Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season | Page 5 | The Boneyard
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Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season

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What a funny coincidence. I was looking her up on YouTube last night. That dunk was mightily impressive and looked so natural. She looks like she could be in the Griner/Belibi category of dunkers who get multiple per season. I wouldn't be surprised if she could jump even higher once Molly gets her in the strength and conditioning program. Latson added 4" to her vertical in the off-season, imagine if Tournebize could do the same. One can dream... 😆
 
Dunking is greatly over valued. Yes, Tournabix, at least, has dunked in a game - but that was in a breakaway. Many touted dunkers exist in practice but never accomplish it in games.

The only value I place on dunking is that it shows the leaping ability for rebounding and shot blocking. She looks like a Cameron Brink. If we get her, she needs strength training and some good weight gain to avoid injury.
 
visitingcock said:
Dunking is greatly over valued. Yes, Tournabix, at least, has dunked in a game - but that was in a breakaway. Many touted dunkers exist in practice but never accomplish it in games.

The only value I place on dunking is that it shows the leaping ability for rebounding and shot blocking. She looks like a Cameron Brink. If we get her, she needs strength training and some good weight gain to avoid injury.
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What a buzz kill 🙄
 
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GamecockFam said:
What a buzz kill 🙄
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You should be excited about a prospect who has the athletic ability to dunk, even if she never dunks in a college game,

What has Ashlynn done with her ability to dunk? One per year? But how many shots has she blocked ? rebounds? Those are what counts.

It’s the ability that’s exciting. Not the anticipation of actual dunks happening.
 
I agree with you both. Dunking is overrated. I was more excited about the parts of her highlights of her taking and knocking down deep jumpers. OTOH we see how the media and SM peeps slobber over dunkers and logo 3 shooters - players like Caitlin and MiLaysia, over teams that dominate and win NC’s playing great team basketball. Would be good to win a championship or many, while getting the pub/following from a player doing splashy things on the court. Not to mention the pants creaming that happens every time a very good white player comes around. Friday night likely commenced the Syla Swords obsession we’re going to be hearing for the next 4 yrs.
 
visitingcock said:
Dunking is greatly over valued. Yes, Tournabix, at least, has dunked in a game - but that was in a breakaway. Many touted dunkers exist in practice but never accomplish it in games.

The only value I place on dunking is that it shows the leaping ability for rebounding and shot blocking. She looks like a Cameron Brink. If we get her, she needs strength training and some good weight gain to avoid injury.
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Yes... and very expensive also. I paid almost $15 for a dozen. Still cheaper than Krispy Kreme but Krispy Kreme is much better.
 
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Well, we got to see all the backups together in one platoon for a significant time in the third and again in the 4th quarters. It wasn’t pretty . Maddy did not lead them to play as a team and all of them seemed to be playing for themselves. The freshmen couldn’t hit a barn from 3,

Tac played well with a double double but it was basically a high school team,

Now, bring on @triaddukefan
 
visitingcock said:
Well, we got to see all the backups together in one platoon for a significant time in the third and again in the 4th quarters. It wasn’t pretty . Maddy did not lead them to play as a team and all of them seemed to be playing for themselves. The freshmen couldn’t hit a barn from 3,

Tac played well with a double double but it was basically a high school team,

Now, bring on @triaddukefan
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You’re right… it wasn’t pretty, but I’m pretty sure that was Dawn’s teaching point to them. Two big things stood out to me: 1) Okot is our best big since Boston, and 2) Latson is learning that she can have an impact without necessarily being the high scorer every game. This year, she is surrounded by more talented teammates than in the past, and is being coached by a master. Very important part of the team chemistry formula.
 
I was perfectly ok with how the backups played.

Not sure why it's important how they play as a unit, but it seemed ok to me overall under the circumstances.

Maddie's first game back with the knee still in a brace isn't the best indicator, but could see needing two PGs in portal
 
USMC(ret) said:
You’re right… it wasn’t pretty, but I’m pretty sure that was Dawn’s teaching point to them. Two big things stood out to me: 1) Okot is our best big since Boston, and 2) Latson is learning that she can have an impact without necessarily being the high scorer every game. This year, she is surrounded by more talented teammates than in the past, and is being coached by a master. Very important part of the team chemistry formula.
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Do you really think Okot is better than Kamilla?

If she can get two years in Dawn’s system, I could see her catching up or, maybe, surpassing Kamilla. She still looks raw to me and needs to refine her go-to shots. This week against Betts or the Texas Bigs will tell me a lot.
 
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visitingcock said:
Do you really think Okot is better than Kamilla?

If she can get two years in Dawn’s system, I could see her catching up or, maybe, surpassing Kamilla. She still looks raw to me and needs to refine her go-to shots. This week against Betts or the Texas Bigs will tell me a lot.
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Okot already is a better defender than Cardoso when switched out with a guard on the perimeter. She has quick hands and moves her feet well. Cardoso is a more polished player within 5 feet of the basket but I think Okot, because of her abilities outside of 5 feet, will eventually surpass Cardoso once she gets more comfortable in that space.
 
trying hard not to fall into an LSU perspective on blowouts of cream puffs, but I do feel like this team is settling in and getting more co sortable with roles.

Duke and the next game should give us a good check-in but I think we were probably overly critical of blowout wins vs So Cal and Clemson (and UNC scrimmage).

Work in progress sure, but still thrashings.

I have to say through 6 games the Lataon project is going fantastically. Shooting 60% from floor, over 50% from theee, A/TO up, usage down to past Staley scorer levels and defensive and offensive efficiencies looking extremely good. 137.8 OR and 72.4 DR is smoking good.

Meanwhile Okot looking to be the all conference center if it isn't Strack.

Efficiency ratings at 143.7/56.8. (Again need more schedule for these to look real but monstrous). Okot's turnovers are way down and blocks up from a year ago, getting up a few more shots, , but largely just translating last year's numbers at Miss State into lineup while cutting errors.

Looking like two massive portal successes for SC (through 6 games).

Makeer has actually been better than I expected but still needs a slight adjustment as far as doing a little too much.

Ayla has been pretty darn good and about what I expected.

We do need Maddie to come along.

again a reality check-in coming up this week, but this team has a pretty big upside and early returns suggest they are working towards it.

the nagging question for the highest level games will be depth and maybe defensive stoppers. Fudd/Strong, Betts, Booker, the LSU and OU guards.
 
GamecockFam said:
Okot already is a better defender than Cardoso when switched out with a guard on the perimeter. She has quick hands and moves her feet well. Cardoso is a more polished player within 5 feet of the basket but I think Okot, because of her abilities outside of 5 feet, will eventually surpass Cardoso once she gets more comfortable in that space.
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I do not think Kamilla really got outside her lane at SCar. She kind of just was an always improving version of herself.

Great interior defender, good for put backs.

Okot probably has the more versatile offensive game.

I think she might be too good to come back (if she even gets another year back) but we will see.
 
visitingcock said:
Dunking is greatly over valued. Yes, Tournabix, at least, has dunked in a game - but that was in a breakaway. Many touted dunkers exist in practice but never accomplish it in games.

The only value I place on dunking is that it shows the leaping ability for rebounding and shot blocking. She looks like a Cameron Brink. If we get her, she needs strength training and some good weight gain to avoid injury.
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I'm going to guess you never had anyone dunk on you. That might change your point of view.
 
HuskylnSC said:
I'm going to guess you never had anyone dunk on you. That might change your point of view.
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On me personally? No

Against my high school team? Yeah. So what? We beat them by 20.

How many dunks per year happen in Wbb? Five, maybe? That's ten point per year against All teams. It's nothing.
 
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HuskylnSC said:
I'm going to guess you never had anyone dunk on you. That might change your point of view.
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I never got shook over someone making a weak dunk on a breakaway. Getting "dunked on" is not really a thing in WBB and that's fine.

You block my shot and you might get to me though.

So dunking as a stand in for good vertical, big hands, and coordination is good, but I do not really care if a WBB can actually dunk. It's not terribly useful.
 
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