Congrats SC for finishing #1 in the Polls

[MilfordHusky]

Congrats to Dawn and S.C. She took a team with 3 freshman starters to a great season.

But, sorry, there is no title or championship. Feel free to say they were the leading team in the year that no championship was awarded. That's the limit to me.

 

[TheGOAT23]

Now where did I read it that the Florida State men’s basketball team won the men’s D-1 championship, per their governor and state legislators?

 

[bballnut90]

There's a lot to like about the South Carolina program but claims like these just drive me nuts and make Dawn and Co. impossible to root for. No one was the national champion this year. Plain and simple. Yeah it stinks that they had one of their best teams ever and don't get a chance to prove it on the biggest stage. Same goes for squads like Oregon/Baylor/Maryland/everyone else in women's basketball. It sucks plain and simple.

On top of that SC, wasn't even head and shoulders better than the rest of the country. Most outside of Columbia weren't predicting that they'd win it all. SC and all other great programs should hold their heads high and be proud of the terrific seasons they had, but to self declare as national champions just reeks of entitlement and poor sportsmanship. Especially considering WHY the tournament was canceled and what is going on all over the world right now.

 

[triaddukefan]

Dawn just got bad news from the building engineers. The new banner won't fit in the arena because her head got too big.

They can hang it up in Willams-Brice..... lawd knows they got nothing else to hang up there

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

They can hang it up in Willams-Brice..... lawd knows they got nothing else to hang up there

Yeah, if they hung it at Wallace Wade, nobody would see it.

 

[ConwayGmck]

You are correct, this is absolutely pointless. But Gamecock fans are pretending that it’s real, kind of like the Easter Bunny. So I thought I would just jump on the “pretend” band wagon.

What would be your opinion of what Connecticut fans would do, if should, say during one of those undefeated seasons where the Huskies won the national championship, something like this COVID-19 cancelled the NCAAT before it was played, instead?? Would those fans just say, "oh well, nothing to discuss about what could have been"?

There is a thread elsewhere regarding "what could have been" had Megan Walker chose to stay her senior year at CT, right here on this very forum. How do you justify both perspectives simultaneously?

 

[oldude]

What would be your opinion of what Connecticut fans would do, if should, say during one of those undefeated seasons where the Huskies won the national championship, something like this COVID-19 cancelled the NCAAT before it was played, instead?? Would those fans just say, "oh well, nothing to discuss about what could have been"?

There is a thread elsewhere regarding "what could have been" had Megan Walker chose to stay her senior year at CT, right here on this very forum. How do you justify both perspectives simultaneously?

You raise several points. You’re asking me how I would feel if something else happened that changed what I already know happened in the past. That sounds like a question about the space-time continuum. How the hell can I answer that?

As for what’s happening right now, Geno Auriemma had the UConn Huskies playing their best basketball of the season over the last month of the season, and no one prepares a team better for the NCAA tournament than Geno.

UConn fans are every bit as disappointed as the fans in Columbia, SC, Eugene, OR and Waco, TX that the Big Dance was cancelled. Many of us, including myself, believe the Huskies were absolutely capable of winning it all this year, much like they did in 2013 after losing 4 games during the season. So the only difference between you and I is that I’m not taking a victory lap for the championship my team should have won this year.

As for Megan, she’s gone. I’m disappointed with her decision, but I’ve already moved on. I am really excited about next year’s team, and looking forward to the Gamecocks visit to CT next season.

 

[Plebe]

What would be your opinion of what Connecticut fans would do, if should, say during one of those undefeated seasons where the Huskies won the national championship, something like this COVID-19 cancelled the NCAAT before it was played, instead?? Would those fans just say, "oh well, nothing to discuss about what could have been"?

Huge difference between lamenting what might've been and saying "give us our trophy now" and talking banners. Completely ridiculous.

 

[bballnut90]

What would be your opinion of what Connecticut fans would do, if should, say during one of those undefeated seasons where the Huskies won the national championship, something like this COVID-19 cancelled the NCAAT before it was played, instead?? Would those fans just say, "oh well, nothing to discuss about what could have been"?

There is a thread elsewhere regarding "what could have been" had Megan Walker chose to stay her senior year at CT, right here on this very forum. How do you justify both perspectives simultaneously?

'What couldve been' is a lot different than essentially self proclaiming yourself the national champion. And this SC squad didnt dominate women's basketball like those UCONN teams did. On top of that, this SC squad wouldnt have been the favorite to win it all despite being #1 overall.


If Dawn came out and said, "it is a shame that the season ended the way it did since we had a championship caliber team and I thought we were the best team this year," it comes off a lot different than basically insinuating that they deserve to be considered champions when they didnt play the tournament.

 

[ConwayGmck]

You raise several points. You’re asking me how I would feel if something else happened that changed what I already know happened in the past. That sounds like a question about the space-time continuum. How the hell can I answer that?

As for what’s happening right now, Geno Auriemma had the UConn Huskies playing their best basketball of the season over the last month of the season, and no one prepares a team better for the NCAA tournament than Geno.

UConn fans are every bit as disappointed as the fans in Columbia, SC, Eugene, OR and Waco, TX that the Big Dance was cancelled. Many of us, including myself, believe the Huskies were absolutely capable of winning it all this year, much like they did in 2013 after losing 4 games during the season. So the only difference between you and I is that I’m not taking a victory lap for the championship my team should have won this year.

As for Megan, she’s gone. I’m disappointed with her decision, but I’ve already moved on. I am really excited about next year’s team, and looking forward to the Gamecocks visit to CT next season.

Interesting. I thought I asked a longtime avid fan of Connecticut WBB, who has posted often on past great teams and past great players, what he might think would happen with one of those teams and the fanbase should something similar to this season happen to one of them. I thought you would be insightful enough to provide a better answer. I do know - not being a CT fan - what has been said according to this very season had Westbrook been able to play, or had Williams performed better. And despite what you personally think regarding Walker moving on, my question to you was what Connecticut fans - not you alone - would do regarding the possibility of Walker returning for her senior season, and they have provided proof with that thread I referenced. But OK.

Lets all attack Dawn Staley. She hasn't publicly stated that she will raise any type of national championship banner, only that she wanted to do something to honor the great season we had. Some fan bases may think their teams' season was a disappointment, and while the COVID-19 cancellation of the NCAA tournament is disappointing for everyone, it would be a tragedy if it was allowed to totally wipe out the 2019-20 season that South Carolina accomplished, and all Staley seems to have said to me is that she is wanting to commemorate it somehow. After all, it wasn't the team's fault that the NCAAT was cancelled, not her team's fault that we're struck with this virus.

Staley was asked some questions from ESPN a day or so ago, and she answered honestly. Kelly has pretty much stated the very same thing for his team, and nothing here about that. Kansas' Bill Self has also stated pretty much the same thing that Staley has said, also at ESPN's prompting. Again, no one is attacking him.
All Staley has said that I can find - in answer to a ESPN question that set the stage - was if a national championship was being handed out, that she'd take one. Not the same thing at all to hanging up a NC banner, and she hasn't stated any such thing. Not really sure what all this fuss is about, and why it's been focused so tightly at one head coach when several are saying the same thing......

 

[ConwayGmck]

'What couldve been' is a lot different than essentially self proclaiming yourself the national champion. And this SC squad didnt dominate women's basketball like those UCONN teams did. On top of that, this SC squad wouldnt have been the favorite to win it all despite being #1 overall.


If Dawn came out and said, "it is a shame that the season ended the way it did since we had a championship caliber team and I thought we were the best team this year," it comes off a lot different than basically insinuating that they deserve to be considered champions when they didnt play the tournament.

Again, please provide a link. Dawn Staley stated that South Carolina is the #1 ranked team at the end of the 2019-20 season. She has stated nothing about "national champions" that I could find, here or elsewhere. Do you agree with her assertion that South Carolina finished #1 ranked on both polls? It in itself was the first time such a thing happened with the USC program. Perhaps for CT fans that's old hat these days, but I guess no other programs are supposed to celebrate setting precedents of success for their own programs, unless it's approved of by other fanbases?

But again, please provide a link of this if I am mistaken. I mean, I get it. Boston Bay is not a poster here that many like, but I really do not consider him/her to be an official source of South Carolina Gamecocks news for the rest of the WCBB world. He said something about something in the OP, and the next 2-3 posts now it's Dawn Staley and the entire Gamecock fanbase saying it, and I just don't understand where this is coming from.....

 

[ConwayGmck]

Huge difference between lamenting what might've been and saying "give us our trophy now" and talking banners. Completely ridiculous.

and saying "give us our trophy now" and talking banners. Completely ridiculous.

Strawman argument. Creating a fabricated statement in order to criticize and belittle a player/coach/poster/fanbase of another team, without bothering to provide factual evidence. If I am mistaken, then I would apologize, but I have not seen anything of this, and there have been plenty of other threads started here based on rumor and opinion as if it was verified facts. So, just asking you to provide anything of evidence to this...

And again, this is South Carolina, not Connecticut, Perhaps CT fans think they have the right to decide how other fan-bases and programs should handle their business, but other programs hang banners for other things besides national championships. They do it for Final Fours, for Elite Eights, for Sweet Sixteens. Even for actually making a NCAAT. They also will hang banners for WNIT appearances. Simply "talking banners" for an unprecedented season of success that was officially realized - NOT projected - may seem "ridiculous" to you, but I seriously doubt you're any where on the radar of the majority in WCBB.....

 

[Mike_In_Storrs]

Congrats to SC for a great season but they don't give out trophies for being No 1 at the end of the regular season.

UConn entered the NCAA tournament ranked No 1 in 2001 & 2008. Do they get to count 13 titles? No.

Any sympathy I feel is for Oregon.

Couldn't agree more. Have no idea why someone is applauding South Carolina. As if they just won the national championship or something. Those polls actually placing South Carolina ahead of Oregon is a joke in and of itself to begin with.

Of course we will never know but I would bet that South Carolina wasn't going to win it all.

You are right about Oregon too. If anything I thought from the beginning that it was their year all along....

 

[oldude]

Interesting. I thought I asked a longtime avid fan of Connecticut WBB, who has posted often on past great teams and past great players, what he might think would happen with one of those teams and the fanbase should something similar to this season happen to one of them. I thought you would be insightful enough to provide a better answer. I do know - not being a CT fan - what has been said according to this very season had Westbrook been able to play, or had Williams performed better. And despite what you personally think regarding Walker moving on, my question to you was what Connecticut fans - not you alone - would do regarding the possibility of Walker returning for her senior season, and they have provided proof with that thread I referenced. But OK.

Lets all attack Dawn Staley. She hasn't publicly stated that she will raise any type of national championship banner, only that she wanted to do something to honor the great season we had. Some fan bases may think their teams' season was a disappointment, and while the COVID-19 cancellation of the NCAA tournament is disappointing for everyone, it would be a tragedy if it was allowed to totally wipe out the 2019-20 season that South Carolina accomplished, and all Staley seems to have said to me is that she is wanting to commemorate it somehow. After all, it wasn't the team's fault that the NCAAT was cancelled, not her team's fault that we're struck with this virus.

Staley was asked some questions from ESPN a day or so ago, and she answered honestly. Kelly has pretty much stated the very same thing for his team, and nothing here about that. Kansas' Bill Self has also stated pretty much the same thing that Staley has said, also at ESPN's prompting. Again, no one is attacking him.
All Staley has said that I can find - in answer to a ESPN question that set the stage - was if a national championship was being handed out, that she'd take one. Not the same thing at all to hanging up a NC banner, and she hasn't stated any such thing. Not really sure what all this fuss is about, and why it's been focused so tightly at one head coach when several are saying the same thing......

You’re a new visitor here and we welcome you as we do all our friends from SC. You’re trying to make a strange esoteric argument that I can not possibly respond to. As for Dawn, I and many other UConn fans have always believed she is an outstanding coach. But her comment a few days ago, “If they’re giving trophies, USC has their hand out” was unfortunate for several reasons. At a time when the entire world is dealing with a terrible pandemic, it’s a little tone deaf. In addition, the statement was disrespectful to all the coaches whose teams were preparing to compete for that same trophy that USC’s hands were out for.

 

[ConwayGmck]

You’re a new visitor here and we welcome you as we do all our friends from SC. You’re trying to make a strange esoteric argument that I can not possibly respond to. As for Dawn, I and many other UConn fans have always believed she is an outstanding coach. But her comment a few days ago, “If they’re giving trophies, USC has their hand out” was unfortunate for several reasons. At a time when the entire world is dealing with a terrible pandemic, it’s a little tone deaf. In addition, the statement was disrespectful to all the coaches whose teams were preparing to compete for that same trophy that USC’s hands were out for.

I apologize. I did not ask you to tell me exact thoughts you'd have in the past if past events were entirely different than what they actually were. Perhaps I am not able to converse to you in a way that you can take at face value. I asked you to tap into what should be a considerable wealth of knowledge by daily discussions and conversing with members of the fanbase here about Connecticut WBB over the years - a database of understanding that should CT win a game, fans would be pleased, and should CT lose a game, fans would be disappointed. That kind of wealth of understanding. But OK. Maybe you're just playing a game with me to avoid responding honestly to an honest question, and that's OK too.

I can bet money with others who would understand what I am saying, that if Geno Auriemma felt that his team was in great position to win this year's NCAAT, and someone asked him, if the NCAAT was able to resume and his team could play in it, would he turn it down or not, and his answer would be HELL YES I'D Go FOR IT. Why wouldn't he?? Same can be said for all the head coaches of teams in strong positions to contend for the NC.

Dawn Staley thinks her team was the best team in the nation. A lot of other people agree with her. The NCAA "giving trophies" is the same thing as the NCAA turning around and saying, "we're going to play the NCAAT after all. South Carolina has a chance to play for the trophy", and all Staley said was she thinks her team has the best chance to win the whole thing. She thinks her team was the best team this season, and she's not the only WCBB HC to say the same thing publicly. No one said Graves was being disrespectful to other teams for saying he thinks his team is the best team in the nation. I don't even know if Mulkey was asked the same type of question, but I can pretty much guess her answer would be similar to Graves and Staley's. Why would it be??

Staley's just the only one being trashed for saying what those other HCs are saying, at least on this site. A person being trashed over a premise beginning with the word "IF" doesn't usually utilize much fairness....

 

[DaBball]

I apologize. I did not ask you to tell me exact thoughts you'd have in the past if past events were entirely different than what they actually were. Perhaps I am not able to converse to you in a way that you can take at face value. I asked you to tap into what should be a considerable wealth of knowledge by daily discussions and conversing with members of the fanbase here about Connecticut WBB over the years - a database of understanding that should CT win a game, fans would be pleased, and should CT lose a game, fans would be disappointed. That kind of wealth of understanding. But OK. Maybe you're just playing a game with me to avoid responding honestly to an honest question, and that's OK too.

I can bet money with others who would understand what I am saying, that if Geno Auriemma felt that his team was in great position to win this year's NCAAT, and someone asked him, if the NCAAT was able to resume and his team could play in it, would he turn it down or not, and his answer would be HELL YES I'D Go FOR IT. Why wouldn't he?? Same can be said for all the head coaches of teams in strong positions to contend for the NC.

Dawn Staley thinks her team was the best team in the nation. A lot of other people agree with her. The NCAA "giving trophies" is the same thing as the NCAA turning around and saying, "we're going to play the NCAAT after all. South Carolina has a chance to play for the trophy", and all Staley said was she thinks her team has the best chance to win the whole thing. She thinks her team was the best team this season, and she's not the only WCBB HC to say the same thing publicly. No one said Graves was being disrespectful to other teams for saying he thinks his team is the best team in the nation. I don't even know if Mulkey was asked the same type of question, but I can pretty much guess her answer would be similar to Graves and Staley's. Why would it be??

Staley's just the only one being trashed for saying what those other HCs are saying, at least on this site. A person being trashed over a premise beginning with the word "IF" doesn't usually utilize much fairness....

Kelly Graves also thinks his team was the best in the country, and a ton of people agree with him, but he didn’t go out and talk about how the trophy should be handed over to him.

 

[ConwayGmck]

Couldn't agree more. Have no idea why someone is applauding South Carolina. As if they just won the national championship or something. Those polls actually placing South Carolina ahead of Oregon is a joke in and of itself to begin with.

Of course we will never know but I would bet that South Carolina wasn't going to win it all.

You are right about Oregon too. If anything I thought from the beginning that it was their year all along....

Remember when South Carolina was first ranked #1 by the AP Poll, it was Baylor - not Oregon - who was the Coach's #1 for several weeks. And Baylor was #2 behind USC in the AP Poll. Then USC passed Baylor, and Baylor was consensus #2 for a while until they lose their what, final regular-season game? Only then did Oregon move up to #2. And while USC stayed #1 in the polls, BOTH Oregon AND Baylor would lose their 2nd games of the season. USC wouldn't lose another game during this stretch.

Maybe Oregon is better than South Carolina versus how they played against ranked opponents in 2019-20:

Against ranked opponents:

Top 3-ranked: USC is 3-0, Oregon is 1-0
Top 5-ranked: USC is 5-0, Oregon is 5-1
Top 25-ranked: USC is 12-1, Oregon is 11-2

OK, well, top 25 rankings from polls are pretty subjective anyways. RPI is based on how well the teams do against quality opponents - perhaps that's a better metric:

Against Q1 (Top 50 RPI) opponents:

Top 10 Q1 RPI: USC is 5-0, Oregon is 4-1
Top 25 Q1 RPI: USC is 8-1, Oregon is 7-1
Top 30 Q1 RPI: USC is 13-1, Oregon is 10-1*
Top 50 Q1 RPI: USC is 12-1, Oregon is 11-2

* I did the top 30 because it goes from 10 to 25 (15 spots), then from 25 to 50 (25 spots). So an opponent just outside of the top 25 is a tougher opponent than one just inside the top 50. As it was, USC was 3-0 versus 31-50 RPI Q1 opponents, while Oregon was 1-1 with the loss to Arizona State. 24-8 20th ranked and #14 RPI Indiana was South Carolina's "bad" loss, while 20-11 25th-ranked and #40 RPI Arizona State was Oregon's "bad" loss.

No one will truly know who the best team of 2019-2020 is unfortunately, with the cancellation of the NCAAT. Both USC and Oregon were pretty side-by-side in terms of overall SOS, # of ranked opponents played, and # of Q1 Tier RPI opponents played. But South Carolina pretty much edges out Oregon in every box - only Oregon played 1 more top 5 ranked opponents than USC did, but they also lost to one of those. One could use the SOS to justify putting a 2-loss team over a 1-loss one - even a team that has lost more recently than the other, but when they are fairly equal, and in fact the other team has done it slightly better, it makes it harder to reconcile....

 

[UConnCat]

You’re a new visitor here and we welcome you as we do all our friends from SC.

Not new. He's been on hiatus for a few years and now has a different handle here though the same one he used on other boards. Used to post here back during the Stewie years and left after the beat-downs started. Not surprising that he would choose this year to return. Oh joy. Let's just say his posting style hasn't changed but for fewer extended ellipses.

 

[Bears8]

There's a lot to like about the South Carolina program but claims like these just drive me nuts and make Dawn and Co. impossible to root for. No one was the national champion this year. Plain and simple. Yeah it stinks that they had one of their best teams ever and don't get a chance to prove it on the biggest stage. Same goes for squads like Oregon/Baylor/Maryland/everyone else in women's basketball. It sucks plain and simple.

On top of that SC, wasn't even head and shoulders better than the rest of the country. Most outside of Columbia weren't predicting that they'd win it all. SC and all other great programs should hold their heads high and be proud of the terrific seasons they had, but to self declare as national champions just reeks of entitlement and poor sportsmanship. Especially considering WHY the tournament was canceled and what is going on all over the world right now.

Staley never said anything about putting a banner up saying National Champion. She has just been trying to give credit to her team.
Any coach in her position I believe would do the same. Relax people!

 

[Zinethar]

When did this stop being a UConn board? We are entitled to think like UConn fans on this board. You don't like it post on your own board. Most opposing fans here have been wonderful. They have posted thoughtful opinions but have never to my knowledge tried to take it over. Thoughtful opinions generate thoughtful responses.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Is it possible Dawn was just kidding, not serious, whatever you want to call it, and some are making a mountain out of a mole hill?

 

[bballnut90]

Again, please provide a link. Dawn Staley stated that South Carolina is the #1 ranked team at the end of the 2019-20 season. She has stated nothing about "national champions" that I could find, here or elsewhere. Do you agree with her assertion that South Carolina finished #1 ranked on both polls? It in itself was the first time such a thing happened with the USC program. Perhaps for CT fans that's old hat these days, but I guess no other programs are supposed to celebrate setting precedents of success for their own programs, unless it's approved of by other fanbases?

But again, please provide a link of this if I am mistaken. I mean, I get it. Boston Bay is not a poster here that many like, but I really do not consider him/her to be an official source of South Carolina Gamecocks news for the rest of the WCBB world. He said something about something in the OP, and the next 2-3 posts now it's Dawn Staley and the entire Gamecock fanbase saying it, and I just don't understand where this is coming from.....

Dawns states, “We ended the season as the number one team in the country. The only team that won their regular season and conference tournament undefeated. I think, if they’re going to pass out a national championship trophy, we got our hands out at South Carolina.”
Link: Staley ready to accept National Championship

To me and many posters here, this implies that she thinks they're deserving of being crowned champions over any other program. If you listen to when she says it, it isn't tongue in cheek or playful either. In her defense, it is right after the season was called off so she very understandably was probably quite disappointed since this may have been her best team in Columbia yet.


Several days later she says, "“Our season ended and we’re No. 1,” said Staley, in her 12th year at South Carolina. “I don’t think it’s up for discussion who No. 1 is.”
Link: South Carolina finishes No. 1 in AP women's basketball poll

Another quote flexing about how her team is the best at the end of the season since they were ranked #1 in the polls. Didn't need to include the comment about it not being up for discussion, especially since that isn't true with how well Oregon has played this season. Just overall doesn't show great sportsmanship or humility IMO.

These quotes give the impression that she's trying to boast about how her team is essentially the best team in the 2019-20 season, above anyone else. It doesn't come across well since it indirectly puts down other programs that have had remarkable seasons too. She could've built up her team's success and celebrated it without proclaiming "we're #1 and it isn't up for discussion."


If her intent behind all of this is to celebrate her team and she didn't word it quite as cleanly, then I'm all for it. She did an incredible job this year and her team was fantastic all season long.

 

[bballnut90]

Is it possible Dawn was just kidding, not serious, whatever you want to call it, and some are making a mountain out of a mole hill?

I don't think so. Listen to her interview from the first quote, doesn't sound like she's being playful. In her defense, this was right after the tournament was called off though so I do give more leeway for the first one, but the 2nd one made a full week later isn't a great look IMO. People can agree to disagree or interpret it how they want, but that's my take.

Staley ready to accept National Championship

South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley will have to wait before she tries to win another National Championship. However, if the NCAA wants to

247sports.com

 

[Gamecockfan77]

To continue this pointless exercise - that means you can't count a championship that you actually won if you also weren't ranked regular season #1. So let's celebrate Baylor's win in 2013. You guys owe thanks to Shoni Schimmel and Antonita Slaughter for some of the most amazing 3-point shooting I've ever seen, and to Monique Reid who took it right at Griner at the end and made the two winning free throws.

You are right, it would be silly to celebrate finishing #1 in a season when your team lost in the NCAA tournament.

 

[sharris952]

Huge difference between lamenting what might've been and saying "give us our trophy now" and talking banners. Completely ridiculous.

Your disdain for Dawn clouds your comments like others disdain for Geno. The banner whether it just says Consensus #1 Year Ranking would be to commemorate the season of this team and especially those Seniors so that it could be remembered for history sake. There were a lot of records for this team and throughout college women's basketball teams that occurred this year and should be celebrated. It would be a shame to act as if this year did not occur just because there was no tournament. As for only people in SC thinking this team would win it all, I call foul on that. The only team SC had not played in the top 10 of any consequence was Oregon, which would have tested their starting five depth against SC's superior bench. (If UO thought Louisville plays defenses....) They beat 5 top 10 teams and two of the other presumptive #1 seeds. They also beat 13 or 14 of the top 20 teams by an average of 22 pts. Notice not nail biter but outright floggings. Should we throw out Ionescu's accomplishments this past year because the tourney did not occur? Dawn should find a way to ensure this team's efforts are not easily put away in a closet because of the lack of a tournament.