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

[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)
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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?

 

[EricLA]

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.