Charlie Creme's Way Too Early "Pre-preseason" Top 25?

[Gamecockfan77]

South Carolina's season probably hinges on Cuevas figuring things out or a freshman like Tyasha Harris being awfully precocious at the PG spot.

I think Alisha Gray is a solid player who is not going to be a volume shooter. She might well end up being pressed into the PG spot like she was her last season at UNC. Either way she should return to her strong shooting percentage from outside, I think.

I am more reserved about Kaela Davis. I have more concern about her fitting into the team concept. On the other hand, she was asked to take tons of shots at GT and chose to leave that situation for something different. Perhaps she wants to fit in.

I think A'ja Wilson has plenty of room to improve though I remain half convinced that Coates is the most dominant player on the team.

I do think South Carolina could easily end up being the best team in the country. Or it might not gel at all. Of course, health will be important inside, but I think a shorter rotation there might help USC a bit. I don't see much way around some smaller lineups moving Davis down to the four spot. Having seen her in person, she's not too far off Imovbioh's stature. Not sure how she mixes it up.

A lineup with Wilson at center, Davis at four, with Cuevas leading a break seems like a group that could really run. I'm interested to see whether Staley will go to a more up tempo spread out style.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

YOU are 100 percent incorrect. I saw an interview with her and she point blank said that they lost the NC due to the decision not to foul. I heard the words come out of her mouth.

Abby Waner's post-game quotes (April 4, 2006)

“Freshman or not, that’s what I had to do and I feel like I let my team down, but we’re going to come back fighting next year. Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose and Maryland played a great game.”

“They never gave up and they had faith in this team from day one. They stepped into roles that they weren’t comfortable with. We just had some great seniors on this team and I feel like I let them down in their last year of getting them a national championship, so hopefully I’ll be able to make it up to them sometime in the future.”

 

[easttexastrash]

Abby Waner's post-game quotes (April 4, 2006)

“Freshman or not, that’s what I had to do and I feel like I let my team down, but we’re going to come back fighting next year. Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose and Maryland played a great game.”

“They never gave up and they had faith in this team from day one. They stepped into roles that they weren’t comfortable with. We just had some great seniors on this team and I feel like I let them down in their last year of getting them a national championship, so hopefully I’ll be able to make it up to them sometime in the future.”

Well, I saw her doing commentary for a game last year and she said that they lost the game because of a decision not to foul. I guess age makes us all view things differently. I will go with her more mature, educated thoughts on the decision not to foul. Or maybe not more mature and educated but more bitter that the decision cost her what she now knows was her best shot at a title.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Well, I saw her doing commentary for a game last year and she said that they lost the game because of a decision not to foul. I guess age makes us all view things differently. I will go with her more mature, educated thoughts on the decision not to foul. Or maybe not more mature and educated but more bitter that the decision cost her what she now knows was her best shot at a title.

No offense, but I provided the transcript excerpts of her interviews/statement, as well as the date on which they were said. You gave us what you recall from an unidentified game from a generalized date without anything other than your memory, much less providing exact quotes or context for her statements. And at first you said it was an interview; now it is commentary from a game.

Okay, time for me to remove the lawyer hat. LOL

But if you have more details (what game? recorded? date? or was it an interview?), would you mind providing them?

 

[easttexastrash]

No offense, but I provided the transcript excerpts of her interviews/statement, as well as the date on which they were said. You gave us what you recall from an unidentified game from a generalized date without anything other than your memory, much less providing exact quotes or context for her statements. And at first you said it was an interview; now it is commentary from a game.

Okay, time for me to remove the lawyer hat. LOL

But if you have more details (what game? recorded? date? or was it an interview?), would you mind providing them?

I really don't care enough. Who am I to burst your bubble? But maybe JPM will have time soon to put in lots of research on this issue.

 

[triaddukefan]

well now that that's settled

 

[Nuyoika]

South Carolina's season probably hinges on Cuevas figuring things out or a freshman like Tyasha Harris being awfully precocious at the PG spot.

I think Alisha Gray is a solid player who is not going to be a volume shooter. She might well end up being pressed into the PG spot like she was her last season at UNC. Either way she should return to her strong shooting percentage from outside, I think.

I am more reserved about Kaela Davis. I have more concern about her fitting into the team concept. On the other hand, she was asked to take tons of shots at GT and chose to leave that situation for something different. Perhaps she wants to fit in.

I think A'ja Wilson has plenty of room to improve though I remain half convinced that Coates is the most dominant player on the team.

I do think South Carolina could easily end up being the best team in the country. Or it might not gel at all. Of course, health will be important inside, but I think a shorter rotation there might help USC a bit. I don't see much way around some smaller lineups moving Davis down to the four spot. Having seen her in person, she's not too far off Imovbioh's stature. Not sure how she mixes it up.

A lineup with Wilson at center, Davis at four, with Cuevas leading a break seems like a group that could really run. I'm interested to see whether Staley will go to a more up tempo spread out style.

Unless Dawn gets serious about fundamentals regardless of talent her team will still have trouble scoring. The other problem I see for them is their rotations. I think they need about 8 true consistent contributors offensively & defensively and I don't see them having that many next year.

 

[Orangutan]

No offense, but I provided the transcript excerpts of her interviews/statement, as well as the date on which they were said. You gave us what you recall from an unidentified game from a generalized date without anything other than your memory, much less providing exact quotes or context for her statements. And at first you said it was an interview; now it is commentary from a game.

Okay, time for me to remove the lawyer hat. LOL

But if you have more details (what game? recorded? date? or was it an interview?), would you mind providing them?

I think ETT should admit that at the very most you were only 99% incorrect

ETT certainly hasn't shown that you're incorrect beyond a reasonable doubt. Or even that there is a preponderance of evidence that you are incorrect.

 

[SCGamecock]

Unless Dawn gets serious about fundamentals regardless of talent her team will still have trouble scoring. The other problem I see for them is their rotations. I think they need about 8 true consistent contributors offensively & defensively and I don't see them having that many next year.

Dawn is serious about fundamentals. Nothing makes me smile harder than the clip of her shouting to the team in the huddle "do not dribble, do not dribble, do not dribble... unless your driving to the basket, do not dribble". She can shout and be serious until she's blue in the face.. but the team/individual players have to show the want to be better than the bare minimum. We need more Tiffany Mitchell work ethic. That can be coached, but still, you can only coach the willing.

As far as 8 players... if that's the number of consistent players contributing you think we need to be successful next year then we should realistically be able to get to that number. We just don't have that very experienced depth that you're used to seeing from South Carolina. The past few years we've had the capability to bring juniors and seniors off the bench.. that won't be the case next year. Next year, we'll bring sophomores and freshmen off the bench like everybody else.

Starters
1. Bianca Cuevas
2. Alisha Gray
3. Kaela Davis
4. A'ja Wilson
5. Alaina Coates

Off the bench
1. Doniyah Cliney (probably 1st of the bench, she's good)
2. Mikiah Harrigan (a freshmen, but she's the only option to relieve Wilson/Coates, she'll play A LOT)
3. Tiffany Davis (an academic senior/athletic junior capable of playing 1-3, skilled shooter)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Tyasha Harris-she'll play, it's really just a matter of how much and that depends on how quickly her game translates to college.
5. Victoria Patrick-off guard with impeccable perimeter shooting... I really have no idea how we'll use her.
6. Araion Bradshaw-she's a point guard, so there's always a chance.

To conclude, South Carolina should have a solid rotation of at least 8. Harrigan is only a freshmen, but she really has no choice other than to be ready to play and contribute when she gets here. Judging from what I know about her skill set and how she played for a great AAU team, I'm confident she will. Cliney and Davis are both good guards off the bench, with Cliney having potential to perhaps be very good. Cliney has that same athleticism and speed that Mitchell had and she can shoot, dish, drive. She just needs more game time and she'll get it next year. Tiff Davis can shoot from just about anywhere on the court and will probably be our best ball handler next year.

I'm not putting much stock into the other freshmen. They are good, but still I don't think our guard situation is strained like our post situation is. Harris and Bradshaw will see some time at point. Patrick will spend some time at shooting guard and coming off the wing.. but I just don't think either of the three will average over 12 mins per game.

 

[triaddukefan]

I think ETT should admit that at the very most you were only 99% incorrect

ETT certainly hasn't shown that you're incorrect beyond a reasonable doubt. Or even that there is a preponderance of evidence that you are incorrect.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Not much love for the rest of the final four. Typical in the box thinking

Can you provide your out of the box thinking?

 

[connboy77]

I like Baylor at number 5...flying under the radar as an underdog to get to the FF.

What little fate you have as a Baylor Fan. Being very objective I will predict right now that Baylor will be the best team next year. They are a very deep team with numerous giants. I wish they would send a couple UCONN'S way. There isn't any player on Notre Dame that scares me. I would have listed Baylor and not Notre Dame as pre-season #1.

 

[Sonny44]

South Carolina's season probably hinges on Cuevas figuring things out or a freshman like Tyasha Harris being awfully precocious at the PG spot.

I think Alisha Gray is a solid player who is not going to be a volume shooter. She might well end up being pressed into the PG spot like she was her last season at UNC. Either way she should return to her strong shooting percentage from outside, I think.

I am more reserved about Kaela Davis. I have more concern about her fitting into the team concept. On the other hand, she was asked to take tons of shots at GT and chose to leave that situation for something different. Perhaps she wants to fit in.

I think A'ja Wilson has plenty of room to improve though I remain half convinced that Coates is the most dominant player on the team.

I do think South Carolina could easily end up being the best team in the country. Or it might not gel at all. Of course, health will be important inside, but I think a shorter rotation there might help USC a bit. I don't see much way around some smaller lineups moving Davis down to the four spot. Having seen her in person, she's not too far off Imovbioh's stature. Not sure how she mixes it up.

A lineup with Wilson at center, Davis at four, with Cuevas leading a break seems like a group that could really run. I'm interested to see whether Staley will go to a more up tempo spread out style.

Cuevas can run alright, but that's about it.

 

[jcoton56]

Can you provide your out of the box thinking?

Just seems like the usual suspects got overrated last season, but they are back in front of the parade. Time will tell, but on court performance when it matters most should not be dismissed so quickly. 3 number one seeds did not live up to their billing, so I think the science has a way to go yet. Its all good, because I only root for one team anyway.

 

[stwainfan]

I think Maryland is one of the most interesting teams. They add a good class to a already good team. Wonder how they will do.

 

[Nuyoika]

Dawn is serious about fundamentals. Nothing makes me smile harder than the clip of her shouting to the team in the huddle "do not dribble, do not dribble, do not dribble... unless your driving to the basket, do not dribble". She can shout and be serious until she's blue in the face.. but the team/individual players have to show the want to be better than the bare minimum. We need more Tiffany Mitchell work ethic. That can be coached, but still, you can only coach the willing.

As far as 8 players... if that's the number of consistent players contributing you think we need to be successful next year then we should realistically be able to get to that number. We just don't have that very experienced depth that you're used to seeing from South Carolina. The past few years we've had the capability to bring juniors and seniors off the bench.. that won't be the case next year. Next year, we'll bring sophomores and freshmen off the bench like everybody else.

Starters
1. Bianca Cuevas
2. Alisha Gray
3. Kaela Davis
4. A'ja Wilson
5. Alaina Coates

Off the bench
1. Doniyah Cliney (probably 1st of the bench, she's good)
2. Mikiah Harrigan (a freshmen, but she's the only option to relieve Wilson/Coates, she'll play A LOT)
3. Tiffany Davis (an academic senior/athletic junior capable of playing 1-3, skilled shooter)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Tyasha Harris-she'll play, it's really just a matter of how much and that depends on how quickly her game translates to college.
5. Victoria Patrick-off guard with impeccable perimeter shooting... I really have no idea how we'll use her.
6. Araion Bradshaw-she's a point guard, so there's always a chance.

To conclude, South Carolina should have a solid rotation of at least 8. Harrigan is only a freshmen, but she really has no choice other than to be ready to play and contribute when she gets here. Judging from what I know about her skill set and how she played for a great AAU team, I'm confident she will. Cliney and Davis are both good guards off the bench, with Cliney having potential to perhaps be very good. Cliney has that same athleticism and speed that Mitchell had and she can shoot, dish, drive. She just needs more game time and she'll get it next year. Tiff Davis can shoot from just about anywhere on the court and will probably be our best ball handler next year.

I'm not putting much stock into the other freshmen. They are good, but still I don't think our guard situation is strained like our post situation is. Harris and Bradshaw will see some time at point. Patrick will spend some time at shooting guard and coming off the wing.. but I just don't think either of the three will average over 12 mins per game.

The list you mentioned was kind of my point... 6 out of 11, so over 50% of the players on that list have never played a game under Dawn. There will be a lot to figure out right out of the gate. If she can get 8 players out of those 11 consistent enough by next spring to get into real contention she had better win coach of the year. I'm not saying they have no shot but they have a lot more work to do than some other teams who have recently been to a FF. Chemistry and leadership will matter a ton to next years' squad. Do you know anything about her OOC schedule next year?

 

[EricSD]

No offense, but I provided the transcript excerpts of her interviews/statement, as well as the date on which they were said. You gave us what you recall from an unidentified game from a generalized date without anything other than your memory, much less providing exact quotes or context for her statements. And at first you said it was an interview; now it is commentary from a game.

Okay, time for me to remove the lawyer hat. LOL

But if you have more details (what game? recorded? date? or was it an interview?), would you mind providing them?

Boom...! Reminds me to never, ever, argue with Cam.

 

[Vowelguy]

The list you mentioned was kind of my point... 6 out of 11, so over 50% of the players on that list have never played a game under Dawn. There will be a lot to figure out right out of the gate. If she can get 8 players out of those 11 consistent enough by next spring to get into real contention she had better win coach of the year. I'm not saying they have no shot but they have a lot more work to do than some other teams who have recently been to a FF. Chemistry and leadership will matter a ton to next years' squad. Do you know anything about her OOC schedule next year?

But 2 of those 6 - the 2 most likely to start - have been to practice this past year so it's not like they're starting from scratch.

 

[Nuyoika]

But 2 of those 6 - the 2 most likely to start - have been to practice this past year so it's not like they're starting from scratch.

I hope they feel like they are starting from scratch because if I were Dawn I would want this team to be nothing like the last two. I would want more offense, more efficiency, better free throw shooting and slow starts should be a rarity instead of the norm. I hope this changing of the guard gives Dawn the opportunity to shake things up a bit. Since I am not the coach however I would not be surprised if it was exactly like the last two. That being said... they should hopefully round into form by gave 15 or so and be pretty good.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I don't have a problem with Creme's picks. He was 3 for 3 for the only team that counted.

Wow, that was supposed to be Einstein's theory of relativity type equation? What percentage of the country wasn't predicting UConn over the last three years????

 

[Buzzyboy]

Seems to be about right.......ND deserves the number spot at least to start.....if they get some outside shooting, I think both Baylor and South Carolina will be very tough to beat but as a group the first eight teams are all very talented.......

I'm still at a loss about South Carolina. They remind me of the Vols of the last ten years. Primarily an athletic defensive oriented team. Their offense has never been anything but boring and mostly ineffective. Unless something changes, I don't think they have the makings of a championship team.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I hope they feel like they are starting from scratch because if I were Dawn I would want this team to be nothing like the last two. I would want more offense, more efficiency, better free throw shooting and slow starts should be a rarity instead of the norm. I hope this changing of the guard gives Dawn the opportunity to shake things up a bit. Since I am not the coach however I would not be surprised if it was exactly like the last two. That being said... they should hopefully round into form by gave 15 or so and be pretty good.

I think they will continue to be offensively challenged. Is it the coach or the scheme or the players? I don't know but they are boring to watch on the offensive end of the court.

 

[Vowelguy]

Kentucky's outlook now looking less rosey.