Staley leads South Carolina against former team
Virginia goes from playing against a school its coach once coached to competing against one of the most famous players in school history.
Storylines abound for No. 10 seed Virginia, which in the first round of the NCAA Tournament beat California, the school Cavaliers coach Joanne Boyle coached at previously.
The Cavaliers must face Dawn Staley's No. 2-seeded South Carolina team Sunday at Columbia, S.C.
Staley, a Hall of Famer, led Virginia to three Final Fours and a championship game appearance during her career with the Cavaliers from 1989-92.
"It's not about her, it's about the basketball game," Virginia guard Jocelyn Willoughby said. "That's what's important."
Staley is more concerned about the starting time of 9 p.m. for Sunday's second-round game between the Gamecocks (27-6) and Virginia (19-13). She tweeted out an excuse form for those who might be late to school or work Monday because of the late start.
"This is not a life-threatening or contagious condition; however, please go easy on them today," Staley wrote in the excuse letter for employers or teachers. "If he/she was a few minutes late or needs an afternoon nap, it is because of his/her critical condition of Gamecock exhaustion."
Staley, whose team beat North Carolina A&T 63-52 in Friday's first round, is also wrapped up in the possibility her team will travel to Albany, N.Y., for the regional.
She is fuming over the NCAA Tournament selection committee placing her team in Albany instead of nearby Lexington, Ky.
"We will continue to play the underdog role. I don't think anyone has us cutting down the nets," Staley said.
The coach pointed out it is the third straight year that South Carolina fans will have to fly rather than drive to the regional despite her program leading the nation in attendance.
To make matters worse, No. 1 seed and unbeaten Connecticut is slated to play in the Albany regional.
Two-time SEC Player of the Year A'ja Wilson has lost to Connecticut by 25 points twice, in addition to 11- and 12-point losses to the Huskies.
"I feel like all four years there has been a target on my back so it's the same thing," Wilson said when asked about the Albany regional placement with Connecticut.
Wilson was part of an important 19-4 start against North Carolina A&T. She made four free throws and freshman guard Bianca Jackson was 3 of 3 from 3-point range in the first quarter.
Wilson finished with 19 points and 16 rebounds for her 22nd double-double of the season.
Staley was not pleased overall with her team's performance because North Carolina A&T outscored her team 41-37 over the next three quarters.
"This is uncharacteristic of a South Carolina women's basketball team performance, and it was very, very disappointing," Staley said. "I don't want to take anything away from North Carolina A&T. They played extremely well. We have better basketball in us and surely we're going to have to play it if we want to get out of the second round."
Virginia, which is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years, was led by sophomore reserve center Felicia Aiyeotan's 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field in the win over California. She entered the game averaging seven points.
Aiyeotan, who also added six rebounds, led five players who scored in double digits.
