ACC 2024-25 Season

[WBBTakeover]

I'm not talking about academic policies. UVA will take almost anyone academically. I can tell by the current roster and it was like that when I went there.
Every school handles fundraising differently; coaches are given rules to follow, programs hoard their donors, etc. Different schools give coaches longer or shorter leashes on a variety of topics from dorm situations to internship perks, etc. As recent as two years ago Virginia's transfer rules were more strict than Duke's. They might still be, but I haven't talked to anyone about it lately. We can agree to disagree. ND has plenty of NIL now and a history of success. Mox is not Lawson and UVA is not Duke by reputation. I think it is unreasonable to expect her to be like either of those teams at this point.

I agree with the bolded part, but it's not unreasonable to expect the team to look competent now. They hardly ever do, which is a major concern for a coach in her third season of ACC basketball. Neither she nor her assistants knew the ACC landscape two seasons ago, so them getting blasted during conference play didn't surprise anyone. But for them to be 0-2 at this point with a double-digit home loss to an average BC team and a 41-point loss to ND (not even their worst loss of the season) is concerning. It suggests that there's no progression. They should be in the, "we're not going to beat the teams at the top, but we'll make things difficult for them" phase. Instead, they aren't even beating the teams they should beat while getting annihilated by those teams at the top.

If the plan works and Alexis' gift makes a difference in recruiting, then competition with Duke and ND for conference titles will be expected by Mox's fifth year. That's not unreasonable IF Mox's coaching is up to ACC standard (I don't think it is).

 

[cancontent]

I was surprised by VA's gameplan with Lattimore. The commentators kept raving about her 6'4 frame and 6'9 wingspan. But she sat at the top of zone all night. Meanwhile they gave up so many 3's and got destroyed on the boards.

Lattimore hasn't been a back to the basket/in the paint player going back to her highschool days. It's not her thing.

 

[Frankus]

Coaching (or lack thereof).

Lattimore was a player who I thought looks like she could develop into a star. But the ball movement was so poor that she didn't get enough inside looks where she could score.

 

[FanInNC]

State had a battle with Clemson last night in Raleigh. Zam Jones is still out with an injured hand and Mallory Collier didn’t start and played only 9 minutes dealing with sickness.

The tigers were scorching hot from 3. They hit 15 -31 for the game and were 9-17 at the half. In the first half State struggled defending ball screens, choosing to leave the screener and stop penetration which led to multiple drive and kick 3s and Clemson wasn’t missing.

Azaiah James tweaked an ankle in the 3rd and left the game for maybe 8-10 minutes but returned.

Madison Hayes had her best game of the year going 19 and 9 for State. Zoe Brooks, James and Saniya Rivers all were in double figures as well.

I was impressed with Clemson and their new coach. They were disciplined on offense and ran some good stuff I thought. I’m interested to see how he does in the coming years, they had good energy and looked well organized.

State needs Zam back quickly - they miss her offensive spark off the bench and become very thin quick!

 

[Ladeeeeda]

I agree with that 100%, as I'm not someone who believes that Coach Kara is the sun, the moon, and the stars (she's got her faults, which can rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune times). That said, she's shown herself to be a pretty good coach without those immense financial gifts (something that Mox hasn't done). She's not Marissa Young good, but she's good. She wasn't my first (or second, or third) choice, but she's done reasonably well so far--all things considered (navigating COVID, having to consider Duke's academic reputation during recruiting battles, washing away the stench of the previous coach, etc.). If the NIL money that Duke is set to receive over the next year takes the program back to true national prominence, then it doesn't matter to me that Kara isn't Dawn, Kim, or Geno.

Just to be clear, I am not knocking Lawson at all. She is what has gotten them to where they are now, but it is nearly impossible to get a championship without a play maker and playmakers require robust NIL.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Just to be clear, I am not knocking Lawson at all. She is what has gotten them to where they are now, but it is nearly impossible to get a championship without a play maker and playmakers require robust NIL.

Oh I know you weren't--and neither was I. And yes, it's going to be hard for Duke to win conference titles and compete for national titles without a true All-ACC caliber talent at PG. Fortunately, I think that Kara will have a few options to seek out/work with next year.

 

[jdote33]

Just got home from BC vs Duke. Honestly left with about 6 minutes to go in the 4th. Toby Fournier actually had just gotten injured, she hit an and one but got hit and landed hard and awkwardly. The BC player was ejected. I was at the other side of the court so I couldn't see if it was malicious. The good news is Fournier was down for a bit but got up and walked to the back lightly assisted by trainers. I think she is fine but I'm far from a doctor.

Anyways my thoughts on the game overall as I really went to see how good Duke was.

I was impressed with their wings. Richardson and Jackson both played well. I don't even think their numbers were crazy they just played in control and took the right shots.

Mair had a small but enthusiastic contingent of fans in the stands. She was as aggressive as i've seen her all year. I think she was trying to put on a show. She played decently.

My concerns were that they really struggled with BCs full court press. Even if they didn't turn the ball over they took rush shots. Outside of Mair their guards didn't play well.

Jordyn woods who I really like, didn't play her best game. She actually got chewed out by Coach Lawson as she committed 2 or 3 straight fouls in the second half. Lawson also got frustrated with how they were handling the press but they don't have that many ball handlers.

I also went to the game to see Fournier. I'm no scout except here on the Boneyard, but everything I see on tv, I saw today. Idk why I'm surprised by this. But she was really good and really raw at the same time. And raw has a negative connotation, I more so mean unorthodox. Like she had a couple baskets where it just looked like she threw the ball in,not like a clean shot. She also was battling down low with a super senior at times which was fun to watch. Sometimes she wasn't in the right position on defense. She is also looking to score 80 percent of the time she touches the ball which I don't think is a bad thing. I also think she's closer to 6'2 than she is to 6'4.

BC... just not quite there from a talent perspective. I think kids are still on holiday so a relatively light crowd. I just remember 2 years ago going to a game and seeing Cameron Swartz playing like Diana Taurasi and Taylor Soule playing like Ajsha Jones and thought id luck out and see a diamond in the rough. Definitely wasn't the case.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I can't imagine what kind of team would give up 105 points to Florida State. Oh wait--yes I can! A horrible one.

 

[DallasDomer]

I can't imagine what kind of team would give up 105 points to Florida State. Oh wait--yes I can! A horrible one.

Well so far there are six teams that have given up more than 100 to FSU so the number is growing. Of course having women's basketballs leading scorer facilitates high scores. I wonder what would happen if it was your team?

Personally I'd give a team that just had their head coach and staff and several key players bought away by Kentucky a little slack to get their program back up and running but I guess you demand immediate greatness. (I'm not a Virginia Tech supporter but I've followed them enough to recognize unjust criticism of a program trying to rebuild.)

 

[FanInNC]

Clemson knocked off Cal - I’m not shocked after watching them in Raleigh. Good win for the Tigers, maybe they can build off of that and get some momentum going.

Stanford losing to SMU? Oof.

FSU has never had issues scoring it, they average over 95 points per game and Latson averages 28 herself! Their question is can they stop anyone else from scoring?

 

[WBBTakeover]

FSU has never had issues scoring it, they average over 95 points per game and Latson averages 28 herself! Their question is can they stop anyone else from scoring?

They can't, which is why teams (especially those that are undermanned--for whatever reason) should not be playing to their strengths (hence my original post on the matter). Slow them down and make them work the ball around. Shorten the game. You don't have to have All-ACC talent at all positions to accomplish this (FSU certainly doesn't have that)--it's Coaching 101. Trying to play fast/run with them plays right into their hands.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Congrats to Megan Duffy on ACC win #1!

 

[LETTERL]

NC State looked like a Top 25 team today against Boston College. 6 Wolfpack Women scored in double figures, led by Saniya Rivers 23 points and 11 assists.

Road trip to California coming up this next week: we'll play Cal on Thursday and Stanford in storied Maples Pavilion on Sunday.

 

[triaddukefan]

I see that NC State Stuff is alive an well

 

[FanInNC]

I see that NC State Stuff is alive an well

Yep. Not sure what to make of this yet.

 

[FanInNC]

NC State looked like a Top 25 team today against Boston College. 6 Wolfpack Women scored in double figures, led by Saniya Rivers 23 points and 11 assists.

Road trip to California coming up this next week: we'll play Cal on Thursday and Stanford in storied Maples Pavilion on Sunday.

The Pack looked great today. Saniya Rivers was dominant, she came out the gate and set the tone with scoring, pushing tempo, making some elite passes, defense and rebounding. She was everywhere.

BC looked pathetic. No real plan on offense, just jacking up shots - and a lot of 3s despite not hitting many. I was waiting for Waggoner to go off on her former team today, but that never materialized. BC looks like a bottom third of the league squad pretty easily.

January’s schedule lines up well for State - a challenging west coast week ahead but then Pitt and UVa at home, @syracuse, VT at home and @wake. February though is a challenge! Duke, @FSU, @UNC, @GT and ND at home all that month.

 

[DallasDomer]

Congrats to Megan Duffy on ACC win #1!

Fantastic fourth quarter got them over the hump. 24-13 fourth quarter holding Miami to one point in the final 3:31 was most impressive to me.

 

[FanInNC]

Clemson gets another nice win knocking of Stanford. Notre Dame handled the Heels with relative ease as expected. Cal went on the road and beat SMU. FSU continues to score at a high level with a win over the Cuse. Yall mentioned VTs win over Miami, Duke spanks Pitt and Louisville needed OT to know off those pesky Deacs in Winston Salem.

The tiers of the conference are beginning to take shape with ND front and center as the best team. Duke and GT maybe in that second grouping alone although State and Cal aren’t too far off pace there IMO. After that it’s more muddled. FSU, Clemson, Louisville are out to good starts in league play while UNC is 1-2, but I’d say UNC has the pieces to be better than a couple of those squads.

I think there was some hope for Miami, Stanford and UVa earlier - but they all are in danger of really dropping out of the mix if they can’t get it going soon.

Pitt Wake BC Cuse battling it out for relegation.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I can't see Miami making the NCAA Tournament unless (1) they beat at least three of the following: ND, Duke, GT, Cal, or NC State or (2) they win the ACC Tournament. Their NET rating is not looking too good right now. They blew their opportunity to pick up Tier 1-type wins against UNC and Vanderbilt at home. I'm having a hard time figuring out who they'd beat (at Tier 1 quality) on the road. If they can't recover for the NCAAs, then maybe they'll accept a WBIT bid this time.

Stanford and UVA are in danger of not making the postseason altogether.

 

[Darwin]

NC State looked like a Top 25 team today against Boston College. 6 Wolfpack Women scored in double figures, led by Saniya Rivers 23 points and 11 assists.

Road trip to California coming up this next week: we'll play Cal on Thursday and Stanford in storied Maples Pavilion on Sunday.

How hard is it to look top 25 against BC? Let me know when State beats a real contender.

 

[Darwin]

Interesting game between the Tar Heels and the Duck Blue Devils this week. Wonder if Duke will play well or fold again.

 

[cancontent]

Interesting game between the Tar Heels and the Duck Blue Devils this week. Wonder if Duke will play well or fold again.

Sorry, who has beaten two top 25 ranked teams this season? Sure Duke lost to USF, but who has UNC beaten to justify their top 25 ranking this season?

 

[sivad40]

Sorry, who has beaten two top 25 ranked teams this season? Sure Duke lost to USF, but who has UNC beaten to justify their top 25 ranking this season?

Kentucky is UNC's best win.

 

[FanInNC]

Interesting game between the Tar Heels and the Duck Blue Devils this week. Wonder if Duke will play well or fold again.

I'd argue UNC is the one that has the earned reputation of folding.

 

[Darwin]

I'd argue UNC is the one that has the earned reputation of folding.

Not against the Ducks