COLUMBIA − South Carolina ladies’s basketball had an unannounced visitor at its press convention Saturday − Champ, coach Daybreak Staley’s canine.
Because the No. 1 Gamecocks put together for his or her second-round NCAA Event matchup towards No. 8 North Carolina (20-12), Staley introduced Champ, who walked across the room earlier than she picked him up and positioned him on the desk.
Staley’s canine is a black and grey Havanese that she obtained after the Gamecocks received the nationwide championship in 2017, which is the place his identify comes from. Staley repeatedly brings Champ to press conferences after South Carolina dwelling video games.
Champ refused to take questions till he obtained a nameplate, Staley mentioned, although he did interrupt certainly one of Staley’s solutions to bark at somebody outdoors the room.
Whereas Staley was answering a query about senior guard Te-Hina Paopao’s enchancment in her first season at South Carolina (33-0), Champ sat up and turned towards the door to the press room to bark, shocking Staley mid-answer.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA match brackets, scores, schedules, groups and extra.
Champ laid quietly for the remainder of Staley’s press convention.
South Carolina will play UNC for a spot within the Candy 16 on Sunday (1 p.m., ABC) at Colonial Life Enviornment.
Evan Gerike covers South Carolina ladies’s basketball for the Greenville Information. Electronic mail him at egerike@citizentimes.com or observe him on Twitter @EvanGerike.