#2 Mississippi St vs #1 South Carolina - 3/08/20

[shiverz45]

Ha yeah tell me about it. That no-call on Mabrey and that missed layup by McCowan.

I was pissed about that whole sequence. That layup would have pretty much sealed it.

 

[shiverz45]

Keep in mind, SC was greatly favored in most of those contests.

2016 clearly SC was favored. 2017 SEC tourney too. and 2020 vastly favored.

In 2017 national title game, at that point it might've been close preference though but nobody expected us there in the first place. In 2018.... again... could've gone either way, but the score reflected the close original prediction.

Only contest where State was favored clearly was 2017-2018 conference tournament. We did lose that one. But obviously I didn't care about any of those as much as the Notre Dame game.

I agree with that. I do expect for us to take a slight step back next year if Amihere doesn't make a significant jump. I expect for MSU to take a step forward because you don't lose much and you have Cook eligible. It will probably be a 2 team race with Kentucky close behind.

 

[TC22]

You are forgetting Destiny Littleton will be eligible next year. Shes a scorer and a pretty good one.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

MSU fans have got to like the way things are shaping up for next year. We go from one McD AA to three, and we are going to have able back-ups at every position. I don't know if we can catch or pass SC, but they do have a couple of big holes to fill.

That is true, but the Gamecocks will have 7 McDonald's AAs next season. I think Destanni Henderson is a capable replacement for Ty Harris, though won't be as experienced and probably Victaria Saxton, LeLe Grissett (I know she moved to the 3 this year) or Laeticia Amihere will start at the 4. I think that position is the big question mark for next year, but you never know, there could be a grad transfer.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Saxton really improved this year and I believe she has an emerging face up jumper.

Grissette is another possibility. Both are currently a good bit better than Amihere.

but that's why you have all season workouts and skill work.

those three can duke it out, or I guess you could slide Beal down.

a grad transfer forward/center would also make sense for depth.

 

[SECbbfan24]

SC's bench is crazy deep this year. Their bench kids could be starting at a lot of other schools.

While they do have 3 true freshmen starters (all were pretty much top 10 players), they have the perfect blend of upperclassmen guidance at some very key positions. Its been a tremendous recipe for their success this season.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

You are forgetting Destiny Littleton will be eligible next year. Shes a scorer and a pretty good one.

4300 points as the all-time leading scorer in California history. She was a McD AA and so is Eniya Russell, the incoming 6' PG from Baltimore.

 

[DaBball]

That is true, but the Gamecocks will have 7 McDonald's AAs next season. I think Destanni Henderson is a capable replacement for Ty Harris, though won't be as experienced and probably Victaria Saxton, LeLe Grissett (I know she moved to the 3 this year) or Laeticia Amihere will start at the 4. I think that position is the big question mark for next year, but you never know, there could be a grad transfer.

Who is the seventh? I know Boston, Cooke, Beal, Henderson, Russell, and Littleton were. Was Grissett one? I think she was ranked pretty high.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Who is the seventh? I know Boston, Cooke, Beal, Henderson, Russell, and Littleton were. Was Grissett one? I think she was ranked pretty high.

You're right; I was thinking Lele was, at number 23 in her class, but she wasn't.

 

[sharris952]

Who is the seventh? I know Boston, Cooke, Beal, Henderson, Russell, and Littleton were. Was Grissett one? I think she was ranked pretty high.

Let's not forget Amihere was not one only because she played high school ball in Canada.

 

[sharris952]

I agree with that. I do expect for us to take a slight step back next year if Amihere doesn't make a significant jump. I expect for MSU to take a step forward because you don't lose much and you have Cook eligible. It will probably be a 2 team race with Kentucky close behind.

Remember Destiny Littleton McDAA will be eligible and she broke all of Diana Taurasi scoring records in California and also Eniya Russell a McDAA 6'0 PG will be coming in. The bench and depth will be as strong as ever..

 

[nwhoopfan]

Okay, citing someone's high school stats after they've had 2 seasons in college? Not relevant anymore. Littleton averaged 7.1 ppg in her time at Texas. Not exactly comparable to Taurasi I would say.

 

[SimpleDawg]

I agree with that. I do expect for us to take a slight step back next year if Amihere doesn't make a significant jump. I expect for MSU to take a step forward because you don't lose much and you have Cook eligible. It will probably be a 2 team race with Kentucky close behind.

We should both be top 5 teams.

Arkansas and Kentucky should be #3 and #4 in the SEC. Don't trust A&M at all, and I don't think Chennedy Carter has anything to play for any more, nor would A&M drastically improve.

But I'm feeling good about Arkansas next year. Ramirez, Daniels, and Dungee is quite a backcourt. I don't think they need any more backcourt players. Don't think Tolefree's loss is that huge given their issue is the frontcourt not the loss of one backcourt player. But if they can recruit someone over 6'3 that'll be nice because that's the tallest player they have. Neighbors has Arkansas improving every year though.... they might be top 12 next year.

 

[sharris952]

Okay, citing someone's high school stats after they've had 2 seasons in college? Not relevant anymore. Littleton averaged 7.1 ppg in her time at Texas. Not exactly comparable to Taurasi I would say.

Same could have been said about Megan Walker but nobody on this board had a problem doing it though. Just saying. New environment can help a players maximize their potential as with a number of transfers. We all know the strange ora that Texas has on talented players.

 

[SCspur]

I agree with that. I do expect for us to take a slight step back next year if Amihere doesn't make a significant jump. I expect for MSU to take a step forward because you don't lose much and you have Cook eligible. It will probably be a 2 team race with Kentucky close behind.

Amihere will play in the Olympics this summer with Team Canada. Forbidding any more injuries that experience will be invaluable for her and I expect she will be a totally different player next year. As will all our freshman, I think they all will raise their individual games and be even better next year which is scary!

 

[Dognusty]

Amihere will play in the Olympics this summer with Team Canada. Forbidding any more injuries that experience will be invaluable for her and I expect she will be a totally different player next year. As will all our freshman, I think they all will raise their individual games and be even better next year which is scary!

I really want to see Amihere do well, however I have reservations about her game. She has some really bad habits for a big. She brings the ball down far to much. Also another thing is she has to get much stronger. Hopefully as time progresses she gets much better.

 

[Jmsdawg]

The latest bracket also has Miss St in Fort Wayne as the 3 seed. If it plays out that way that would be a favorable draw for the Bulldogs IMO! Hope we get to see another matchup in the FF!

I would love another shot, do not believe we have the team to beat you guys but last game was definitely not our best. We will have to have an A+ game to beat South Carolina.

 

[ReadR00ster]

South Carolina has been elite for 7 years. Mississippi State has been elite for 4 years. Dawn came 4 years before Vic. If Vic was hired at the same time as Dawn or within a year of her, I'm guessing he would've gotten MSU on the map sooner as well.

You can't compare results of 2013-2014 SC vs MSU. We were 13th in the SEC that year and SC was #1. Saying that SC owned MSU 2014 or before is like saying we own a totally weak and hapless Ole Miss team.

2 years after that, MSU was still not elite but we played well enough to where we were keeping toes with SC - not getting blown out anymore, and that has been the persistant case ever since.

Since we've both been on the same playing field (2016-2017), SC does have the advantage winning 6 out of the last 9. But 5 of those games were played to the tune of a heavily Pro-Gamecock crowd. Only 2 were played in Starkville. Dawn has owned Vic on a neutral site 2-0 and I give her props for that. However, the game in Columbia this year if you remember - one less breakaway foul gets called, MSU could've won that tightly fought match, and the series would be 5-4 in the last 4 years (even with the huge homecourt advantage going to SC) and nobody would have anything to brag about.

I wouldn't say MSU was ever "Elite." SC became elite when they won the National Championship which was MSU's chance. But I do think they have been "power programs" about #10 in the country consistently for a while. For SC since Coates joined the team and for MSU since Vivians. I give MSU a lot of credit for the game earlier for making a plethora of circus shots in that game. But if SC would play more zonish sagging defense like they did in the tournament in that game it wouldn't have been close either. MSU basically had 1 year last year where they had the advantage with an elite post player and SC did not, which is not going to usually be the case. And I can stand when people use Crowd as an excuse. It's overrated. At the highest level it shouldn't effect how you play one tiny bit.

 

[Jmsdawg]

Issue with MSU currently is Carter is inconsistent lately, they need better post presence. Then you have Taylor and Bibby in the game at the same time who are black holes offensively. That is too many holes for Miss St and a big reason for a lot of slow starts. If Danberry and Jackson aren't scoring at will, there are big problems.

Bibby really needs another offseason. She plays hard but the mobility and shooting is no where where it needs to be right now.

PG play has to able to knock down open jumpers from the perimeter. It becomes much easier for better teams to defend not having a deep threat to open up the inside. Mingo Young use to take those shots but it seems Vic has instructed her not to do so anymore. Those shots are open but are never taken.

Agree, Vic seem to discourage outside shooting. Results is most team leave us open outside and clog the lane. Open shooters must take those shots or we must be much more physical inside. Carter is not a physical player, Morris appears to be more physical but less talented. I have hope Vic will solve those problems but it is likely to be next season before we really see results. Bibby was physical last year but she is slower and more wary this season, I think she is not fully recovered mentally or physically from her ACL injury.

 

[SCspur]

I really want to see Amihere do well, however I have reservations about her game. She has some really bad habits for a big. She brings the ball down far to much. Also another thing is she has to get much stronger. Hopefully as time progresses she gets much better.

Those are areas that can actually be improved and likely will this offseason. She will no doubt be stronger next season for sure. Unlike her freshman counterparts Amihere didn’t have a chance to really work out like them because she was rehabbing last summer. Dawn says she has the highest ceiling of all the freshman and I can’t wait to see it. She has three point range and can handle the ball in transition. Once she gets that on court experience she’s going to be a matchup nightmare.

 

[Jmsdawg]

I wouldn't say MSU was ever "Elite." SC bcaem Elite when they won the National Championship which was MSU's chance. But I do think they have been "power programs" about #10 in the country consistently for a while. For SC since Coates was joined the team and for MSU since Vivians. I give MSU a lot of credit for the game earlier for making a plethora of circus shots in that game. But if SC would play more zonish sagging defense like they did in the tournament in that game it wouldn't have been close either. MSU basically had 1 year last year where they had the advantage with an elite post player and SC did not, which is not going to usually be the case. And I can stand when people use Crowd as an excuse. It's overrated. At the highest level it shouldn't effect how you play one tiny bit.

Home court has always been an advantage even for Pro teams.

 

[ReadR00ster]

Here is the line up I would got with next year. Boston, Henderson, Cooke, Beal, Grissette. It's a fast line up. Maybe smallish but still good rebounding with Boston protecting the rim.

I think Dawn will go with this though, Boston, Saxton, Beal, Littleton, Henderson

 

[ReadR00ster]

Home court has always been an advantage even for Pro teams.

So are you going to claim that as the reason why SC won? Come on. It's BS.

 

[ReadR00ster]

I really want to see Amihere do well, however I have reservations about her game. She has some really bad habits for a big. She brings the ball down far to much. Also another thing is she has to get much stronger. Hopefully as time progresses she gets much better.

That is true. I noticed that she brings the ball down too much and plays like she is more of a guard and is not comfortable banging on the inside. Now that these issues are identified they can be worked on. Think about this. LA has hit a few threes this year in her first year in a lot less minutes. Freshman A'ja can't claim that. I'm not really worried about her tbh.

 

[ReadR00ster]

Remember Destiny Littleton McDAA will be eligible and she broke all of Diana Taurasi scoring records in California and also Eniya Russell a McDAA 6'0 PG will be coming in. The bench and depth will be as strong as ever..

Yep and still room to add a few transfers.