Facing Fred: No. 1 South Carolina, Staley reconnect with former assistant in Falcons coach Chmiel

COLUMBIA, S.C. — There may not be anyone more knowledgeable in women's college basketball at how to break down No. 1 South Carolina than Bowling Green's first-year coach Fred Chmiel.

Spending the past eight seasons on the staff of Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley can have its advantages. Not that Chmiel believes that makes things any easier on his Falcons, who face the Gamecocks on Tuesday night.

“You can know a lot about what a team does and still not have a chance to slow it down,” Chmiel said by phone on Monday.

Chmiel watched from 2015-23 as Staley's teams became one of the most successful and dominant programs in the game. He was on staff for 247 victories, six Southeastern Conference tournament titles and national championships in 2017 and 2022.

When Staley had to miss a practice due to recruiting or commitment, she counted on Chmiel to run things just as tightly as she would.

And it was Chmiel who led the scouting report session last year as the Gamecocks opened the 2022 Final Four with a victory over Louisville.

“He's in here and he's working and there's nothing more comforting that if you needed to take a mental break off, you've got people like Fred working when you're not working,” Staley said.

Staley called on Chmiel for this matchup — “We needed one more game. I think Fred was done, but he moved some things around for us,” she said, smiling — and he quickly complied.

Chmiel took the Bowling Green job in April, his first as a head coach since leading the San Jose Spiders of the National Women's Basketball League in 2006. He then joined Staley for her last two years as Temple's coach before reuniting seven years later at South Carolina.

“It was always about family with Dawn,” Chmiel said. “Probably before and after the game, it will be, too.”

During? He'll do whatever he can to pull what would be the upset of the season against his former players.

Don't discount the Falcons, who went 31-7 a year ago and advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT. Under Chmiel, they've opened 6-2 and got one of their top players, Morgan Sharps, back four games ago from an injury last January that caused her to miss the rest of season.

“We've had some success so far,” Chmiel said. “We're getting ready for a much bigger test.”

Staley said she's seen some familiar South Carolina schemes Chmiel has used in his new post. But give him time, she said, and he will have the Falcons challenging for Mid-American Conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths.

Despite his time alongside Staley, he's unsure what he can do to make the Gamecocks, 10-0 for the third straight season, uncomfortable on the court.

The 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso is averaging a double-double with 14.4 points and 10.7 rebounds. Three other players in MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao and Chloe Kitts are averaging double-figure points.

Cardoso and Ashlyn Watkins are fourth and sixth nationally in blocked shots, a category where South Carolina leads the NCAA at more than 10 a game.

Chmiel's only strategy might be to steal Staley's candy that she munches on during games and lays out on the scorer's table next to her before the start.

“I don't know, that might make her mad,” he joked. “And I'm not fast enough to get away from her."

Staley is glad to reconnect with Chmiel, who'll receive his Final Four ring from last year's team on the visit.

“They couldn't have picked a more seasoned guy to take their team to higher heights,” she said.

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