#5 Georgia Tech vs #1 South Carolina - 3/28/21

[Gamecockfan77]

Tech barely lost the rebounding battle by 1, which was huge.

Amihere pretty big factor today.

 

[Sched234]

Assuming Maryland moves on, I really wonder how SC will defend them. Announcers mentioned Boston looks fatigued, I’d imagine the Terps would try to push the pace. GT has ran some good sets and SC has struggled to defend at times. Or will SC be too big and physical for Maryland?

I think SC can win if they play like they did today.

The problem with Maryland is that you have to be able to put a nice number on the board and that’s probably true no matter how you defend them. I don’t think MD will score any fewer than 65 points.

 

[shiverz45]

South Carolina typically has had good sized guards that aren't particularly volume shooters.

All of the guards coming in the next class have good size.

Henderson and Cooke just happen to be the best guards on this team. Dawn has recruited other players.


Cooke shoots too much, it is what it is. South Carolina hasn't really had much trouble today (so far) for it being a S16 game.

Disagree. In this game she took good shots. Someone has to shoot the ball because if we don't get the ball in to Boston every one else is hesitant to shoot.

 

[shiverz45]

South Carolina typically has had good sized guards that aren't particularly volume shooters.

All of the guards coming in the next class have good size.

Henderson and Cooke just happen to be the best guards on this team. Dawn has recruited other players.


Cooke shoots too much, it is what it is. South Carolina hasn't really had much trouble today (so far) for it being a S16 game.

She hit 5 out of 6 from 3 and only took 13 shots. I agree she has in the past but this game she took good shots.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

She hit 5 out of 6 from 3 and only took 13 shots. I agree she has in the past but this game she took good shots.

I agree with that.

 

[SCGamecock]

She hit 5 out of 6 from 3 and only took 13 shots. I agree she has in the past but this game she took good shots.

Cooke’s trajectory reminds me very much of Tiffany Mitchell her first two years. Tiff at times would force the ball and go too fast or disappear... she had to find the balance. Same thing for Cooke.. she’s finding the balance. Super talented, just has to understand the gears. Today was her finding the gears. Consistency is next.

 

[SCspur]

Yeah Cooke is still young and when she hits her shots like she did today she’s very tough to stop. I was very impressed with both her and LA.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Cooke’s trajectory reminds me very much of Tiffany Mitchell her first two years. Tiff at times would force the ball and go too fast or disappear... she had to find the balance. Same thing for Cooke.. she’s finding the balance. Super talented, just has to understand the gears. Today was her finding the gears. Consistency is next.

In fairness, she didn't force nearly as many shots last year when they had much better balance.

Something to the idea that this team isn't full of willing scorers.

 

[FridaFriend]

Boston seemed to move in slow motion. Team was always waiting for her to get down the floor. For a brief period, she couldn't be stopped and then she stopped getting the ball down low. I don't understand the strategy of not playing to Boston, unless she gets fatigued quickly.

 

[shiverz45]

Boston seemed to move in slow motion. Team was always waiting for her to get down the floor. For a brief period, she couldn't be stopped and then she stopped getting the ball down low. I don't understand the strategy of not playing to Boston, unless she gets fatigued quickly.

I think GT pressed the entire 4 quarter when they fell behind. I think she was brought to the top of the key to help relieve pressure because of her size and passing ability. That being said we missed a few opportunities for layups because she missed the open players under or near the basket. So I am almost positive that was by design. Saxton and LA was doing fine on the blocks and Boston is also the better outside shooter. Also Georgia Tech started pushing the ball and wanted to score quick so Boston being near the top of the key shortens her rim runs.

 

[TC22]

Boston seemed to move in slow motion. Team was always waiting for her to get down the floor. For a brief period, she couldn't be stopped and then she stopped getting the ball down low. I don't understand the strategy of not playing to Boston, unless she gets fatigued quickly.

Boston is a big girl. She's got a lot of girth. She's not fast. That's not her game. She's not LA or Saxton or ONO who can sprint back and forth. They are long and lean. Team does not have to wait on her to get down the floor unless she's taking the ball out after the other team makes a basket. Watch some of the other bigger players. They aren't the first ones down the floor either. Boston has played as many minutes as she has been needed. If she gets early fouls Dawn will take her out to keep her from getting into foul trouble. Even if she's not scoring she is vital to our team because she defends well and draws so much attention. Our other two bigs scored 27 points between them and a lot of that's because Aliyah draws all the attention. We won. This is a team that has different people step up every game.

 

[Shades]

Our other two bigs scored 27 points between them and a lot of that's because Aliyah draws all the attention. We won. This is a team that has different people step up every game.

How come people aren’t this understanding about Collier? 🤔

 

[TC22]

How come people aren’t this understanding about Collier? 🤔

You make a strong point if she's doing the other things. UConn people give ONO hell, but yesterday she scored 4 points but had 10 assists. Aliyah had 3 assists today. It makes no sense to keep Boston parked down low or forcing the ball into her when as soon as she gets the ball there's 3 people on her. Today GT bet the house on not letting her beat them. Dawn moved her to the high block and it opened up the paint for everybody else.

 

[Dwilliams02]

Okay SC fans. I been waiting for this Amihere to pop up. Now that's the Amihere that'll put them over the top. Still much more from her game that I think will come out.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Come on tech.... Sting these chickens

Roosters eat Yellow Jackets for mid-afternoon snacks.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Okay SC fans. I been waiting for this Amihere to pop up. Now that's the Amihere that'll put them over the top. Still much more from her game that I think will come out.

I think a lot of people forget that Amihere barely played her last 2 years of HS, so her current experience is similar to that of a HS senior. She has so much potential and we saw some of it today.

 

[Creature]

South Carolina typically has had good sized guards that aren't particularly volume shooters.

All of the guards coming in the next class have good size.

Henderson and Cooke just happen to be the best guards on this team. Dawn has recruited other players.


Cooke shoots too much, it is what it is. South Carolina hasn't really had much trouble today (so far) for it being a S16 game.

All due respect. I don't know why you are pointing out something that is non factor in this tournament so far. IMO Coach doesn't have an offensive scheme with this team where we pound it in down low every possession like the 2015,2016 teams. She [Coach Staley] has said in the past and on her post game interviews-she wants the players to take good shots and expected shots. Ever since the SEC tournament-Zia's shot selections have been good and she is contributing as a playmaker . That game she took 22 shots was not what we needed-but she and Henderson she be around 8-12 shots a game in this tourney.

 

[TC22]

If I sound like I'm bashing Dawn it's really because I'm kind of angry at her. For me it's because she fell in love with small, quick guards that are volume shooters and average passers, and wings that are fast and athletic but can't pass or shoot for spit. Where's the balance? Her teams are kind of one note, her offense is grab the rebound and run to the hoop, and when that fails, create off the dribble. That's not good enough, and frankly, I wanted more from her. When she started to build SCar into a powerhouse I was her biggest supporter (outside of SCar fans) here on the Boneyard, but to my eyes her coaching philosophy is flawed. Just this game alone is a prime example why I say so. At the half, against a team they should crush, they're up by 3 and there leading scorer is Cooke with 11 points. The best post in the country? She's 0-4 and rarely if ever gets the ball in good position under the basket or on the block.

And yet all she does is keep winning. Where's the balance? Are you kidding? This team just takes whatever is given and do what they need to do to win the game. 4 sophomores and 3 juniors (who have never started) just keep pivoting. Is it pretty basketball? Nope - but it's winning basketball. Will they beat Texas? IDK but they have a chance and they sure won't quit. How about Maryland? Coach of the Year. Is she still in the tournament? No. Joni Taylor - SEC COY. Did she win the SEC or Tournament? No. Dawn Staley isn't perfect. Other than the one year we won the National Championship where we had Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis and A'ja we haven't had a team full of top recruits. We got a few here and there. Ty Harris and Kiki HH, Victaria Saxton and LeLe Grissett, Alaina Coates and Tiffany Mitchell were are ranked in the 40s coming out of HS. She develops players and they play the game the right way. She doesn't get the credit she deserves with her coaching ability. It's not like for the past 12 years she's had a bunch of HS All-Americans show up and she's just gotten out of the way.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

And yet all she does is keep winning. Where's the balance? Are you kidding? This team just takes whatever is given and do what they need to do to win the game. 4 sophomores and 3 juniors (who have never started) just keep pivoting. Is it pretty basketball? Nope - but it's winning basketball. Will they beat Texas? IDK but they have a chance and they sure won't quit. How about Maryland? Coach of the Year. Is she still in the tournament? No. Joni Taylor - SEC COY. Did she win the SEC or Tournament? No. Dawn Staley isn't perfect. Other than the one year we won the National Championship where we had Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis and A'ja we haven't had a team full of top recruits. We got a few here and there. Ty Harris and Kiki HH, Victaria Saxton and LeLe Grissett, Alaina Coates and Tiffany Mitchell were are ranked in the 40s coming out of HS. She develops players and they play the game the right way. She doesn't get the credit she deserves with her coaching ability. It's not like for the past 12 years she's had a bunch of HS All-Americans show up and she's just gotten out of the way.

We have more HS All-Americans this year, but we're very young. Next year's team should be much more fluid and consistent. As such, we're still 1 win away from the Final Four.

 

[TC22]

We have more HS All-Americans this year, but we're very young. Next year's team should be much more fluid and consistent. As such, we're still 1 win away from the Final Four.

Exactly which was my point.