Dawn Staley confident UConn is 'going to reload' after loss

GREENVILLE, S.C. — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley does not think anyone should read too much into UConn failing to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2007 as a harbinger of things to come.

During her news conference before her team's Elite Eight matchup against Maryland on Sunday, Staley said the only real significance to UConn's shocking 73-61 loss to Ohio State in the Sweet 16 in Seattle on Saturday is that «the streak is over.»

«UConn is going to continue to be UConn,» Staley said. «They're going to reload. If you see their roster that's coming in and who they're bringing back next year, they'll reload. They'll start a new streak.

»I don't think any of us that's outside of UConn, we're not panicking. They're going to be who they are. They're going to always — you get a chance to beat UConn, it's always going to be a big win for you and your program."

South Carolina defeated UConn 64-49 in the national championship game a year ago to win its second title in six years. Earlier this year, the Gamecocks won the rematch 81-77 in Hartford and are now sitting at 35-0, trying to chase down history of their own on their quest for a second straight title and undefeated season.

The Gamecocks would be the 10th team to finish a season undefeated in NCAA history, but it would be the first in program history. Four schools have finished a season undefeated — a whopping six by UConn alone.

But even before the Sweet 16 loss, there were some questions about whether the UConn dynasty had begun to show cracks. UConn has won 11 national championships, but its most recent title was in 2016. This was the earliest UConn has been eliminated from the NCAA tournament since 2005.

Staley, for one, is not convinced that this means