Can South Carolina Take Next Step

[easttexastrash]

I think Staley made a mistake by not starting Coates and Wilson this past season. I think that by coming off the bench they had a less aggressive attitude and that if they had been starters that they would have been more productive.

 

[fanatichusky]

i admit i was intrigued by Wilson even having never seen her play. she did come with the #1 billing and wanted her at uconn. But after seeing her play, i was disappointed, like Mercedes Russell. Wilson seems a good fit for Tenn-brick it up and get the rebounds for a junk score. No offense to her, just my opinion.

 

[fanatichusky]

I need some substantive uconn news! Tired of posting on SC, TN and whatever team. All are second tier and of no consequence really, meaning, without uconn there really is no wcbb for me.

 

[SCGamecock]

IMO Wilson is not a wing either by any definition. What I don't understand is South Carolina's refusal to end this Wilson is a Gurad/Wing charade and tell her, bluntly if necessary, you are a F/PF occasionally a C. Her confusion dates back to July 2012 when her AAU coach, Jerome Dickson complained about her USA basketball experience stating that she was “misused as a post player and she was really a guard”. From that pronounced by Dickson through today Wilson has labeled herself a guard. Surprising this charade continues today and even Dawn at the beginning of this season started Wilson at the Guard position-she was horrible. She is neither guard nor wing. A wing would have attempted more than 3 ThreePoint shots on the season.
Different energy (topic) for our South Carolina posters. I saw where the South Carolina Women’s basketball team was honored by the State House. A very positive and deserving honor. http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/042215aaf.html
Has the team and or the University expressed a stance on the removal of the confederate flag from the state capital? It would seem to me that given the national brand that Dawn is trying to build that this specific item (confederate flag over state capital) might be counterproductive. For example, if South Carolina wanted to host a regional final in the future this might be an obstacle similar to the idiotic threat to common sense and decency that arose from Indy recently.

Again, like I've already said... just because you have not seen Wilson do something in a game does not mean she's incapable of doing it. REMINDER: SHE'S A FRESHMEN, her game is still growing. She wasn't asked to do much besides be under center this year and that will change. Next year, you will see more from her and then you'll understand why she's not your typical under the goal center. I've seen SC practice and A'ja is comfortable and natural at wing. She shoots threes and mid range jumpers and she drives comfortably and has great length. This year, Dawn wanted one thing from her post... to be ready for the feed. So that's all you saw from them. If you click on that link I posted you'll hear Dawn saying how we've barely scratched the surface of what Coates, Wilson and White can do.

What makes Wilson special is here versatility.. she can and will grow into quite the multifaceted player. To pigeonhole her into one position, like a center, would do her a disservice. Some players should be pigeonholed. Wilson is not one of them. You guys need to accept that she will NOT just be an under the goal center because it's happening regardless.

She's not a UCONN player anyway.. so if it's such a bad thing that Dawn wants to use Wilson all over the floor then that's better for your team. Right?

Or maybe you know that it's not such a bad thing.

 

[SCGamecock]

Has the team and or the University expressed a stance on the removal of the confederate flag from the state capital? It would seem to me that given the national brand that Dawn is trying to build that this specific item (confederate flag over state capital) might be counterproductive. For example, if South Carolina wanted to host a regional final in the future this might be an obstacle similar to the idiotic threat to common sense and decency that arose from Indy recently.

And FYI: the confederate flag no longer flies on top of the statehouse... it flies on a memorial on statehouse grounds.

Personally, I don't think it's the team's or school's place to speak on a matter that's so highly sensitive. Nobody benefits from that, especially the University/Team. At this point, it's a political issue.. and because SC can now host NCAA games, it's no longer a sports/school issue.. which it should not have been in the first place.

 

[Blue Huskie]

Let's see the next step would be beating Notre dame. Maybe but I doubt it

 

[CocoHusky]

Again, like I've already said... just because you have not seen Wilson do something in a game does not mean she's incapable of doing it. REMINDER: SHE'S A FRESHMEN, her game is still growing. She wasn't asked to do much besides be under center this year and that will change. Next year, you will see more from her and then you'll understand why she's not your typical under the goal center. I've seen SC practice and A'ja is comfortable and natural at wing. She shoots threes and mid range jumpers and she drives comfortably and has great length. This year, Dawn wanted one thing from her post... to be ready for the feed. So that's all you saw from them. If you click on that link I posted you'll hear Dawn saying how we've barely scratched the surface of what Coates, Wilson and White can do.

What makes Wilson special is here versatility.. she can and will grow into quite the multifaceted player. To pigeonhole her into one position, like a center, would do her a disservice. Some players should be pigeonholed. Wilson is not one of them. You guys need to accept that she will NOT just be an under the goal center because it's happening regardless.

She's not a UCONN player anyway.. so if it's such a bad thing that Dawn wants to use Wilson all over the floor then that's better for your team. Right?

Or maybe you know that it's not such a bad thing.

Honestly I give up. I eagerly look forward to A'ja translating what you have seen her do "in practice" to an actual game. I'm very confident that UCONN will locate and adequately defend A'ja regardless of her position. Your concern should be the other teams in your own conference which will do likewise.

 

[SCGamecock]

Your concern should be the other teams in your own conference which will do likewise.

As usual, I look forward to a very competitive SEC next season.

 

[Henry]

What's the next step? Winning a championship? In WBB the most dominant team tends to win. If they are the most dominant team and don't screw up in the sweet 16 or elite 8 they could win. However, they still have to get through us. Having been to the Final Four should give them some confidence but until you win you are never sure you can.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Not that I want to get in middle of this debate..... but i will to an extent..... one thing about the 5 or 6 times I saw SC last year is that they did not look like a well oiled machine...... no problem they had young team and learning to play at next level.....

but on Wilson..... when I saw her play..... I thought WOW! she is an ATHLETE..... running the floor..... has the potential to be soooo good if utilized properly..... which is why i posted earlier (forget if on this thread) to the effect that the guards have to seek her out and use her to maximum potential.....

USC has to bring it every night..... they have the talent..... just have to put it together and play as a unit..... the SEC will be interesting .... SC will go as far as Dawn will take them..... as opposed to Tenn which will go as far as DD will take them (sorry, little confidence in Holly).... and what of KY and A&M? Will they make a noise at all? Would be nice to see SEC in FF..... last few years it has been ACC.....

 

[EricSD]

Honestly I give up. I eagerly look forward to A'ja translating what you have seen her do "in practice" to an actual game. I'm very confident that UCONN will locate and adequately defend A'ja regardless of her position. Your concern should be the other teams in your own conference which will do likewise.

I actually think Wilson has a lot of potential. Just look at how much Moriah improved from freshman to sophomore years. And Wilson showed flashes of being a terrific post player.

Let me just, for the record, talk about her game as a guard. Not in a million years. She is not a guard, never has been, never will be. What she DOES have are terrific ball handling skills for a POST player. So let's just stop with calling her a guard. She's no more a guard than Parker, Griner, or Charde Houston was/are. Parker is great with the ball in the open court. Charde could bring the ball up single handedly against the press. And Griner is a whiz with the ball, and can dribble between her legs, etc.

Just because a player has great ball handling skills FOR A POST PLAYER does not make them anywhere close to a guard. Wilson's not even a wing. The best she can hope for is to develop a competent outside game and call herself a wing/forward.

 

[Go/huskies]

I actually think Wilson has a lot of potential. Just look at how much Moriah improved from freshman to sophomore years. And Wilson showed flashes of being a terrific post player.

Let me just, for the record, talk about her game as a guard. Not in a million years. She is not a guard, never has been, never will be. What she DOES have are terrific ball handling skills for a POST player. So let's just stop with calling her a guard. She's no more a guard than Parker, Griner, or Charde Houston was/are. Parker is great with the ball in the open court. Charde could bring the ball up single handedly against the press. And Griner is a whiz with the ball, and can dribble between her legs, etc.

Just because a player has great ball handling skills FOR A POST PLAYER does not make them anywhere close to a guard. Wilson's not even a wing. The best she can hope for is to develop a competent outside game and call herself a wing/forward.

Wilson was a 5'10? guard her freshman year of high school

 

[SCGamecock]

Not that I want to get in middle of this debate..... but i will to an extent..... one thing about the 5 or 6 times I saw SC last year is that they did not look like a well oiled machine. no problem they had young team and learning to play at next level.....

I agree here... that's the thing that kills me about SC. At times, they look unbeatable offensively, especially when we were moving the ball around quickly and our players were all over the court.. then other times the offense is almost pedestrian and unbearable. I'm hoping we take great strides and work on being more sharp offensively this offseason. Too many times last season it looked like we played individually and not as a team.

I was excited listening to Dawn yesterday as she talked about our need for better outside shooters and ball passers. And ESPECIALLY when she said SC will play with 5 players that can shoot at all times on the floor next year. That tells you exactly what she's working on this team with this summer. Too many times we got handicapped offensively this past season. If our guard play improves in these areas then we are a drastically improved team.

 

[EricSD]

Wilson was a 5'10? guard her freshman year of high school

So? Gabby Williams was a 5'10" guard for 4 years of high school.

 

[SCGamecock]

Wilson was a 5'10? guard her freshman year of high school

Exactly. Sure, she'll never be a 1 or 2 again... but she can still do some things offensively that are associated with guards. That's why she's considered a W/F. She's an athlete that can be used all over the court.

So? Gabby Williams was a 5'10" guard for 4 years of high school.

He was referring to you saying that Wilson was NEVER a guard. She was a guard "back in the day" or like 3 years ago lol..

 

[BroadwayVa]

http://www.thestate.com/sports/coll...na/usc-womens-basketball/article19250793.html

Five interesting questions asked. Most important question: Are they here to stay?? Answer is it's too early to say. Second question; Why no big time recruits? (paraphrasing)---Answer: When you are loaded it's harder to fill empty spots--few want to ride the bench.
Staley is good and she has recruited well (for last year and this). Geno credits recruiting and great recruits for Uconn's success--but we all know that is only a part of the equation---X (recruits) Plus Z (Geno) Plus ABC (Chris D, Shea R, Marissia) plus physically conditioning plus practice plus practice plus practice EQUALs 10 National Championships.
Seems to me the missing parts of Staley's equation is Geno, CD, Shea, Marissa
Geno got Gabby to (maybe temp) move to small Fwd--if she said not only no but heck no--Geno would not have forced it upon her--but I doubt she would have played even in Cleanup times--Players play where college- coaches believe they are needed--not where their HS coach says they should==in the old daze we'd call that gigantic gall. Few are that important. Is this why Uconn didn't get you know who?

 

[Bayareahusky]

I agree here... that's the thing that kills me about SC. At times, they look unbeatable offensively, especially when we were moving the ball around quickly and our players were all over the court.. then other times the offense is almost pedestrian and unbearable. I'm hoping we take great strides and work on being more sharp offensively this offseason. Too many times last season it looked like we played individually and not as a team.

I was excited listening to Dawn yesterday as she talked about our need for better outside shooters and ball passers. And ESPECIALLY when she said SC will play with 5 players that can shoot at all times on the floor next year. That tells you exactly what she's working on this team with this summer. Too many times we got handicapped offensively this past season. If our guard play improves in these areas then we are a drastically improved team.

Yeah if the guards can feed the studs down low why can't you guys expect greatness next year.... and one more thing I thought of .... you have a step up on rival Tenn..... cause as everyone knows Holly doesn't give offense much credence.... so by definition that helps your defense.....

Last year your first time in the bright lights .... time to take next step this coming year..... for my part.... i hope my TV package out west here will incorporate more of your games.....

 

[BroadwayVa]

USC will be fine this year.... and I hope they have a good season..... this conversation of this player and that player playing this function and that hybrid position makes me think to the importance of guard play. SC will be so strong at front line everyone can agree.... against the top especially though, they will need to depend on their guards to create opportunities for them

Tiffany.... wow I love to watch her play....yes.... let the creators create!!!! the smaller players who are better able to handle the ball can create situations which set up the bigs for everything they do..... I think of our Moriah Jefferson, who, despite getting her share of publicity and praise, still does not get enough in my estimation. She is multifaceted..... creates much of the offense and transition.... not to mention smothering defense..... I think of Jim Calhoun, who always stacked his team with small forwards.... I think if he could have 10 of them on his roster he would have..... largely because they could create..

USC this year will need Mitchell and her cohorts back there on the back line to produce in a big way to bring out the greatness of those on the front line.

I have to agree USC was fun to watch (except the Duke game). In the final game against ND I was impressed at how USC's small guard played more like Jefferson than in the UConn/USC game earlier. Dawn Staley during in game interview spoke of how important that guard was to their game plan.

 

[BroadwayVa]

LOL, didn't know you were a Lady Vols fan:



That was on the first page....

Your knowledge base is that of a fan who only lives inside the bubble of their own favorite team's history, and think every other program has had the same opportunities and just failed. In 2013-2014 USC was a team that had 0 5* players, 1 McDonald's All-American player (as a freshman), and a total of Five (5) players rated above 3*. Reaching the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAAT was once a novelty for even their head coach. By most rating services USC had a top-25 SOS for '13-'14. No, they did not deserve a #1 seed for the NCAAT that year, but they've been trashed on here for playing a NAIA-type cupcake schedule - as if they played the AAC conference - when truth was although they didn't play a TOP FIVE schedule strength, their schedule strength wasn't bad at all. This past season, USC's schedule was actually rated above UConn's by most online services....

I'm not part of the argument but two things popped out to me: 1. AAC cupcake schedule??? Must have been really bad--how could any of those teams win their 10 NC?? 2. Being locked into Uconn Women BB on a Uconn Women BB site seems the thing to do--I like all GOOD WBB at the College level---I'm a CAA WBB fan too--but my blind loyalty is with Uconn WBB and I do drink the Geno aide
am I on the wrong site??? I enjoyed the USC/ND game and cheered for USC (maybe I'm just anti ND?)(not) But you must admit that every other Major Div 1 CWBB teams had the same opportunities as UConn--operative word opportunity..

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

but flaming out in the sweet 16 indicates they were over ranked, over seeded, and over rated. Those were the points you missed.QUOTE]

As an aside, it can also mean it was a bad matchup, which happens.

2010, men's NCAA Tournament. Kentucky loses to West Virginia, which loses to Duke in the Final Four. No way Duke would have defeated Kentucky. But WVU matched up better with the Wildcats, and Duke matched up better with West Virginia.

This is one of the unpredictable parts (which DobbsRover cannot grasp in the other thread regarding Charlie Creme and predictions). You cannot predict your regions, draw, or matchups.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Um... did you even bother reading it? Obviously not.

Literally every single UCONN fan who offered an opinion had SC in the top 5. Some as high as #2. So why don't you read the posts again.

With regards to the previous season, SC had a cupcake schedule - playing maybe 1 or 2 top 10 teams (Tenn), who I think they lost to that season, they backed into a 1 seed because they played no one who was really any good. They flamed out in the sweet 16 and I think it was fair to say that maybe they were "given" a 1 seed, but they were not really even a top 8 team (1-2 seeds).

As for SC being a truly elite team, They lost 2 starters. I don't care that Coates and Wilson will become the new starters next year - they lost 1 great and 1 good player and replace them with one good guard. I'm not sure if SC will be better than last year - probably a little bit. BUT they have a small window. Last year and this year - the only 2 years they have even a remote shot to beat UCONN.

Given that we have the best recruiting class coming in, and given we already landed the top PG from the following class (Dangerfield), UCONN is reloading. SC is not. At least not yet. They need to recruit more similar to programs like ND where they land 1 top 10, 1 top 20 and 1 top 30 kid literally almost every year. Until then, they have a window right now and really I don't see them really challenging UCONN this season either...

Oh sure there will be a ton of hype around the game. But SC just doesn't have the talent UCONN has...

Eric---Recruiting any player at any position (normally) is a two year delay in being ready for prime time games. Dangerfield, if I'm not mistaken, is 2017. If she had the opportunity to play behind Jefferson for a year she'd be a great point guard the following year. Rare is there a player (DT almost) was a go from the start--but her ego was a huge as Texas and that's what it takes to lead Ct. But your conjecture of why USC needs some top talent- is to me excellent.-. But USC has loads of talent now. Challenging UConn next year except for the AAC Minus Fla I think (maybe hope) the out of AAC games will offer UConn good competition--I never see any season as a 39 and 0.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Dangerfield is 2016 so she will not have tutelage from Moriah..... she will have to learn from Nurse and others......

 

[BroadwayVa]

Yeah if the guards can feed the studs down low why can't you guys expect greatness next year.... and one more thing I thought of .... you have a step up on rival Tenn..... cause as everyone knows Holly doesn't give offense much credence.... so by definition that helps your defense.....

Last year your first time in the bright lights .... time to take next step this coming year..... for my part.... i hope my TV package out west here will incorporate more of your games.....

I'm not a fan of Holly---Diamond DeShields among others will provide instant offense--probably not much defense. I do get the SEC games on the SEC channel on Directv--and watch a number of them.

 

[Boxerpups4me]

ditto reno! I also wouldn't mind crushing Tenn next year. Can't stand Holly either. Just a crony of Pat. Saw on espn i believe when they were showing Diamond. Holly was sucking up to her and to her father big time! I have no respect for her!

Ha!! A crony of Pat?? When it came to integrity, Coach Summitt was always held in high regard in that matter. As for Holly, she could stand to be a lot more fierce on the sidelines. So, I'm a little confused as to why you "can't stand" Holly.

 

[Boxerpups4me]

I think South Carolina has already taken that next step. The questions is, can they remain there?? Can Dawn continue to build this team into NC title contenders year in and year out? I think both answers are a resounding yes!! They came within one point of being in the national championship game this year. With that said, they will still have to deal with a very strong Tennessee team for at least the next three years, so Dawn will have her hands full making sure that she can keep bringing in those top ten recruits every year..

 

[SCGamecock]

I think South Carolina has already taken that next step. The questions is, can they remain there?? Can Dawn continue to build this team into NC title contenders year in and year out? I think both answers are a resounding yes!! They came within one point of being in the national championship game this year. With that said, they will still have to deal with a very strong Tennessee team for at least the next three years, so Dawn will have her hands full making sure that she can keep bringing in those top ten recruits every year..

I actually think it's a great thing that SC is becoming a really strong program and Tennessee is returning to that level. It doesn't allow for either program to slack off, keeping everybody on their toes. Pushes both schools to continue to improve facilities, recruit harder, and play better... plus, when you have Kentucky waiting on the sidelines to steal the spotlight you can never really sleep well at night. This type of competition will force SC and Tennessee to continue to get better to stay above the rest.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Personally, I hope Geno snags Cox, McCoy, or both.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

This part of the article is false:
" Why hasn’t Staley signed another top recruiting class? Because she doesn’t have to.
South Carlonia formally extended offers to the following Kalani Brown, Beatrice Mompremier and Evelyn Akhator.
They also extendd formal offers to Guards/Wings Te'A Cooper, Destinee Walker, Diamond DeShields-actually visited, and #2 in the class Asia Durr.
More accurate to say Dawn was trying to recruit as hard as possible was not as successful as she wanted to be with the class of 2015.
This part of the article is a confusing:
"Wilson could play in Welch’s power forward location or play as a hybrid guard."
When a guard is refereed to as a Hybrid that is usually the ability to play both PG & SG-Neither is Wilson. As long as the word Guard is associated with Wilson playing NCAA Women's Basketball South Carolina will continue to have a self-inflicted headache IMO.

I think A'ja will start at the 4 and play some 3. She definitely won't play the 1 or the 2.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

IMO Wilson is not a wing either by any definition. What I don't understand is South Carolina's refusal to end this Wilson is a Gurad/Wing charade and tell her, bluntly if necessary, you are a F/PF occasionally a C. Her confusion dates back to July 2012 when her AAU coach, Jerome Dickson complained about her USA basketball experience stating that she was “misused as a post player and she was really a guard”. From that pronounced by Dickson through today Wilson has labeled herself a guard. Surprising this charade continues today and even Dawn at the beginning of this season started Wilson at the Guard position-she was horrible. She is neither guard nor wing. A wing would have attempted more than 3 ThreePoint shots on the season.
Different energy (topic) for our South Carolina posters. I saw where the South Carolina Women’s basketball team was honored by the State House. A very positive and deserving honor. http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/042215aaf.html
Has the team and or the University expressed a stance on the removal of the confederate flag from the state capital? It would seem to me that given the national brand that Dawn is trying to build that this specific item (confederate flag over state capital) might be counterproductive. For example, if South Carolina wanted to host a regional final in the future this might be an obstacle similar to the idiotic threat to common sense and decency that arose from Indy recently.

The City of Columbia sued the State unsuccessfully to move that flag to a museum, which is where it belongs. Numerous USC coaches have expressed the desire for it to be moved, also. The support for it comes mostly from rural areas and the ultra conservative Upstate third of South Carolina. I cannot recall any players making statements about it.

 

[Bayareahusky]

I'm not a fan of Holly---Diamond DeShields among others will provide instant offense--probably not much defense. I do get the SEC games on the SEC channel on Directv--and watch a number of them.

Yeah Holly just seems to be a tough fit for the LVs, and you would think the opposite after 40 years with the program. I see her trying to win games the same way Pat did, perhaps as a result of sitting at her side for 30 plus years..... but the game has changed

I just do not think she is a picture of confidence, where I would think the opposite after such a career. She does not establish her will, is not assertive enough - either with her players or with her system (if she indeed has one). This causes a lack of belief and trust in her players. Sounds like pop psychology but I have seen too much of the same thing in the 4 years (3 yrs plus 1 as step in coach for Pat) she has been at the helm.

For her first couple of years, she let Meaghan Simmons be a run and gun "horse" player on the floor, not involving her teammates, and leading to scoring and emotional undulations in LV games. Many Tenn fans had explained that this is due to others not wanting to shoot the ball..... and that is the fault of the coaching staff..... all problems on the floor - 100% of them - are traced to coaching, because they and only they have the ability to orchestrate change in that behavior which is wrong. I have witnessed Holly either not make tactical changes during games, or bow to the suggestions and wishes of her players. She admittedly didn't focus on the offense at all until well into this season. A 2 minute look at any one of her games demonstrate the problems this team has functioning as a team. Because she has the horses to do the job. Look at her players one by one..... and their backgrounds and credentials.... and you will see they can match up with the best in the country.

I have nothing against Holly..... just my opinion that the training wheels are still on even after 40 years in coaching..... and I see Diamond as being de facto coach possibly next year...... I expect to see the same post game pressers after big games.... "we will have to learn from this and go forward" in response to the same scenarios..... "we just came out flat".... "we need to have more energy"....

Holly seems to be a wonderful person, and has had success recruiting certainly.... Credit where credit is due..... We will see how she leads the program going forward.....