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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- How do you like the view here, on the peak just below the peak? Its nice, isnt it? Look at how vast the area is that now lies below you, and realize what hard work it was to get this far.Now, see that ledge right there? Get to that. Hoist yourself up just one more time. And there you are -- at the very top! It doesnt look that far away, especially considering the distance youve come to get here. You can do it, right?This is where South Carolina womens basketball is, and its a great place to be. But what seems so close sometimes can be the most difficult part of the trip. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley knows this all too well, but its not what shes talking to her team about, of course.South Carolina, for all its talent, is still discussing some of the basics now. Thats what happens after losing four senior guards. Yet the last thing most anyone is expecting from the Gamecocks -- especially with a post duo like Aja Wilson and Alaina Coates -- is that they might need just a little rebuilding time.Theyre back in the spotlight again, so theres a fair amount that has to be worked out quickly.Its a little too care-free, but its who we are, Staley said of the personality of her team. Our coaches have talked about it: Whos the leader? Whos stepping up? It cant look like last year because were not like last year.Weve come upon a new type of team and new leadership. So its on us to figure out how to get it to that place without having those strong, competitive, outspoken people like weve had in years past.No one is feeling sympathy for South Carolina, which went 33-2 in 2015-16 and is picked to win the SEC again. And the team will get a test right away, when the No. 4 Gamecocks travel to face No. 7 Ohio State on Monday.The Gamecocks have been an NCAA tournament No. 1 seed three years in a row. They went to their first Final Four in 2015. They tied for the SEC regular-season title that year, won it with a 16-0 record last season and took the league tournament title both times.Theyve led the nation in Division I attendance two years in a row, averaging 14,978 last season. In a conference where football can blot out the sun even for mens basketball in some places, the Gamecocks matter to their school and community. They have a foothold.In the climb that the best programs in college sports attempt to make, the Gamecocks have been on a mostly exhilarating race up the mountain. The next ledge would be making it to the national championship game. And you know the final step.However, there are those programs that can do all but the last one. They dont get past the ledge. And many dont get quite get that far.As a player at Virginia, Staley went to three straight Final Fours and made one final but didnt win a title. This is well-worn territory in her mind. For her current players? Not so much, which is just as well.South Carolina lost senior guards Tiffany Mitchell, Khadijah Sessions, Asia Dozier and Tina Roy. Also gone are forwards Sarah Imovbioh, a transfer from Virginia who played her last season at South Carolina, and Jatarie White, who transferred to Texas.Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Doniyah Cliney and Tiffany Davis are returning guards who have experience under Staley. Davis, though, redshirted last season with an injury and played just 16 games the previous year.Cuevas-Moore played all but one game last season, averaging 18.1 minutes. In her two seasons, she has 127 assists -- but 124 turnovers.Transfers Allisha Gray (coming from North Carolina) and Kaela Davis (Georgia Tech) should give the guard play a substantial boost. Both juniors were with the program last year, which helped get them ready for big roles this season. As sophomores at their previous schools, the 6-foot-2 Davis averaged 19.2 points per game, and the 6-foot Gray 15.2 PPG.Allisha is in midseason form now; she is the outside threat that can replace some of what we lost, Staley said. As for Kaela -- I dont know if theres a more versatile player in the country who can play 1 through 4 like she can. Its going to take some time for us to mesh as a unit, though.South Carolina also has three freshman guards in Tyasha Harris, Araion Bradshaw and Victoria Patrick. The fourth rookie is 6-2 forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, who made a good first impression with 23 points and 11 rebounds Sunday in the Gamecocks 120-49 exhibition victory over Benedict.The foundation of the team is expected to be the local products, 6-5 Wilson and 6-4 Coates, who first started playing together in AAU basketball in Columbia when they were around 12 and 13 years old. Their influence on the program has been profound. They try not to dwell much on how last season ended -- a regional semifinal loss to Syracuse -- but its there.I think about it almost every day, Wilson said. Its one of the games that I have not watched yet. I dont think Im ever going to watch it.But its a motivator -- going from being in the Final Four your freshman year to being out in the Sweet 16 your sophomore year. You know what it takes to get to the Final Four, so being stopped is kind of a heartbreaker.Wilson, the SEC player and defensive player of the year last season, is high on the list of candidates for national player of the year. Over her first two seasons, she averaged 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds.Coates could be a lottery pick in the WNBA draft next spring, and maybe even the top selection. Shes averaged 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in her three seasons with the Gamecocks, and shot 63.9 percent from the field.With that kind of post production, the Gamecocks know what their proverbial bread and butter is -- same as last year.There is a lot of logic in pounding the ball inside when you have those kind of targets. But Staley also wants the rest of the team to play to its strength. She hired former Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb specifically to help; her title is director of coaching offensive analytics.Some shots that five years ago I would go ballistic on now are part of our game, Staley said, resigned to perhaps ceding a little more control to players on-court instincts. I dont mind taking a jump shot in transition, if thats what a player does and shes accurate in that.Lets not go crazy; lets embrace it and look at the numbers. If shes efficient in that spot, we cant be mad at it.And so the Gamecocks, who are close enough to the peak that they can see it, are still working out the best way to actually get there. Admittedly, it can sometimes seem like the most frustrating part of the journey. But it just depends on how you look at it. Because it took a lot to get this far, and that should be relished, too.Nike Air Max 90 Rea . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Nike Air Max Tn Sverige . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/ .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Nike Air Max Plus Sverige . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Nike Air Max 270 Rea . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming.West Ham captain Mark Noble insists he will not give up on playing for England, despite being left out Roy Hodgsons latest squad.The England boss did not include midfielder Noble in his 23-man squad for the friendly double-header with Germany and the Netherlands, despite his consistent form for the Hammers.Noble, who was capped 20 times for Englands U21s, told Sky Sports News HQ he accepts he is unlikely to force his way into Hodgsons plans for this summers European Championship finals but will continue to battle for a future call. I dont give up, for sure. For the Euros, probably - yes, actually - but for England, I dont give up, said Noble. Noble has found the net three times in the Premier League this season Its not just about me, its about a lot of very, very good players - top players - who have got a tournament to go and win in the summer. Hodgsons team in flux England unrecognisable at Euro 2016? Speaking on Sky Sports Now, former West Ham defender Tony Gale said Noble would have been a good addition to the national set-up.What could he have brought to the England squad? Hes got a calmness about him, said Gale.Hes a great passer of the ball and hes added to the repertoire with a couple of spectacular goals. He takes all the penalties for West Ham, and he cares. That rubs off on all the other players.Noble is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, by virtue of his Cork-born grandparents. He has refused to rule out playing for Ireland in the past, but former England defender Andy Hinchcliffe believes Noble still has his heart set on England.dddddddddddd Danny Drinkwater (L) was handed his first England call-up by Roy Hodgson There comes a point when youre not getting an England call, maybe you think you want to play international football - maybe he would have decided by now if he wanted to play for Ireland.He seems to still think theres a possibility he could play for England. Certainly in future tournaments - look at the squad they picked with Danny Drinkwater and Jordan Henderson there - why not Mark Noble?Instead, Noble will celebrate nearly 12 years in the West Ham first-team with his testimonial on Monday against a Hammers All-Stars XI and is looking forward to seeing some legends back at the Boleyn Ground.Paolo Di Canio, Rio Ferdinand and Scotty Parker are coming back, and some really good friends of mine. Ive also got my best mate from when were kids to play 20 minutes, so thats going to be great, added Noble. Paolo Di Canio will be among the West Ham legends returning for Nobles testimonial To be able to play a testimonial in a season like this, in our last season at the Boleyn Ground is pretty special.The testimonial is raising money for Richard House Childrens Hospital, Help for Heroes and the DT38 Foundation.Also See:Euro 2016: Hodgsons hopefulsHodgsons team in fluxHammers reveal stadium screen planGet a free ￡10 bet ' ' '