On the basis of a single play, no team has deserved to lose more.”
In the SEC Tournament semifinal game versus Tennessee, the top-ranked women’s basketball team from South Carolina only managed to maintain its perfect season. The Gamecocks won 74–73 thanks to a three-pointer made by Kamilla Cardoso at the buzzer.
After the match, a typical query surfaced. The defense—where was it? It’s a valid question, too. Raven Johnson of South Carolina inbounded the ball from midcourt with the team behind 73-71. Two volunteers were set up inside and beneath the rim, suggesting that Tennessee was more worried about the Gamecocks potentially scoring a game-tying two.
Cardoso, on the other hand, was alone when she lined up at the free-throw line. Cardoso received an inbound pass from Johnson and caught the ball right inside the three-point line. She retreated and made a wide-open three, banking it off the glass, with no Tennessee defender even coming close to her.
Cardoso took a fantastic shot, but it’s also difficult to deny that the volunteers did everything in their power to facilitate her. And with that, many people criticized Tennessee’s defensive approach.
Of course, it’s important to note that Cardoso has no history of shooting. At that time in her college career, the 6-foot-7 center had only attempted one three-point shot and had never made one.
It’s not quite the same as giving Caitlin Clark the runaround. Nevertheless, place someone on Cardoso, even if you don’t put your best defender on her.
It’s not enough to simply leave someone unguarded for a routine three-point shot. Put some pressure on her and force her to rush her shot, at the very least. She isn’t a gunman. Why wait for her to settle in?
When a team is leading by four points, their defense should be what you would expect to see, even if they give up a three-pointer that could result in a foul and a four-point play. It’s difficult to figure out two.