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Dawn Staley is getting ready to begin her 16th season in Columbia as the South Carolina women’s basketball coach. The two-time champ will have the undesired task of replacing four of her top five scorers this year following a 36-1 campaign.
She’ll do so with a mix of newcomers and former reserves. Some of those new roster members will be introduced to a different practice routine on the court.
On Tuesday, the Gamecocks hosted a Halloween celebration ahead of a send-off to France. South Carolina with face off against Notre Dame in Paris next Monday in a season opening clash that pits a pair of Top 10 programs against one another.
Fans got to see the team go through a few drills on the court while also taking in the holiday festivities before the trip, with a number of attendees decked in costumes. Many noted an interesting opponent facing that South Carolina women’s basketball team on the floor.
A group of men dressed in highlighter yellow uniforms was seen defending the Gamecocks’ offense.
Dawn Staley just introduced ‘The Highlighters’ on national TV, a group of men who scrimmage her ladies.
No wonder this women’s program is elite. pic.twitter.com/qsIcu0tXsu
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) October 31, 2023
“Those are ‘The Highlighters,'” said Dawn Staley. “They’re ‘The Highlighters’ because they actually are the main reason why we are as successful as we are. They’re students, they’re male practice players. They come here, they’re committed, when we win championships, they get rings.”
This has been something seen in Coach Staley’s program for some time, and it’s obviously helped her build one of the most dominant programs in the nation. Since the 2013-14 season, the Gamecocks are 318-40 with a pair of national titles.
“The Highlighters” practice against the team daily, scouting future opponents to prep South Carolina throughout the season.
Two-to-three hours a day for five-to-six days a week, the squad prepares the Gamecocks for their next matchup… The commitment to learn new plays and replicate different teams can be challenging. They do all the prep to keep the team on top.
We’ll see if the practice squad can get the Gamecocks primed for the upcoming matchup with No. 10 Notre Dame.