By Pete IacobelliThe Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — This is one trip West that South Carolina coach Dawn Staley believes her top-seeded Gamecocks should not have to make.
South Carolina earned its fourth consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament on Monday night, topping the regional in Stockton, California. Staley thinks her four-time defending Southeastern Conference champions should've been located closer to home instead of three time zones away.
"I don't know what more we can do," Staley said shortly after the brackets were announced.
The Gamecocks (27-4) open play Friday against 16th-seeded UNC Asheville (19-14), the Big South Conference Tournament champion.