Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season

[Gamecockfan77]

It’s a good draw.

Iowa was my preference for our 2. We can match up with Stuelke and Heiden. Did not want to see Michigan or an SEC foe.

Did not want to see Duke or Louisville at 3. Miles is one of my favorite players. I believe Raven could defend her well.

I’d have picked Minnesota at 4, but UNC and WVU would also have been tricky in their own right. Chavez’s ability to go dynamite is worrying but we nearly beat OK on the road despite looking disinterested and disorganized for much of the game.

we didn’t draw anyone that I didn’t want to see.

I guess Clemson could do something very embarrassing to us and So. cal gave us a tough game early on.

OU obviously we’ve see what that looks like, but could see them slipping up in r2 also.

TCU I have not seen play a full game. Feels like have seen Miles with a better team around here, but I guess we are not as good as we were then either.

Iowa doesn’t really have a roster that scares me, but I’m still smarting over not being able to defend the pick and roll a few years ago.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Don’t have to see but one of UCLA, Texas, and LSU so that is good.

 

[USMC(ret)]

Things that worry me:
1. Okot getting in foul trouble. Dauda as her backup is not reassuring.
2. Inbounding against a press. An adventure every time it happens.
Things that reassure me:
1. We have the most talented starting five we’ve ever had. Enough that an off night by any one doesn’t doom us.
2. Better three point shooting ability than we’ve ever had. There was a time not too long ago that Paopao was our only credible three point threat. Now, Raven, Tessa, and Latson can all dial it up. Can’t leave Okot alone, either. In fact, our leading scorer is our weakest threat from beyond the arc. And we don’t live and die by the three.

 

[WBBTakeover]

On paper, this may be the most favorable draw. The games are played on the court, however.

My only gripe here is about Clemson. No, I don't think they present anything remotely close to a threat to us. I just think they're overseeded and don't want to hear about them or their coach for two hours if we were to match up. That's why I'll be rooting for Southern Cal.

 

[JstVisiting]

It’s a good draw.

Iowa was my preference for our 2. We can match up with Stuelke and Heiden. Did not want to see Michigan or an SEC foe.

Did not want to see Duke or Louisville at 3. Miles is one of my favorite players. I believe Raven could defend her well.

I’d have picked Minnesota at 4, but UNC and WVU would also have been tricky in their own right. Chavez’s ability to go dynamite is worrying but we nearly beat OK on the road despite looking disinterested and disorganized for much of the game.

Oklahoma is the toughest 4 by a good bit, but our loss in Norman should be beneficial in a potential rematch.

 

[GoChips20]

I know better than to count out Iowa (I had a bad feeling about it in 2023) but honestly I can’t see how they match up well with anyone in our starting backcourt

 

[GoChips20]

On paper, this may be the most favorable draw. The games are played on the court, however.

My only gripe here is about Clemson. No, I don't think they present anything remotely close to a threat to us. I just think they're overseeded and don't want to hear about them or their coach for two hours if we were to match up. That's why I'll be rooting for Southern Cal.

We had the most favorable last year too IMO. There’s probably some inherent advantage since we can’t see the LSU or TX who are usually within the top 7 seeds. Or maybe Dawn just has a loyal friend on the committee.

 

[visitingcock]

On paper, this may be the most favorable draw. The games are played on the court, however.

My only gripe here is about Clemson. No, I don't think they present anything remotely close to a threat to us. I just think they're overseeded and don't want to hear about them or their coach for two hours if we were to match up. That's why I'll be rooting for Southern Cal.

I don’t have a gripe about U$C vs Clemson. Will possibly help attendance in that our fans may want to see two of our early foes for early next season. Of course both of them will be quite different next year. U$C will have Juju back and Clemson has a pretty darned good recruiting class coming incoming next year.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I don’t have a gripe about U$C vs Clemson. Will possibly help attendance in that our fans may want to see two of our early foes for early next season. Of course both of them will be quite different next year. U$C will have Juju back and Clemson has a pretty darned good recruiting class coming incoming next year.

"Clemson has a good recruiting class coming in"--so did Stanford this year, and we see how that turned out.

I'm not saying that their coach isn't better than the Stanford coach (maybe he's not--we see what happened when the two teams faced each other almost three weeks ago), but I am saying that people may want to pump the breaks on Clemson's supposed "inevitable ascent" until we see what their foundation is going to be as a program. They've been relying heavily on seniors/grad student transfers for two seasons now (and will have to do so again next season because they're losing a ton). That's not a recipe for sustainability.

I don't believe that either team will cause a boost in turnout. Despite being a "rival", Clemson is not going to present a physical challenge to us in any way, shape, or form.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I don’t have a gripe about U$C vs Clemson. Will possibly help attendance in that our fans may want to see two of our early foes for early next season. Of course both of them will be quite different next year. U$C will have Juju back and Clemson has a pretty darned good recruiting class coming incoming next year.

I know we have Maryland, So Cal, UConn, and maybe the Players Era event in Las Vegas (was Thanksgiving last year) in November 2026.

Then UNC in Charlotte, Clemson, Grand Canyon.

Should know pretty quick the strengths and weaknesses.

 

[visitingcock]

"Clemson has a good recruiting class coming in"--so did Stanford this year, and we see how that turned out.

I'm not saying that their coach isn't better than the Stanford coach (maybe he's not--we see what happened when the two teams faced each other almost three weeks ago), but I am saying that people may want to pump the breaks on Clemson's supposed "inevitable ascent" until we see what their foundation is going to be as a program. They've been relying heavily on seniors/grad student transfers for two seasons now (and will have to do so again next season because they're losing a ton). That's not a recipe for sustainability.

I don't believe that either team will cause a boost in turnout. Despite being a "rival", Clemson is not going to present a physical challenge to us in any way, shape, or form.

Poppie may choose to start all freshmen next year. Not wise if he wants to return to the tournament next year, but could payoff in the long run. “ Inevitable ascent?” Yeah, I believe Poppi can ascend. To our level? Almost certainly not during Dawn’s reign but that could give us some better competition