#5 South Carolina @ Alabama - 1/04/21

[shiverz45]

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I am trying to understand how Saxton only had 6 rebounds. Seems like she was killing it in the 3rd quarter on the boards.

 

[shiverz45]

Left a good bit of points at the charity stripe tonight, and didn't shoot very well overall, but got the win and escape...

We had a lot of turnovers as well. However our board work gave us a comfortable victory. The game last year when we played them was much more competitive.

 

[SCspur]

Saxton had atleast 12 rebounds I counted. Apparently they didn’t count some of the ones she got and got the shot blocked or fouled on the put back attempts. Honestly it was a meh game overall. We should’ve been able to stop Lewis from driving since that’s what she’s been doing since her freshman year. Aliyah needed to get some low post touches as well instead of being at the high post a lot. We need to hit our layups and free throws to be an Elite team and I think we will eventually. With Cooke on the perimeter and Henderson handling the ball I feel good about most games but we really need to start hitting point blank layups and stop back ironing free throws..... those two things are really frustrating and are glaring weaknesses.

 

[SCGamecock]

Is it just me or were layups just not an issue for us last year? We are missing so many point blank layups and it's nauseating. How can you regress as a team so sharply in one area like that? Is that a conditioning/strength thing?

 

[JDuro]

Is it just me or were layups just not an issue for us last year? We are missing so many point blank layups and it's nauseating. How can you regress as a team so sharply in one area like that? Is that a conditioning/strength thing?

No, but we also were a lot more dangerous from outside and there was much more room in the post as a result.

 

[SCspur]

Is it just me or were layups just not an issue for us last year? We are missing so many point blank layups and it's nauseating. How can you regress as a team so sharply in one area like that? Is that a conditioning/strength thing?

Harder for them to make layups in congested spaces this year. Boston, Saxton and Amihere each had atleast 3 players around them all night. I also think the inside-out offense is a little stale when being guarded by a zone like that. Get Henderson and Cooke more shots in flow then pound inside IMO.

 

[JDuro]

 

[Sched234]

No, but we also were a lot more dangerous from outside and there was much more room in the post as a result.

I still think Carolina can be elite, and I trust Dawn at the helm, but it’s become increasingly apparent that SC lost more from last year than we knew. The leadership, yes, but the shooting and spacing have shown themselves as major losses.

Strange as it seems given how good they were last year, I think this version of SC is a year away. With this sophomore cast as veteran juniors and a deep bench of incoming talent, I see SC as among the favorites next year. This team absolutely still has title ability, but my gut just says ‘22 or ‘23.

 

[JDuro]

I’m trying to remember not to judge this team based on how they were playing the second half of last year. Hopefully playing regularly now brings a lot of improvement, as Dawn’s teams tend to do. But they’ll need to play much better with @UK awaiting Sunday, not to mention UGA next will possibly be a tough opponent as well.

 

[Sched234]

I’m trying to remember not to judge this team based on how they were playing the second half of last year. Hopefully playing regularly now brings a lot of improvement, as Dawn’s teams tend to do. But they’ll need to play much better with @UK awaiting Sunday, not to mention UGA next will possibly be a tough opponent as well.

Yeah, Kentucky could be a tough out for us. The Wildcats are much improved from last year (where they were still quite solid) with a better crew around Howard.

Speaking of Howard—my goodness. What a talent she is. For the first three quarters, it felt like Rickea Jackson outplayed her—and then Howard took over, seemingly effortlessly. I don’t see how Howard isn’t the #1 draft pick when it’s her time, whether this year or next.

 

[JDuro]

Reportedly, Coach Elzy said Howard will return for her senior season. We’ll see if Rhyne changes her mind come April.

 

[SECbbfan24]

UGA

I don't think they are great but very physical team that will make you pay at times. Definitely will give many teams a head ache if you don't come to play. They seem to have a lot more depth this year.

 

[Shades]

Reportedly, Coach Elzy said Howard will return for her senior season. We’ll see if Rhyne changes her mind come April.

She only has the option if she graduates. She doesn’t qualify age-wise.

 

[SimpleDawg]

I don't think they are great but very physical team that will make you pay at times. Definitely will give many teams a head ache if you don't come to play. They seem to have a lot more depth this year.

They play physical I agree, but they can't score. They could've beaten MSU, but they can't score like we can. Everything else felt kind of equal.

On that note, they might match Kentucky in turnovers and free throws and rebounds, but the difference is Kentucky dials up points that Georgia just eventually lose the ability to match, and the game is over if Howard goes on one of those crazy runs like she did at the end of the Mississippi State game.

I expect them to give SC or Kentucky a real test - if the main SC or Kentucky offensive players is cold or has an off night, they could even win!

 

[LETTERL]

Catchings has come along a lot in her speaking. Good for her.

I like hearing Catchings call games. She provides a lot of insight but doesn't ramble incessantly like some.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

They play physical I agree, but they can't score. They could've beaten MSU, but they can't score like we can. Everything else felt kind of equal.

On that note, they might match Kentucky in turnovers and free throws and rebounds, but the difference is Kentucky dials up points that Georgia just eventually lose the ability to match, and the game is over if Howard goes on one of those crazy runs like she did at the end of the Mississippi State game.

I expect them to give SC or Kentucky a real test - if the main SC or Kentucky offensive players is cold or has an off night, they could even win!

It would take a pretty bad night.

 

[donalddoowop]

Catchings has come along a lot in her speaking. Good for her.

When I first heard her on a broadcast I wondered how she was allowed to be an analyst. I thought she was given the job because she was a former great player who knew a lot about the game. She sounded as if she had food in her mouth when she talked. However, I later learned she had a speech impediment and that changed my whole way of thinking. It no longer bothers me to listen to her, in fact I enjoy it. She has come along a lot.

 

[DefenseBB]

While I have been suspect of this teams shooting, they do know how to win and were in control of this game where I was never worried or thinking they would or could lose.
When they are shooting and executing their offense, they are very impressive and clearly a strong final four contender.
To me, they are still much better than Kentucky and anyone else in the SEC albeit not by as much as last year.
I think Dawn plays our game in February as a logical assessment for her team to review where they are and what to change/tweak like Geno does. She knows the sluggish/sloppy SEC conference play is different than the elite NCAAT play.
I will review but from my memory only SC and MSU have made noise in the NCAAT over the past 6-8 years, if that’s not a sign of the leagues demise, I don’t know what is...

 

[Gamecockfan77]

When I first heard her on a broadcast I wondered how she was allowed to be an analyst. I thought she was given the job because she was a former great player who knew a lot about the game. She sounded as if she had food in her mouth when she talked. However, I later learned she had a speech impediment and that changed my whole way of thinking. It no longer bothers me to listen to her, in fact I enjoy it. She has come along a lot.

I feel bad every time I think this, but it still bothers me.

 

[donalddoowop]

I feel bad every time I think this, but it still bothers me.

Please explain.

 

[Creature]

She has a speech impediment due to her deafness in one ear .....correct?

Truthfully-her speaking is kind of sexy..just the right amt. of imperfection

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Please explain.

I feel bad that I find her speech impediment distracting, but I do find it distracting.

 

[Go/huskies]

With her post moves, excellent footwork, and IQ, Boston could be the next Lauren Jackson if she ever gets a consistent 3 point shot.

 

[Creature]

I feel bad every time I think this, but it still bothers me.

She is also the

Is it just me or were layups just not an issue for us last year? We are missing so many point blank layups and it's nauseating. How can you regress as a team so sharply in one area like that? Is that a conditioning/strength thing?

Its mainly LA with the missed put backs to be honest..

 

[ConwayGmck]

While I have been suspect of this teams shooting, they do know how to win and were in control of this game where I was never worried or thinking they would or could lose.
When they are shooting and executing their offense, they are very impressive and clearly a strong final four contender.
To me, they are still much better than Kentucky and anyone else in the SEC albeit not by as much as last year.
I think Dawn plays our game in February as a logical assessment for her team to review where they are and what to change/tweak like Geno does. She knows the sluggish/sloppy SEC conference play is different than the elite NCAAT play.
I will review but from my memory only SC and MSU have made noise in the NCAAT over the past 6-8 years, if that’s not a sign of the leagues demise, I don’t know what is...

Let's look at the past 11 seasons, with 10 NCAA Tournaments (going back to the 2010 NCAAT):

USC and MSU are the only teams in the SEC to reach at least the Final Four over the past 8 years. They've done all that in just the last 5 NCAAT's to be accurate. They accumulated one title, 2 finalists, and 1 other FF appearance in that time. So 4 appearances as far as the Final Four.

The AAC was just a one-team show, and that team is no longer with them.

The ACC has 7 appearances going back to the 2014 NCAAT, or last 6 NCAATs - Notre Dame has 4 and 1 each for UL, Syracuse, and Maryland who then left for the B10.

The B10 has one Final Four appearance from Maryland in 2015, and that's it.

The B12 has 5 appearances, with Baylor having 3 of those, Texas A&M having 1 (they left for the SEC), and Oklahoma reaching the Final Four in 2010. So for quite a while, it's just been the Baylor Show.

The Big East was essentially a 2-team show until those 2 teams left them, then they disappeared. Their last big noise was in the 2013 NCAAT, with CT beating UL in a cameo appearance, and ND reaching the Final Four. They have one of those 3 teams back, so they could be the next AAC?

The Pac12 has the most appearances with teams that are still conference members, with 9 appearances since the 2010 NCAAT. 8 of them are Final Four appearances, with Stanford claiming 4 of those, plus Oregon, Oregon St., Washington, and California making single appearances. Stanford also has the 9th appearance, a 2010 runner-up to CT. Not too sure if Oregon St. or post-Plum Washington is expected back any time soon - am a bit more sure regarding Cali - so until then it looks like a Stanford-Oregon show for the foreseeable future.

We could take it a step further, and look at Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen appearances for the conferences. But I would hesitate in calling the SEC in decline at the moment - 5-6 years ago the perspective would have made more sense, but less now. Beginning with the 2015 NCAAT, the SEC has 4 appearances in the Final Four, the Pac12 also has 4 (they are all FF appearances, compared to one title and 2 runners-up for SEC), the AAC had 5 appearances from one single team, and the ACC has had 5 appearances, with a title, THREE runners-up, and a FF.

It looks right now the ACC has been the top conference over the last 5-6 seasons, but the SEC is not far behind, and if anything their recent successes indicate a league on the rise, not in decline.....