South Carolina coach Dawn Staley did a lot of complaining when her top-seeded team was placed in the Stockton Regional, meaning a 2,600-mile trip for the Sweet 16 is on the horizon if the Gamecocks aren't upset in the first two rounds.
But the real bad news was delivered on Tuesday.
Gamecocks senior center Alaina Coates has been ruled out for the NCAA Tournament with an ankle injury, and that leaves third-ranked South Carolina without a key cog.
South Carolina (27-4) opens play at home against 16th-seeded UNC Asheville (19-14) on Friday in what shouldn't be much of a test.