Battle 4 Atlantis Final on ESPN2

[jpp13]

Glad ESPN saw the potential, now they need to add the Maryland, Stanford, NC State matchups.

 

[visitingcock]

Championship game only?

The should air both semis too.

 

[eebmg]

Championship game only?

The should air both semis too.

Guessing it is easier to replace programming during early afternoon on a weekday (Monday) than weekend games

 

[Blakeon18]

Great news!

 

[f1f1ferrari]

What? People don't like FloHoops?

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

Early look at how Kamilla Cardoso changes South Carolina along with the new recruits. Twin towers can be scary but not a guarantee to a championship. Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond, Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.....did they win even one? And South Carolina had A'ja Wilson and Alaina Coates (2017); also Las Vegas has A'ja Wilson and Liz Cambage (Zero). UConn did have Walters and Lobo for 1995 NC.

Next year, Stanford (with Betts added) along with South Carolina can play with twin towers.

This year, UConn can indeed play Olivia and Dorka but the more likely tall combinations at the post with the game on line will include Aaliyah and one of the other two.

I like the UConn balance with its dominant guard play, so I continue to believe they will win the 12th NC this year after the coaches sort out how to deploy the players in different combinations. But South Carolina and Stanford will continue to be tough obstacles in the next several years....also, looking around for a speedy team that can play ball pressure defense all game long as potential obstacle - not sure yet which one that will is.

UConn for more than one NC in the next 3-4 years.

 

[MSGRET]

I believe that the first two rounds are on FloSports. The championship game appears to still be in the TBD category. Which could mean that ESPN or someone else is negotiating to televise it instead of FloSports.

I was correct when I stated this above in another thread about viewing the games this season. Maybe I should give @Carnac a go for his money.

 

[huskyd]

Early look at how Kamilla Cardoso changes South Carolina along with the new recruits. Twin towers can be scary but not a guarantee to a championship. Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond, Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.....did they win even one? And South Carolina had A'ja Wilson and Alaina Coates (2017); also Las Vegas has A'ja Wilson and Liz Cambage (Zero). UConn did have Walters and Lobo for 1995 NC.

Next year, Stanford (with Betts added) along with South Carolina can play with twin towers.

This year, UConn can indeed play Olivia and Dorka but the more likely tall combinations at the post with the game on line will include Aaliyah and one of the other two.

I like the UConn balance with its dominant guard play, so I continue to believe they will win the 12th NC this year after the coaches sort out how to deploy the players in different combinations. But South Carolina and Stanford will continue to be tough obstacles in the next several years....also, looking around for a speedy team that can play ball pressure defense all game long as potential obstacle - not sure yet which one that will is.

UConn for more than one NC in the next 3-4 years.

SC has used twin towers against UConn before and has never beaten the Huskies with 2 bigs. Aja Wilson played 4 years v. UConn and never won a game. So much for bigs.

 

[Carnac]

I was correct when I stated this above in another thread about viewing the games this season. Maybe I should give @Carnac a go for his money.

A tip o' the turban to you Serge. Making correct calls is not easy. It's a gift that's not fully appreciated. Go for it. Take some of the pressure off of me. Make sure you have an ample supple of humble pie, you'll have to dine on some before the season is over. NOBODY bats 1.000

 

[Plebe]

SC has used twin towers against UConn before and has never beaten the Huskies with 2 bigs. Aja Wilson played 4 years v. UConn and never won a game. So much for bigs.

To be fair, A'ja never had the caliber of supporting cast that SC's bigs now have. Gone are the days of Tina Roy and Asia Dozier.

 

[MSGRET]

A tip o' the turban to you Serge. Making correct calls is not easy. It's a gift that's not fully appreciated.

Don't I know, I only got 2 points on one game in the regular season in the Prognosticator's Predictions last year, and only 2 points from the Iowa game in the Tournament. Hopefully I'll do better this year.

 

[TheGOAT23]

Early look at how Kamilla Cardoso changes South Carolina along with the new recruits. Twin towers can be scary but not a guarantee to a championship. Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond, Akeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.....did they win even one? And South Carolina had A'ja Wilson and Alaina Coates (2017); also Las Vegas has A'ja Wilson and Liz Cambage (Zero). UConn did have Walters and Lobo for 1995 NC.

Next year, Stanford (with Betts added) along with South Carolina can play with twin towers.

This year, UConn can indeed play Olivia and Dorka but the more likely tall combinations at the post with the game on line will include Aaliyah and one of the other two.

I like the UConn balance with its dominant guard play, so I continue to believe they will win the 12th NC this year after the coaches sort out how to deploy the players in different combinations. But South Carolina and Stanford will continue to be tough obstacles in the next several years....also, looking around for a speedy team that can play ball pressure defense all game long as potential obstacle - not sure yet which one that will is.

UConn for more than one NC in the next 3-4 years.

I believe that Alaina Coates was injured in 2017 when the Gamecocks won the ‘ship. That opened the lane for A’ja to operate.

 

[Zinethar]

We have had so much discussion of the need for height I have the perfect lineup. Liv, Piath, Dorka, Amari, and Paige to distribute the ball to the one most open. Certainly should give UConn the height advantage!

 

[Stymie]

Not too sure Cardoso will be able to run the floor like the Husky’s bigs, or team for that matter.
IMHO, superior guard play, talented, active front line with little drop of among them is the recipe for UCONN.

 

[Carnac]

Not too sure Cardoso will be able to run the floor like the Husky’s bigs, or team for that matter.
IMHO, superior guard play, talented, active front line with little drop of among them is the recipe for UCONN.

We'll get our first look at SC a week from today on Nov 9. They play #5 NC State, a very formidable opponent. ESPN at 7pm ET. I'll be looking for a lot of things during that game. Their guard play, and the play of their BIGS, Cardoso and Boston.

Kamilla Cardoso

At some point (if it hasn't already), the light is going to go on for the 6'7" Cardoso at South Carolina. She's going to learn the system, jell with her teammates and get comfortable playing in Dawn's system. She turned 20 this past April (born 2001). With a full season under her belt, she's no doubt ready to take on WCBB. She'll get her first test against NC State's 6'5" senior post Elissa Cunane. Cunane was a 2021
ESPN first team All-American, AP and USBWA All-American (Second Team), and a WBCA All-American (Honorable Mention)

 

[jchusky]

I know it was an exhibition for SC vs an inferior opponent, but Cardoso looked dominant last night. I don't expect that to change.

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

SC has used twin towers against UConn before and has never beaten the Huskies with 2 bigs. Aja Wilson played 4 years v. UConn and never won a game. So much for bigs.

Let's not diminish bigs, shall we? Why do you think UConn hasn't won the NC these past six years, despite being in the FF all the time? How many of UConn's championships did not involve a top quality big or two or three? Diana's last two (they had bigs but not the best ones to come to UConn)?

Nor dismiss them. How quickly you forget that as twin towers, Lobo and Walters won an NC for UConn, Stef and Breanna did the same.....Breanna with Kiah, too. The Stanford team of Ogwumikes have beaten UConn and Candace Parker and her UT team did the same, to name just a few. So, too has Baylor with Griner with any smaller big with her, in fact, that team made Stef, later Breanna look entirely amateurish in their freshman years. When twin bigs can play well together, they can be a fearsome lot but it really depends on the pair and their guards to be successful. Otherwise, one very good big at a time is enough.

After Breanna left, Wilson and Coates were unfortunate to run into the big who outplayed them badly despite being half a foot shorter - Gabby Williams, so they continued to lose to UConn. But by the end of 2017 season, who won the championship? Wilson and company!

So much for bigs, indeed!

 

[Stymie]

“Everybody’s got a plan ‘till you punch them in the face”.-Mike Tyson
Everybody looks dominant ‘till they have to run up and down the floor nonstop, trying to keep up.
Gassed== foolish fouls+easy layups.
I’ll stay in my lane Carnac- but my prediction.

 

[browns]

“Everybody’s got a plan ‘till you punch them in the face”.-Mike Tyson
Everybody looks dominant ‘till they have to run up and down the floor nonstop, trying to keep up.
Gassed== foolish fouls+easy layups.
I’ll stay in my lane Carnac- but my prediction.

Tyson got that saying from the immortal Joe Jouis who said "Everyone has a plan until they've been hit"

 

[jchusky]

What I want to know is if UConn can win a muggy game. Arizona did it and UConn folded, Nd has done it in the past and Uconn has not answered in the final 4. I think that's a plan other teams are gonna use to a finesse team. Not sure if South Carolina is a team that can mug up some games, but I'm sure they will do their best.

 

[Reypl21]

Not too sure Cardoso will be able to run the floor like the Husky’s bigs, or team for that matter.
IMHO, superior guard play, talented, active front line with little drop of among them is the recipe for UCONN.

Tell me you don't watch Cardoso without tell me you don't watch Cardoso.

She runs extremely well for a big.

 

[huskyd]

Let's not diminish bigs, shall we? Why do you think UConn hasn't won the NC these past six years, despite being in the FF all the time? How many of UConn's championships did not involve a top quality big or two or three? Diana's last two (they had bigs but not the best ones to come to UConn)?

Nor dismiss them. How quickly you forget that as twin towers, Lobo and Walters won an NC for UConn, Stef and Breanna did the same.....Breanna with Kiah, too. The Stanford team of Ogwumikes have beaten UConn and Candace Parker and her UT team did the same, to name just a few. So, too has Baylor with Griner with any smaller big with her, in fact, that team made Stef, later Breanna look entirely amateurish in their freshman years. When twin bigs can play well together, they can be a fearsome lot but it really depends on the pair and their guards to be successful. Otherwise, one very good big at a time is enough.

After Breanna left, Wilson and Coates were unfortunate to run into the big who outplayed them badly despite being half a foot shorter - Gabby Williams, so they continued to lose to UConn. But by the end of 2017 season, who won the championship? Wilson and company!

So much for bigs, indeed!

Without getting in the weeds, your closing point makes no sense. SC didn't win the NC by beating UConn. In fact the Huskies beat the Gamecockies on SC's home floor by double digits that season. It's impossible to predict who might have won had UConn faced SC in the NC, but at that point the Huskies had never been beaten by SC and had never lost a championship game. Odds are?
Now, seriously, for what big anywhere would you trade PB?

 

[jchusky]

Tell me you don't watch Cardoso without tell me you don't watch Cardoso.

She runs extremely well for a big.

it really amazes me the narrative of what Cardoso has become. I remember when she was rumored to be in Uconn's interest after the transfer and nothing but positives. Now it's "well she didn't do well in the Ncaa game" "I would rather have Dorka". Let me be clear on saying that in no stratosphere is Dorka better than Cardoso. Cardoso is one hell of an athlete and dominant player. The fact that not only she went to another school not named Uconn, but to SC with Boston? gonna be a lot of problems

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

Without getting in the weeds, your closing point makes no sense. SC didn't win the NC by beating UConn. In fact the Huskies beat the Gamecockies on SC's home floor by double digits that season. It's impossible to predict who might have won had UConn faced SC in the NC, but at that point the Huskies had never been beaten by SC and had never lost a championship game. Odds are?
Now, seriously, for what big anywhere would you trade PB?

UConn did not win against Mississippi State because of two trees: McGowan (6'7") and Okorie (6'5") and front court players no shorter than 6'1". Even guard Vivians is 6'1" The irony is it was the shortest player of their team that took the last shot to beat UConn. But it was the bigs that gave UConn the most trouble scoring, despite the heroics of one Gabby Williams.

My point simply was and still is the use to bigs: whether 1 or 2 in the front court. It has worked for UConn and has worked against UConn.

As to South Carolina not beating UConn for the 2017 NC, Their bigs got them to the title game AND their size matched Miss State's size that beat UConn to win the title. Do you still insist on "so much for bigs?"

 

[stamfordhusky]

We'll get our first look at SC a week from today on Nov 9. They play #5 NC State, a very formidable opponent. ESPN at 7pm ET. I'll be looking for a lot of things during that game. Their guard play, and the play of their BIGS, Cardoso and Boston.

According to both schools' websites, the game is at 5 PM. On ESPN as you say.