In the 2022-23 season, LSU had the best start in the program’s history, remaining undefeated until the Gamecocks handed them their first loss of the season. Once again, the stage is set for a showdown between LSU and the Gamecocks, scheduled for this Friday. This time, LSU, with their 20-0 record, is just three wins away from tying their best start record. But before they reach that goal, Dawn Staley and her team, with an 18-1 record, stand ready to stop them – and they have a strategy.

Obviously, it isn’t going to be easy, and Staley knows that well. She’s ready to grab yet another win with her three-step winning mantra. “LSU wants to play in transition. LSU wants to execute a ball screen offense, and they want to execute winning the battle of boards,” shared Staley.

LSU’s transition offense has been a strength since last season and Kim Mulkey has kept it a focus this campaign too. She has made additions during the off-season in Kailyn Gilbert and Shayeann Day-Wilson to maintain pace. “We are going to push the ball,” the head coach had asserted at the start of the season.

In their previous game against Florida, the Tigers recorded 26 fast break points to their opponents’ 12 and are currently averaging about 115 points per possession with a win margin of 28.4 per game. They are also averaging 17.4 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks them sixth nationally. No doubt Staley has got her notes rights. “So if we take care of those three things, I think it puts us in a really good place,” she adds.

The Gamecocks have been a better defensive team in their own right, ranking 15th and allowing just 55.1 points per game and has one of the best depths the nation has seen. It is set to be quite the showdown and the game cocks HC isn’t letting the Tigers have it easy.

Dawn Staley’s game plan: adjusting to officiating to outsmart LSU

As evident from Staley’s strategies, she’s all set to lead the Gamecocks to a win over LSU. “It’s a rivalry. It’s a game we must win, obviously, because we only play them once, and you want the tiebreak advantage,” Staley shared.

The last time the two teams faced each other was during the 2024 SEC Championship, where the head coach utilized multiple players coming off the bench. She was able to guide South Carolina to a 79-72 victory, even after a 20-minute delay. But if there’s something that might be out of Staley’s hands, it is the officiating.

“We feel like the officiating is going to be on it at the start of the game,” Dawn Staley said. To tackle tough opponents, the head coach is waiting to analyze. “So for us, it’s about adjusting to how the officiating is going to be. It’s probably going to be tight,” she added.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the game was delayed until Friday due to the weather in Baton Rouge. This delay has only seems to have contributed to Staley’s ability to analyze the game better.