OT: Brazil leading the USA at Fiba Americup, 2023 35 - 25

[Bone Dog]

Looks like Kamila is dominating. Betts has 2 pts, Angel has 2. Rickea is carrying us with 19.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Reese looks like she hasn't shot a ball in months. She is embarrassing herself pretty good tonight. Will flame out and not play at the next level without some type of other shot, too predictable.

I actually firmly believe she won't even be the best player on her own team next season..

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Not often that you outrebound a team by almost 20 and lose. Ouch.

 

[cancontent]

Reese looks like she hasn't shot a ball in months. She is embarrassing herself pretty good tonight. Will flame out and not play at the next level without some type of other shot, too predictable.

I actually firmly believe she won't even be the best player on her own team next season..

I hear you, but this is her first experience with international play. Not surprised that the physicality was a challenge for her along with some of the rules. Hopefully these battles with Cardoso will provide some extra motivation for the upcoming season.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Janiah Barker was also 1-8 or something.

Half of Reese's free throws were hitting the very side of the rim and bouncing off

 

[cancontent]

Not often that you outrebound a team by almost 20 and lose. Ouch.

No it's not. Shooting 29.5% when your opponent shoots 46.7% usually does.

 

[Bone Dog]

Kamila looked really good. She ran the floor well, was active on the glass, and scored practically at will. If this is what she brings to SC in the fall, and if Raven bounces back from this performance, I think SC is the team to beat in the SEC.

 

[jake0414]

Reese looks like she hasn't shot a ball in months. She is embarrassing herself pretty good tonight. Will flame out and not play at the next level without some type of other shot, too predictable.

I actually firmly believe she won't even be the best player on her own team next season.

Rickea Jackson rightfully got selected to the All-Tournament Team. Reese struggled in both losses to Brazil. In a combined 37:18 she scored 7 points on 2 of 10 fgs and 3 of 10 fts. She collected 9 rebounds over the two games. Last season at LSU Reese shot 53% on 2 point fgs and 71% from the free throw line. Playing against pros has to have been a rude awakening for Reese. Based on tournament play it seems Jackson has a far greater chance to succeed as a pro.

It struck me how physically aggressive Brazil plays. When they committed defensive fouls on US players they grabbed bodies and locked arms. I suspect the physical play bothered the US offensive flow. The defensive communication and defensive play on the US side was pretty bad. The gave Brazil too many uncontested shots.

Reese had no chance defending Cardoso. Betts has the size to disrupt Kamilla but Brazil had very effective plays screening Betts to get Cardoso open. Also the US guards got beat too often on drives by the quick Brazilian giards into the lane, forcing Betts to switch and leaving Cardoso open for the lob pass. Once the US got down by double digits mid way through the fourth quarter the US team seemed to give up.

Congratulations to tournament MVP Kamilla and her gold medal Brazil team. They play to their system and strengths extremely well. USA Basketball elected to field a junior team for the Americup Tournament as the US has already locked a spot in the 2024 Olympics as a result of winning the FINA Women's World Cup last September. This gave the roster of college players the experience of competing at the senior level.

I presume the pros currently playing in the WNBA will represent the US at the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in February 2024. 16 countries have qualified for the FIBA OQTs (Brazil, USA, Canada and Puerto Rico advance from the Americup). I believe those 16 teams will receive berths into four 4-Team OQTs with 12 advancing to Paris next summer. I expect if the US and Brazil play either in February or next July/August we will see a completely different outcome in a revenge scenario.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Kamila looked really good. She ran the floor well, was active on the glass, and scored practically at will. If this is what she brings to SC in the fall, and if Raven bounces back from this performance, I think SC is the team to beat in the SEC.

Yup Or TN with Rickea, Spears, Keys and wells. The SEC will come down to Those two. I have lsu 3rd or 4th behind those two based on their roster. Reese is decent but below average against elite players and they no longer have Morris bailing them out every week the last two years

 

[southofnorth]

Yup Or TN with Rickea, Spears, Keys and wells. The SEC will come down to Those two. I have lsu 3rd or 4th behind those two based on their roster. Reese is decent but below average against elite players and they no longer have Morris bailing them out every week the last two years

This. Morris was basically the entire offense in LSU’s game against South Carolina. I’d be shocked if LSU doesn’t struggle to find a replacement for her ability and willingness to do everything for LSU when nobody can/will.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Kamila looked really good. She ran the floor well, was active on the glass, and scored practically at will. If this is what she brings to SC in the fall, and if Raven bounces back from this performance, I think SC is the team to beat in the SEC.

Raven’s 3 pt shot looks terrible still. It’s her form that’s the problem and it’s unfortunate she seemingly hasn’t tried to fix it yet. I think she shot 0% from three in this tournament? Her shot on the free throw corner looked good the first toe games until teams scouted it.

Cardosa looked great but I think Cardosa always looks great. I know South Carolina brought in some outside firepower this year but I think their defense will take quite a big step back this year and in a little skeptical of Dana’s ability to blend the skills set she has at guard next year. I see them top 3 in the SEC but I have Tennesse and LSU ahead of them. Spear +Key + Jackson at z Tennessee is going to be step up for them from last year, imo.

 

[jdote33]

This. Morris was basically the entire offense in LSU’s game against South Carolina. I’d be shocked if LSU doesn’t struggle to find a replacement for her ability and willingness to do everything for LSU when nobody can/will.

Idk they lost pretty badly that game, and Hailey Van Lith and Morrow if they are anything are good offensive players. I also think Mikaylah Williams will be able to contribute right away. LSU really should be the team to beat in the sec imo.
Rickea was really impressive this tournament. In a potentially stacked draft she really should go top 5.
Also wanted to note the shooting and overall play of team usas guards was underwhelming. It's a different game I guess, but it is hard to win when your guards struggle that badly. They really coulda used Azzi, Hailey Van Lith, or even Paopao. I thought Jewel Spear struggled on both sides of the ball as well, though I still have high hopes for her when the season starts.
Lastly, I agree Reese has room for improvement offensively but I still love her intangibles. I feel like the team kinda adopted her spirit as she was the team captain. They really didn't back down from anyone despite being so young. She is also a tremendous rebounder and relatively good defender. So she basically has 2 years now to develop a face up jump shot or a couple post moves. I'm sure she can get the best trainers to help her.

 

[Bone Dog]

So she basically has 2 years now to develop a face up jump shot or a couple post moves.

Is Angel eligible for a red shirt season?

 

[cancontent]

Is Angel eligible for a red shirt season?

If you're referring to the COVID year, yes as she was a freshman in 2020.

 

[Bone Dog]

If you're referring to the COVID year, yes as she was a freshman in 2020.

I think I misunderstood an earlier post. Yes, she started in the same year as Paige and Nika and Aaliyah. They're academically seniors this year, but each of them could choose to stay a second year. There was some confusion caused by LSU listing Angel as a sophomore last season, though they probably didn't mean that as an academic designation.

 

[JellyBean]

Reese looks like she hasn't shot a ball in months. She is embarrassing herself pretty good tonight. Will flame out and not play at the next level without some type of other shot, too predictable.

I actually firmly believe she won't even be the best player on her own team next season..

I just think that she struggled because of the style Brazil played. Other games, her shooting was on par. In the games against Brazil, she struggled. As for the next level, I think she will be okay.

 

[cancontent]

I think I misunderstood an earlier post. Yes, she started in the same year as Paige and Nika and Aaliyah. They're academically seniors this year, but each of them could choose to stay a second year. There was some confusion caused by LSU listing Angel as a sophomore last season, though they probably didn't mean that as an academic designation.

Some schools didn't help matters with how players are listed with respect to the COVID year. Iowa State did something similar where players are listed as "redshirt" on their roster. It's confusing.

 

[cancontent]

I just think that she struggled because of the style Brazil played. Other games, her shooting was on par. In the games against Brazil, she struggled. As for the next level, I think she will be okay.

Reese also struggled with Argentina for similar reasons. Her shooting percentage wasn't great that game either. Hopefully she takes is as a learning experience and builds on it.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Reese also struggled with Argentina for similar reasons. Her shooting percentage wasn't great that game either. Hopefully she takes is as a learning experience and builds on it.

When half her free throws are getting more side of the back board than the actual rim, there’s a major problem… I guess she can coast on NIL but offensively she won’t survive in the wnba if she doesn’t commit to getting better in the gym in the next two years. I don’t blame her for cashing in but it absolutely hurt her development this summer and she was ill prepared and out of shape. Absolutely no way should she declare after next season. She isn’t fixing all those flaws in one season especially when she has spent most this summer not even in gym.

 

[Bills Fan]

When half her free throws are getting more side of the back board than the actual rim, there’s a major problem… I guess she can coast on NIL but offensively she won’t survive in the wnba if she doesn’t commit to getting better in the gym in the next two years. I don’t blame her for cashing in but it absolutely hurt her development this summer and she was ill prepared and out of shape. Absolutely no way should she declare after next season. She isn’t fixing all those flaws in one season especially when she has spent most this summer not even in gym.

Then you gotta question why she made it out of the tryouts.

 

[choclate45]

Some schools didn't help matters with how players are listed with respect to the COVID year. Iowa State did something similar where players are listed as "redshirt" on their roster. It's confusing.

ESPN referred to Nika as a sophomore a few times.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Then you gotta question why she made it out of the tryouts.

Good question but given how the rest of the roster minute Betts and Rickea looked, it looked highly suspect all around for team USA. Between roster selection, to rotations by the coach, none of it really added up

 

[sharris25]

Raven’s 3 pt shot looks terrible still. It’s her form that’s the problem and it’s unfortunate she seemingly hasn’t tried to fix it yet. I think she shot 0% from three in this tournament? Her shot on the free throw corner looked good the first toe games until teams scouted it.

Cardosa looked great but I think Cardosa always looks great. I know South Carolina brought in some outside firepower this year but I think their defense will take quite a big step back this year and in a little skeptical of Dana’s ability to blend the skills set she has at guard next year. I see them top 3 in the SEC but I have Tennesse and LSU ahead of them. Spear +Key + Jackson at z Tennessee is going to be step up for them from last year, imo.

Raven’s 3 pt shot looks terrible still. It’s her form that’s the problem and it’s unfortunate she seemingly hasn’t tried to fix it yet. I think she shot 0% from three in this tournament? Her shot on the free throw corner looked good the first toe games until teams scouted it.

Cardosa looked great but I think Cardosa always looks great. I know South Carolina brought in some outside firepower this year but I think their defense will take quite a big step back this year and in a little skeptical of Dana’s ability to blend the skills set she has at guard next year. I see them top 3 in the SEC but I have Tennesse and LSU ahead of them. Spear +Key + Jackson at z Tennessee is going to be step up for them from last year, imo.

While Raven did not attempt but about 5 three point shots the entire tourney, she made a decent number of mid-range jumpers and more importantly, ran the team as a true point guard better than anyone else they took to Mexico. She has proven effective as a point guard against great competition, and more importantly is a dog on defense and a game changer in transition as Uconn and many others learned last year. She also does the best job of getting balls into the big as any guard in the country. With Carodozo playing the way she did and the added shooters like Pao Pao, Bree Hall getting more minutes and Tessa Johnson and Fulwilley, South Carolina will be stout. As far as defense, even before the freshies of the last three years, Dawn has always fielded a stout defense, even when undermanned as they were Aja's senior year. I think Tenn and LSU will still struggle against them, especially with Cardoza anchoring the middle and the addition of 6-6 Walker to go along with the freakishly athletic Ashlyn Watkins. I suspect South Carolina is not going anywhere.