"Takes guts to be able to fall completely on your face": Oklahoma HC Jennie Baranczyk talks about huge loss while commending Dawn Staley's Gamecocks
No. 13 Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk shared her thoughts following the Sooners’ resounding 101-60 loss on Sunday to the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks. Despite the tough defeat, Baranczyk praised coach Dawn Staley’s program after the game, acknowledging their dominance as a model for success in women’s basketball.
“It takes guts to be able to fall completely on your face on national TV in front of this crowd,” Baranczyk said postgame via March Madness on Instgaram. “They beat us bad. They’re really good.”
The lopsided outcome highlighted the gap between the Sooners and the reigning national champions, but Baranczyk didn’t shy away from acknowledging the lessons to be learned from such an experience. She emphasized that South Carolina has set the standard for excellence, from the depth of their roster to the culture they’ve cultivated under Staley’s leadership.
“They’re who all of us are looking at,” Baranczyk said. “In terms of being able to build the depth that they have, the culture they have, and the crowd, this is, right now, the example in women’s basketball.”
The Gamecocks have become a powerhouse in the sport, boasting a roster filled with talent, a cohesive team culture, and unwavering support from their fanbase. The Gamecocks’ ability to dominate on the court while maintaining consistency year after year is something Baranczyk aspires to replicate at Oklahoma.
Jenni Baranczyk reflects on lessons learned for Oklahoma’s players
Following a tough loss to South Carolina, Oklahoma coach Jenni Baranczyk addressed the importance of using the experience as a pivotal moment for her team. For her, facing a powerhouse program like the Gamecocks in a regular-season setting offered a valuable opportunity to grow and prepare for the challenges ahead.
“One of the things I think that you can’t underestimate is playing here,” Baranczyk said in the same postgame interview, referring to South Carolina’s electric environment and high-level competition.
“That’s why you want to be in this league, so that the first time you play them is not in the NCAA Tournament," she added.
Baranczyk also spoke about how competing against elite teams like South Carolina provided critical insights into her squad’s strengths and weaknesses. From the mental toughness required to compete on a national stage to the physical demands of facing a deep and talented roster, every aspect of the game offers lessons for the Sooners.
“You want to be able to learn about your team,” Baranczyk said. “And to learn about the mental aspect, the physical aspect, all the things that you’ve got to do to get better.”
“We have a choice to make now. We can either get better, or we can not. No matter what we do, we’re going to do it together. That’s something that our culture is. That’s something that our team is all about," she added.
Despite the big loss, Baranczyk stressed the importance of sticking together as a team, regardless of the path forward. She pointed to the strong culture and unity within the program as a foundation for growth.
The Sooners will be looking to bounce back when they host the Georgia Bulldogs next at Lloyd Noble Center on Sunday.