourt. Tennessee seemed more concerned about the Gamecocks possibly getting a game-tying two, as two Volunteers were lined up in the and under the hoop.
Cardoso, meanwhile, lined up at the free-throw line, without anyone close to her. Johnson inbounded the ball to Cardoso, who caught it just inside of the three-point line. Without any Tennessee defenders even running toward her, she stepped back and made a wide-open three, banking it off of the glass.
While Cardoso made a great shot, it’s also hard to ignore that the Volunteers made it as easy as possible for her. And on that note, Tennessee’s defensive strategy was widely panned.
I had no idea Matt Patricia was coaching the Tennessee women's basketball team. https://t.co/VouLi5f2yS
— Timothy Rapp (@TRappaRT) March 9, 2024
TENNESSEE WHY DID U PLAY NO DEFENSE
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) March 9, 2024
It’s worth mentioning, of course, that Cardoso is not known as a shooter. She’s a 6-foot-7 center, had never made a three in her college career to that point and had only attempted one. It’s not exactly like leaving Caitlin Clark wide open. Still, even if you don’t put your best defender on Cardoso, put someone on her. You can’t just leave someone wide open for a regular three-pointer. At the very least, put some pressure on her and make her rush her shot. She’s not a shooter. Why give her time to get comfortable?
Tennessee’s defense is what you should see from a team up by four points in that situation, when allowing a three doesn’t matter, as long as it doesn’t come with a foul and the possibility of a four-point play. Up two, it’s hard to figure out.
[Photo Credit: ESPNU]