NC State and South Carolina players observe the American national anthem impeccably ahead of their Final Four showdown… after Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley tweaked their pregame routine following LSU controversy
NC State and South Carolina women’s basketball players remained on the floor for the American national anthem ahead of their Final Four showdown – after LSU sparked controversy by not being on the floor during the Star-Spangled Banner last round.
While Iowa players remained on the court during the anthem in the Elite Eight, LSU players were back in the locker room, with Tigers coach Kim Mulkey claiming she didn’t know when the anthem is played.
On Friday, however, both the Gamecocks and Wolfpack were present on the court as the song was played.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has previously said her team typically returns to the locker with 10 or 12 minutes left in pregame warmups – when the anthem is usually performed – so the Gamecocks may have changed their routine on Friday.
After LSU lost to Iowa 94-87 Mulkey tried to justify her players’ absence.
South Carolina and NC State stand for the national anthem on Friday night
‘Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,’ she told reporters. ‘We kind of have a routine when they’re on the floor, and they come off at the 12-minute mark. I don’t know. We come in, and we do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry, listen, that’s nothing intentionally done.’
MORE TO COME
