Dawn - Don't Know if We'll Raise a Banner

[HuskylnSC]

O, gave them the banner. If they put it up every Clemson fan is going to have a field day ripping that apart. The ridicule from their in state rival will be too much to bear. I can imagine all the comments.

I am pretty critical of this years UConn team and understand its weaknesses, but I am fully confident if we met SCAR in the tournament the result would be very different than the last time they met. I was really looking forward to the shock and awe.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The season was cancelled before it was completed. End of story. There is no reason to recognize the team that was #1 in the polls at that point for anything. It's not a thing. Dawn and Gamecock fans can pretend it is, the rest of us will be laughing.

 

[ConwayGmck]

"Staley said she wasn’t sure if the Gamecocks might recognize this achievement next year with a banner or something else since there was no tournament".

In fairness, she said they are considering it. Still...

What an incredibly stupid thing to do. You honor the seniors the same way every other team did - by celebrating senior day during your last home game. To even consider some sort of national champion banner is beyond classless. The literally "won" nothing in terms of the NCAA championships. They merely ended the season #1.

Yay, congrats - an achievement to be sure (ending the season #1), but they didn't win the NC, and sadly, it's a classless move that we are coming to expect from her (started with the "we will hold out our hands for the NC trophy"). It looks terrible not only for her, South Carolina, but also for Team USA - since she's currently the national team head coach. How stupid to even float that idea out there.

I don't think you honor your seniors in any way at all the way EricLA says you should do, but you do it the way YOU - the university, the athletic department, the head coach and coaching staff, the student body and the fanbase - think is appropriate, because they are the only ones who truly have a say in the matter.

Secondly, The OP states incorrectly that South Carolina will celebrate as if they won a national championship, when one, the OP has zero clue exactly HOW South Carolina will celebrate, and two nowhere has that been stated in any media source. Dawn Staley simply stated that the team finished ranked #1 for the first time in program history, and will figure out a way to celebrate THAT. Perhaps the OP thinks finishing a season ranked #1 in the nation means winning a national championship that is normally decided with a post-season tournament, although how he/she comes to that conclusion I haven't the foggiest.

This season was a season of notable achievement for a young team that wasn't projected to have accomplished as much. If you participate in the NCAAT, there's commendations to be made, If you reach the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, or the championship game win or lose, there's usually a banner hung in the rafters. Teams that hang those banners are not mocked and ridiculed, but then I haven't paid too much attention to this fanbase on this site to make sure of that: perhaps here, they are.

All Staley is thinking - THINKING - about doing, is coming up with some sort of honor for the season, to keep the positive momentum going forward, and not act like the 2019-20 season just did not happen. Not sure what's wrong with that.....

 

[ConwayGmck]

The season was cancelled before it was completed. End of story. There is no reason to recognize the team that was #1 in the polls at that point for anything. It's not a thing. Dawn and Gamecock fans can pretend it is, the rest of us will be laughing.

I'm laughing at your notion that this season was "cancelled before it was completed" just prior to the start of the POST-Season NCAA Tournament. You act like all the wins and losses were redacted, all the rankings and ratings were wiped clean, and none of it happened. It actually did happen, you know.....

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm laughing at your notion that this season was "cancelled before it was completed" just prior to the start of the POST-Season NCAA Tournament. You act like all the wins and losses were redacted, all the rankings and ratings were wiped clean, and none of it happened. It actually did happen, you know.....

You infer something that was simply not there, implied or otherwise. Everything that happened during the season counts. But the entire season is building to a climax that was not able to happen this season. The National Champion has to win 6 games during the NCAA Tournament. Whatever any team accomplished this year, they didn't do that.

 

[bballnut90]

I don't think you honor your seniors in any way at all the way EricLA says you should do, but you do it the way YOU - the university, the athletic department, the head coach and coaching staff, the student body and the fanbase - think is appropriate, because they are the only ones who truly have a say in the matter.

Secondly, The OP states incorrectly that South Carolina will celebrate as if they won a national championship, when one, the OP has zero clue exactly HOW South Carolina will celebrate, and two nowhere has that been stated in any media source. Dawn Staley simply stated that the team finished ranked #1 for the first time in program history, and will figure out a way to celebrate THAT. Perhaps the OP thinks finishing a season ranked #1 in the nation means winning a national championship that is normally decided with a post-season tournament, although how he/she comes to that conclusion I haven't the foggiest.

This season was a season of notable achievement for a young team that wasn't projected to have accomplished as much. If you participate in the NCAAT, there's commendations to be made, If you reach the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, or the championship game win or lose, there's usually a banner hung in the rafters. Teams that hang those banners are not mocked and ridiculed, but then I haven't paid too much attention to this fanbase on this site to make sure of that: perhaps here, they are.

All Staley is thinking - THINKING - about doing, is coming up with some sort of honor for the season, to keep the positive momentum going forward, and not act like the 2019-20 season just did not happen. Not sure what's wrong with that.....

You completely ignore what she says though. She said,

1. "we ended the season as the No. 1 team in the country with the best record in the country, the only team that won their regular season and conference tournament undefeated,” Staley said. “If they’re gonna pass out a national championship trophy, we got our hands out at South Carolina.”

2. "I don’t think it’s up for discussion who No. 1 is"


Most interpret this as she's basically proclaiming her team the champion or the undisputed best team in the country this season. That is much different than celebrating her season and saying, "hey we had an amazing season, finished #1 in the country, accomplished a ton and we should celebrate it and honor this team with a banner in the rafters."

If she just celebrated her team instead of indirectly putting down other teams, she wouldnt be getting heat for these comments.

 

[Kaizen]

You completely ignore what she says though. She said,

1. "we ended the season as the No. 1 team in the country with the best record in the country, the only team that won their regular season and conference tournament undefeated,” Staley said. “If they’re gonna pass out a national championship trophy, we got our hands out at South Carolina.”

I think Dawn forgot they lost to Indiana, 57 - 71, 11/28/2019.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

They can raise a Ken Massey Banner

Yep.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I think Dawn forgot they lost to Indiana, 57 - 71, 11/28/2019.

I don't believe Indiana is in the SEC. there has been a good bit of expansion but I think I'd remember.

 

[ConwayGmck]

You completely ignore what she says though. She said,

1. "we ended the season as the No. 1 team in the country with the best record in the country, the only team that won their regular season and conference tournament undefeated,” Staley said. “If they’re gonna pass out a national championship trophy, we got our hands out at South Carolina.”

2. "I don’t think it’s up for discussion who No. 1 is"


Most interpret this as she's basically proclaiming her team the champion or the undisputed best team in the country this season. That is much different than celebrating her season and saying, "hey we had an amazing season, finished #1 in the country, accomplished a ton and we should celebrate it and honor this team with a banner in the rafters."

If she just celebrated her team instead of indirectly putting down other teams, she wouldnt be getting heat for these comments.

OK, if there was NO COVID-19 - no virus at all, and the NCAAT was proceeding as usually with zero interruptions or cancellations, and if someone just a few days before the tournament began asked Dawn Staley if she thought her team warranted being a #1 Seed, and a top candidate for winning the whole thing, what do you think she'd say?

"No, we should lose in the 2nd round. We aren't really that good"???

There's an old saying, "if IF and BUTs were candy and nuts". Staley was asked a question, or a series of them. So, you are no longer trashing Staley, South Carolina, and the entire fanbase because Staley stated that we should be national champions. That's what I thought at first you all were doing.

NOW I realize that you're trashing us because Staley stated an IF, and said IF there was still a national championship out there for the taking - IF the NCAAT, as an example, was still going to be played - that Staley thinks South Carolina should be first in line for it. Because, that's all she said to ESPN. And you have a problem with this?? You YOURSELF stated earlier in a game thread that you felt South Carolina was the best team in the nation at that point. Were you lying? I think it was you - I get you and WBBnews mixed up for some reason, I'll go check.

But otherwise, you have an issue with Staley stating that South Carolina was the #1-ranked WBB team in the final ranking. That was a first for the USC WBB program. Was she wrong? And I see what you posted above, there is absolutely NOTHING about Staley "putting down other teams". You need to do better than that. A head coach can't talk good about her team, without it automatically meaning she's putting down other teams?? There's about 350 other WBB programs out there you need to jump on next. I certainly hope you're not a Connecticut fan, because Auriemma does BOTH often, and his fans just say, "he's right"....

 

[ConwayGmck]

It seems to me that all this is - for some reason - is people reading about 20 words, and adding another 150 words to them, so they can trash Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks, over those words. Again, for some reason unknown to me. I guess those congrats earlier in the season were thought as sort of "placeholders" for this in the future??

 

[Gamecockfan77]

O, gave them the banner. If they put it up every Clemson fan is going to have a field day ripping that apart. The ridicule from their in state rival will be too much to bear. I can imagine all the comments.

I am pretty critical of this years UConn team and understand its weaknesses, but I am fully confident if we met SCAR in the tournament the result would be very different than the last time they met. I was really looking forward to the shock and awe.

Look at this way: South Carolina gets to say it finished #1 in the polls and UConn fans get to say a few AAC wins means they would be competitive against the top 5 if they played again.

everyone wins.

 

[Kaizen]

I don't believe Indiana is in the SEC. there has been a good bit of expansion but I think I'd remember.

Do you know what is regular season?
"The only team that won their regular season and conference tournament undefeated,” Staley said.

 

[shiverz45]

O, gave them the banner. If they put it up every Clemson fan is going to have a field day ripping that apart. The ridicule from their in state rival will be too much to bear. I can imagine all the comments.

I am pretty critical of this years UConn team and understand its weaknesses, but I am fully confident if we met SCAR in the tournament the result would be very different than the last time they met. I was really looking forward to the shock and awe.

Do you know what is regular season?
"The only team that won their regular season and conference tournament undefeated,” Staley said.

I am sure she was talking about the conference regular season.

 

[Kaizen]

I am sure she was talking about the conference regular season.

Where is the words "conference regular season"? No need to response, EOP.

 

[ConwayGmck]

I guess my final say on this and then I'm moving on - I do not think we should have a banner saying we're national champions, because yes it would prohibit other teams who would otherwise have had a chance to compete for it, to have any say in the matter.

I do think the program should have the right to celebrate - or hang banners, however that would work - being the final #1-ranked WCBB team for 2019-20 season, because it WAS competed for up to this point of the season, just like SEC regular-season and tournament titles were competed for, and just like those 32 wins were competed for. You don't just wipe the slate clean - they were real achievements. But again, it's not a national proclamation - other programs don't have to agree with it, because it doesn't really have anything to do with them: it's more for OUR program to celebrate OUR accomplishments.

My understanding of all this was Staley was talking more about celebrating what actually WAS competed for and accomplished, than taking something not earned, but people have decided to crouch down and pounce on the first thing they could to trash our program, again for no valid reason that I can see. OK, I'm done with this.....

 

[bballnut90]

I think Dawn forgot they lost to Indiana, 57 - 71, 11/28/2019.

I think she meant that she went undefeated in conference play and won her league championship. Although UCONN won swept all conference play so that's an inaccurate statement.

 

[Plebe]

I think she meant that she went undefeated in conference play and won her league championship. Although UCONN won swept all conference play so that's an inaccurate statement.

So did South Dakota, for that matter.

 

[bballnut90]

OK, if there was NO COVID-19 - no virus at all, and the NCAAT was proceeding as usually with zero interruptions or cancellations, and if someone just a few days before the tournament began asked Dawn Staley if she thought her team warranted being a #1 Seed, and a top candidate for winning the whole thing, what do you think she'd say?

"No, we should lose in the 2nd round. We aren't really that good"???

There's an old saying, "if IF and BUTs were candy and nuts". Staley was asked a question, or a series of them. So, you are no longer trashing Staley, South Carolina, and the entire fanbase because Staley stated that we should be national champions. That's what I thought at first you all were doing.

NOW I realize that you're trashing us because Staley stated an IF, and said IF there was still a national championship out there for the taking - IF the NCAAT, as an example, was still going to be played - that Staley thinks South Carolina should be first in line for it. Because, that's all she said to ESPN. And you have a problem with this?? You YOURSELF stated earlier in a game thread that you felt South Carolina was the best team in the nation at that point. Were you lying? I think it was you - I get you and WBBnews mixed up for some reason, I'll go check.

But otherwise, you have an issue with Staley stating that South Carolina was the #1-ranked WBB team in the final ranking. That was a first for the USC WBB program. Was she wrong? And I see what you posted above, there is absolutely NOTHING about Staley "putting down other teams". You need to do better than that. A head coach can't talk good about her team, without it automatically meaning she's putting down other teams?? There's about 350 other WBB programs out there you need to jump on next. I certainly hope you're not a Connecticut fan, because Auriemma does BOTH often, and his fans just say, "he's right"....

Staley wasn't asked a question about if she would accept a title if the NCAA was handing one out--she added that tidbit in herself. Adding in that comment wasn't the most humble/sportsmanship oriented move IMO. That's my main take away. If someone asked her the question off the bat and she said I think we're deserving or more deserving than anyone, then sure, but adding it in herself as a flex isn't a good look.


And I don't recall ever saying that about SC. Please find the quote if you're insinuating that before accusing me of lying. I've thought Oregon has been the best team for a while now but think SC was right in the mix. I've been very complimentary of Dawn, her players, and her program all season long until these comments.

I don't have an issue with Dawn stating SC was #1 in the final ranking. I don't believe her quote about it not being up for debate is referring to the ranking as much as it refers to who was the best team. If she was saying it isn't up for debate who was the best team at the end of the year, she was 100% wrong there. Even if she doesn't call them out directly, it diminishes the accomplishments of Oregon who dominated a ridiculously good conference and was playing at a very high level. The bigger issue though is that the statement is just inaccurate, very few fans outside of Columbia felt SC was unquestionably the best team in the country when the tournament was called out. It absolutely was up for debate.

And you must not be familiar with me because I am not a Connecticut fan. And I agree, Geno has made similar statements which I'm not a fan of either. In his defense, when he has made these statements his teams usually were the clear cut #1 team and more often than not, undefeated. Regardless though, I'm not a fan of the general boasting and coaches making statements that lack humility. I think there are better ways to acknowledge and celebrate your team's accomplishments.

 

[UConn2SF]

They should hang this up right next to the "we finally beat UConn" banner. Who finished #1 in a shortened and incomplete season is the answer to a trivia question, not an accomplishment that warrants a banner. If they do this they should expect and accept some mockery and derision.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Staley wasn't asked a question about if she would accept a title if the NCAA was handing one out--she added that tidbit in herself. Adding in that comment wasn't the most humble/sportsmanship oriented move IMO. That's my main take away. If someone asked her the question off the bat and she said I think we're deserving or more deserving than anyone, then sure, but adding it in herself as a flex isn't a good look.


And I don't recall ever saying that about SC. Please find the quote if you're insinuating that before accusing me of lying. I've thought Oregon has been the best team for a while now but think SC was right in the mix. I've been very complimentary of Dawn, her players, and her program all season long until these comments.

I don't have an issue with Dawn stating SC was #1 in the final ranking. I don't believe her quote about it not being up for debate is referring to the ranking as much as it refers to who was the best team. If she was saying it isn't up for debate who was the best team at the end of the year, she was 100% wrong there. Even if she doesn't call them out directly, it diminishes the accomplishments of Oregon who dominated a ridiculously good conference and was playing at a very high level. The bigger issue though is that the statement is just inaccurate, very few fans outside of Columbia felt SC was unquestionably the best team in the country when the tournament was called out. It absolutely was up for debate.

And you must not be familiar with me because I am not a Connecticut fan. And I agree, Geno has made similar statements which I'm not a fan of either. In his defense, when he has made these statements his teams usually were the clear cut #1 team and more often than not, undefeated. Regardless though, I'm not a fan of the general boasting and coaches making statements that lack humility. I think there are better ways to acknowledge and celebrate your team's accomplishments.

I am pretty sure she was asked what was the significance of being ranked #1 by the AP and her response was referring to the fact that South Carolina had now finished #1 in both polls.

I thought the whole Missouri thing last year was unfortunate and an overreaction, but I'm on balance ok with this. I do think Bill Self's version of the same thing came off a little better in print.

I genuinely do feel bad for Oregon, Baylor and a hot Maryland team not having a chance to prove it on the floor. And for all the other Cinderellas hoping to string together a nice run as well.

But I'm biased and I feel worse for South Carolina not having the chance to win a national championship. I'd rather have lost in the tournament than be here.

But this is the world we live in. We are here. Finishing #1 in the Final Polls is an accomplishment. Not celebrating the team's accomplishment would be absurd.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

They should hang this up right next to the "we finally beat UConn" banner. Who finished #1 in a shortened and incomplete season is the answer to a trivia question, not an accomplishment that warrants a banner. If they do this they should expect and accept some mockery and derision.

Unfortunately beating UCONN was not banner worthy this year.

Maybe next year.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Where is the words "conference regular season"? No need to response, EOP.

So in your opinion what she really meant was that South Carolina went undefeated this season because .... she forgot? She thought no one would know?

Obviously she meant that South Carolina went undefeated through its conference season and tournament.

I truly don't understand why people choose interpret things the wrong way just so they can argue about them.

 

[Kaizen]

11:20 AM PT. Associated Press

"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.''

Massey has Oregon as #1 by computing big data and RPI. I think there are lots up for discussion.

South Carolina women finish No. 1 for first time

South Carolina received 26 first-place votes from the national media panel as the top team in the women's basketball season's final poll. No. 2 Oregon garnered the other four votes. Baylor, Maryland and UConn rounded out the top five.

www.espn.com

 

[Gamecockfan77]

11:20 AM PT. Associated Press

"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.''

Massey has Oregon as #1 by computing big data and RPI. I think there are lots up for discussion.

South Carolina women finish No. 1 for first time

South Carolina received 26 first-place votes from the national media panel as the top team in the women's basketball season's final poll. No. 2 Oregon garnered the other four votes. Baylor, Maryland and UConn rounded out the top five.

www.espn.com

South Carolina is #1 in the RPI.

Oregon is #1 in Massey.