Dawn Staley on scouting MiLaysia Fulwiley ahead of South Carolina vs. LSU
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is preparing to face a familiar face when the No. 3 Gamecocks visit No. 6 LSU on Feb. 14 at 8: 30 p. m. ET in Baton Rouge. MiLaysia Fulwiley, who spent two seasons in Columbia before transferring last April, has emerged as a significant contributor for the Tigers — but Staley says the preparation will be businesslike and consistent.
Coach and former mentor
Staley coached Fulwiley for two seasons and has watched her development continue after the transfer. "She's pretty similar to what she's been doing, " Staley said on Feb. 13. "She's great in transition, can hit the 3-pointer, can get to the basket. I do think she's putting a little bit more heat on the ball handler. Just looking like a junior, when things start to come together for them. "
What Fulwiley brings on the court
Fulwiley's numbers show steady growth. She is averaging 13. 4 points per game this season, up from 11. 7 as a sophomore and 11. 8 as a freshman. Her minutes have increased to about 21. 5 per game from roughly 19 the previous seasons. In SEC play specifically, Fulwiley averaged 12. 0 points as a freshman, 13. 1 as a sophomore and is at 11. 1 through 11 conference games this year. Her conference shooting percentage sits just under 40 percent and appears on pace to finish similar to her earlier seasons.
Usage has shifted slightly: she is playing some point guard but primarily a wing, and her turnover rate has risen from roughly 1. 87 per game at South Carolina to about 2. 28 at LSU. Those changes reflect both a larger role and a different team context.
Scouting a former player: the standard approach
Staley emphasized that former players on opposing rosters are treated as any other opponent. "They're just a part of the personnel of the other team now, " she said. "Do we want to win? Absolutely. I don't want to win because it's my MiLaysia Fulwiley. I want to win because we got a chance to win the SEC. We got a chance to hopefully keep a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday night. "
She pointed out that this isn't unprecedented; the program has faced similar situations before and uses the same scouting and preparation process regardless of a player's past affiliation.
Tactical notes for the matchup
Staley noted similarities between how Fulwiley is being used now and how she was deployed previously but also sees LSU emphasizing ball pressure more. The Tigers pose a multi-faceted challenge: transition scoring, perimeter shooting and active ball handlers who can attack closeouts. South Carolina's plan revolves around neutralizing those strengths while leveraging its own depth and defensive identity.
Conference context and stakes
The Gamecocks entered the matchup at 24-2 overall and 10-1 in conference play; LSU came in at 22-3 and 8-3. Bracket projections heading into the game largely favored South Carolina for a top seed, while projections placed LSU anywhere from the two to five range among the top seeds. Within the SEC, several teams carry multiple losses, making each conference contest significant as postseason positioning tightens.
Team access and player availability
South Carolina sometimes makes players available during Staley's weekly press availability, but none were made available on Feb. 13. Staley reiterated that the focus remains on game plans and player development. "If MiLaysia is improving, that's great for MiLaysia. That's what I want every single player, whether they're mine or someone else's, is to improve because when they improve the overall game improves. And I'm all for advancing women's basketball, " she said.
The matchup in Baton Rouge will offer a clear test of South Carolina's title posture and LSU's ability to take down one of the nation's top teams with a former Gamecock among its rotation.
