Iowa beats South Carolina!

[browns]

Right and I totally agree but that offense only works when you can get the ball inside which they couldn't last night at will because Iowa brlliantly packed the paint and let them shoot from the outside. Also, the referees didn't favor the SC bigs on either put backs or body fouls which many of us have been complaining about for years. Of course, 16 points from Clark in the 4th quarter didn't hurt either.

The best part is that Clark will be back next year and only better and that she and a healthy Paige will likely be the faces of America's backcourt in international and Olympic play for years with some Azzi added in. Assuming Paige is healthy and we play Iowa next year, the TV audience will be through the roof and another step forward for the sport. I'm sure last night's numbers were terrific as well.

I think Sabrina may have something to say about that

 

[Charliebball]

,.Clark did whwt I emplored the UConn playersb to do, attack South Carolina's front court

While I like Dawn and recognize the tremendous job she’s done in building SC to be one of the dominant programs in the nation, it’s probably good for WBB that the Gamecocks lost. SC’s “phone booth” offense, with 2-3 centers on the court at the same time takes WBB basketball back to the dark ages, at a time when everyone else is spreading the floor, running motion offense and shooting the 3.

Don’t get me wrong. If I had the same roster that SC has, I would be running the same offense Dawn is running. But from an aesthetic standpoint, it’s not very entertaining.

South Carolina's lack of outside shooting was always their weakness forcing them to depend on their superior height for offensive rebounds all season long..........that formula worked until it didn't.......there was always a chance they could lose if their opponent managed to put up points, but it took Clark's fearless showing to make it happen........congrats to Iowa.....now go do it one more time against LSU!!

 

[Charliebball]

Dawn is a coach, not an artist. Aesthetics or winning? Entertaining or winning? The Tim Duncan Spurs were viewed as boring. Duncan was viewed as boring. The Spurs fans were bored with 5 NBA championships. Are the SC fans boring in the same manner? Well, probably not the fans on SC's answer to the Boneyard. I remember a criticism about John Madden's 70s Raiders. You knew they were going to run left. Madden's response was on the left side I have Art Shell, Gene Upshaw and Jim Otto, all Hall of Famers. "Why wouldn't I run left?"

Dawn should have got another good shooting guard in the transfer window instead of simply collecting multiple 6'4" frontcourt players......I have a feeling that won't happen again......

 

[browns]

As depressing as last weekend was this game took a little bit of the sting off..No undefeated season or back to back championships or how this SC team may be the best defense ever..all that gone after last night..Dawn was outcoached and kudos to coach Bluder for a great game plan
Boston is a generational talent but shes only been to the final game once..last year when they beat Uconn..granted she lost one year because of covid but she blew a game winning layup against Stanford one year and missed a 3 pointer last night that would have gotten them within one and basically was a no show..she may go on to have a great career but thankfully she's gone now..wonder if she had picked Uconn instead of SC would she have more than one ring
Clark is simply amazing on the biggest stage

 

[SJF]

While I like Dawn and recognize the tremendous job she’s done in building SC to be one of the dominant programs in the nation, it’s probably good for WBB that the Gamecocks lost. SC’s “phone booth” offense, with 2-3 centers on the court at the same time takes WBB basketball back to the dark ages, at a time when everyone else is spreading the floor, running motion offense and shooting the 3.

Don’t get me wrong. If I had the same roster that SC has, I would be running the same offense Dawn is running. But from an aesthetic standpoint, it’s not very entertaining.

It’s like the old Tenn teams just be bigger and stronger and just sling it up and go get the rebound and do it again.

 

[Fore!]

And I know that the majority of the members here on The Boneyard will not want to hear this, but Caitlin Clark is hands down the BEST Collegiate Player in WBB today, and that includes a healthy Paige Bueckers.

Perhaps, but until we see a “healthy” Paige Bueckers performing on a basketball court I’ll hold off on anointing Caitlin as the “Best Collegiate Player in WBB”.

 

[Newfie]

The first thing she did was congratulate Iowa, but after that…..
Also, remember the last time she lost to UConn she blamed it on the ball.

I did hear her compliment Iowa. I believe it was at the start of the post game press conference, and also it looked like outside the locker room with a reporter whose name I can’t remember. She might be just trying to protect her players against criticism, particularly Boston. Lisa Leslie had questions about Boston’s second foul when I was watching the Bird- Taurasi show. I believe Boston only ended up with three fouls total so fouls did not affect her game. It looks like she just had an off night.

 

[visitingcock]

Well, since you're SC you still get to hang a banner for being ranked #1 all season.

Only applies if you win the last game of the season

 

[BBallF]

I think Sabrina may have something to say about that.

True but I think Clark and Paige are that good especially offensively. There will be a physical catch up period since Sabrina is way ahead on that score but no doubt in my mind that at one point Clark- Bueckers is the nation's backcourt.

 

[Waquoit]

Dawn just said in the post game presser that if Boston asks her for advice regarding her decision to declare or not, Dawn will tell her to go…I don’t believe that

I'm not a Dawn fan but I'm not going to call her a liar.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Dawn just said in the post game presser that if Boston asks her for advice regarding her decision to declare or not, Dawn will tell her to go…I don’t believe that

IMHO I can't see Boston returning anyway for a 5th year as her 6 senior teammates leave!
Except for Cardoso I don't think any powerhouse players return!
Here is SoCar's roster 2023:

South Carolina Gamecocks Roster​

Team Roster

Name	POS	HT	Class	Birthplace
Laeticia Amihere15	F	6' 4"	SR	Mississauga, AB
Brea Beal12	G	6' 1"	SR	Rock Island, IL
Aliyah Boston4	F	6' 5"	SR	St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Kamilla Cardoso10	C	6' 7"	JR	Montes Claros, Brazil
Zia Cooke1	G	5' 9"	SR	Toledo, OH
Talaysia Cooper11	G	6' 0"	FR	Turbeville, SC
Sania Feagin20	F	6' 3"	SO	Ellenwood, GA
Kierra Fletcher41	G	5' 9"	SR	Warren, MI
Bree Hall23	G	6' 0"	SO	Dayton, OH
Raven Johnson25	G	5' 8"	FR	Atlanta, GA
Chloe Kitts21	F	6' 2"	FR	--
Victaria Saxton5	F	6' 2"	SR	Rome, GA
Olivia Thompson0	G	5' 8"	SR	Lexington, SC
Ashlyn Watkins2	F	6' 3"	FR	Columbia, SC

 

[BBallF]

As depressing as last weekend was this game took a little bit of the sting off..No undefeated season or back to back championships or how this SC team may be the best defense ever..all that gone after last night..Dawn was outcoached and kudos to coach Bluder for a great game plan
Boston is a generational talent but shes only been to the final game once..last year when they beat Uconn..granted she lost one year because of covid but she blew a game winning layup against Stanford one year and missed a 3 pointer last night that would have gotten them within one and basically was a no show..she may go on to have a great career but thankfully she's gone now..wonder if she had picked Uconn instead of SC would she have more than one ring
Clark is simply amazing on the biggest stage

I totally disagree about one of your opinions. Boston a generational talent? Don't see how 8 points in a National Semifinals game when she is in her senior year and her team desperately needs her qualifies her as that. What were her numbers this year? She is now better than everyone else in her generation? Clark? Bueckers? Sabrina by your own addition? Breanna? Wilson? How long is your generation anyway? I see her being good but not great in the WNBA and international play due to lack of foot speed and the fact that she will be going up against bigger more athletic bodies. Overrated and protected by the referees for years in my book. Sorry.

 

[Rowdy831]

If Boston wants to be the first person taken in the draft she better go this year. Clark is by far the best player right now in college basketball and she will be the first player taken next year unless she is not healthy. I'm amazed at how effortless she makes shooting 40 foot shots look and they all look like they have a chance to go in. She rebounds, she passes really good too. she is the person to build your pro team around.

 

[Linart]

I'm not a Dawn fan but I'm not going to call her a liar.

I have no idea why Boston would want to stay. She already has a championship, she's probably #1 in the draft, the only thing she is missing is to be able to go out with a championship. Brittney Griner didn't even go to the final four her last season and she has had a stellar career. I doubt that she regrets anything (except for bringing hash oil into a foreign country).

 

[Rowdy831]

I have to agree with wingsfan055. With a team as deep as SC is, Dawn surely could have just sent waves of defenders at Clark to deny her the ball, trap her and make her give it up. Of course, there’s no guarantee Iowa might not have won anyway but knowing Clark had just scored a 40 point triple double, I would think you would make her the focus!
On the other hand, she may have (probably did) figured her team’s defense, arguably the best in the country, would never give up 41 points to anyone! Clark is truly a great player and great players do things that merely good players can’t. I’m pulling for her and her team to produce one more great effort on Sunday. What a performance!
Finally, I think a lot of people, coaches etc have said that, taking Boston out of the game and making the rest of the team beat you is probably the most likely way to beat SC. Some have even tried it but with little success. Either they were unable to shut Boston down, abandoned the strategy midway through, or the rest of the team was good enough to win anyway. I think Bluder showed a lot of guts to go with this strategy in the FF! She rolled the dice in the most important game of her career and won! (With a pretty big assist from one of the great players in history!)

They did those things and still couldn't keep her from getting the ball. Their choice was let her have a head of steam or defend her in the half court. Clark had a gear no one thought she had until last night.

 

[Rowdy831]

Cardoso avoided fouls but it appeared to me that the refs let her get away with a lot of traveling violations in the paint.
Although Boston was called for fouls she usually would get away with, no foul was called when she threw Clark to the floor on an apparent jump ball call late in the game. It looked like Clark got thrown to the ground after the whistle. Jump ball or not, in the NFL a competent ref would have called her for unnecessary roughness for throwing down an opponent after the whistle.

Clark is a flopper and she isn't going to get all of the calls even when there might be something to them. That is one part of her game she needs to throw away, she doesn't need carnival tricks to be great.

 

[browns]

And I know that the majority of the members here on The Boneyard will not want to hear this, but Caitlin Clark is hands down the BEST Collegiate Player in WBB today, and that includes a healthy Paige Bueckers.

I'm a huge Uconn fan but I agree with you 100%

 

[BBallF]

refs called the game where South Carolina were not allowed to play their usual ramming game.

I think that was a real factor in the game. Certain teams play up to and over the line with aggressive fouling and it's a huge advantage when they can get away with it. This has been a consistent strategy for teams playing UConn and a means for less talented teams to compensate for that difference. LOVED when Geno shared an image of bruises on Lou's arm. It's also a persistent problem with WBB officiating.

MAJOR cheers for the refs in the semi-final game.

Could not agree more. That usual put your forearm up and into the back of your opponent on rebounds didn't help because the other fouls were called.

 

[Rowdy831]

They also had an off shooting night. Brea Beal was off all night, and usually has some pretty shots from the wing. Just not their night.

Iowa played 5 on 4 all night and that was designed to make someone else beat them and it worked. The inside game was bogged down by Iowa and it made it hard for SC to get their offense in rhythm. Pretty much every inside score for them was a result of an offensive rebound and took a lot of effort.

 

[browns]

I totally disagree about one of your opinions. Boston a generational talent? Don't see how 8 points in a National Semifinals game when she is in her senior year and her team desperately needs her qualifies her as that. What were her numbers this year? She is now better than everyone else in her generation? Clark? Bueckers? Sabrina by your own addition? Breanna? Wilson? How long is your generation anyway? I see her being good but not great in the WNBA and international play due to lack of foot speed and the fact that she will be going up against bigger more athletic bodies. Overrated and protected by the referees for years in my book. Sorry.

I agree with you I should have said "supposedly" a generational talent

 

[#12in21]

Great individual game by Clark (most deservedly player of the year), the Iowa coaches and entire team. Thankfully, the refs called fouls on Boston/SC that have been noticeably left uncalled in many SC games. That allowed for a fair contest where Blunder's (?) game plan was allowed to play out effectively. Iowa's two best players exceeded their season averages while the rest of their squad did everything 'right' to create the perfect storm to topple SC.

As one of very few correct picks I had them getting this win ( more on hope than confidence they would do so). I must say I enjoyed this win more than any non-Uconn win that I can remember. The big downside is that I had them facing Uconn for the title - resulting of course in #12 for our guys. Even as well as Iowa run has been I still believe we could have come out of that one with the W. We'll have to see next season.

I'll be routing for Iowa to takedown LSU Tomorrow. Not a huge fan of Mulkey or Reese but potentially could be another good basketball game. Haven't ever really been a CC fan either but definitely have to give her her due, she is an excellent bb player, possibly among the best wcbb players ever. As long as she isn't lacing 'em up against Uconn I'll be routing for her and a very likable/talented iowa squad led by a very good coach!

 

[UConnCat]

The Bird and Taurasi show was terrific. Had Doris Burke on for the entire 4 quarter.

At one point:

Diana: It's tough because they're [South Carolina] going to have to do something they're not good at to win this game.

Doris: Which is?

Diana: Make a shot.

 

[Soxx]

They did those things and still couldn't keep her from getting the ball. Their choice was let her have a head of steam or defend her in the half court. Clark had a gear no one thought she had until last night.

She’s shown that gear before. In these playoffs and before the playoffs.

 

[Soxx]

I have admired DS for years, I have agreed with her politically and have admired the stances she has taken, as well as her coaching; but in her press conference, she should have talked about the game last night and not tried to sidestep the fact that her player, Boston, had no impact on the game. Truly great players have a way of putting their teams on their back and winning. Paige did it when she was healthy, Clark did it last night. Boston was MIA when she was in the game, and in fact, the team scored more points without her. DS should have said that Clark proved tonight she was the best player in the country...instead she made excuses and blamed everything and everyone except her team

Boston did not have a great game. But one game does not define a player. I remember Taurasi crying after a playoff game when she could not hit a shot—wanted to put the team on her back, but just not her night. It happens.

 

[Waquoit]

Boston did not have a great game. But one game does not define a player. I remember Taurasi crying after a playoff game when she could not hit a shot—wanted to put the team on her back, but just not her night. It happens.

Yeah, Boston is great.

 

[Heytherego]

Thought it was a bit laughable Boston seemed to be complaining that the refs let a lot go because SC is always deemed the “aggressor.”

Boston is an EXCELLENT player, but I often felt she was a bit over hyped. I just don’t see how averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds gets you on the convo for NPOY when you have players like Clark, Seigrest, even Reese absolutely dominating. Granted I know she didn’t play a lot of minutes at times, but I just don’t see her as this dominating player she gets made out to be. She’s great on defense and I know she was often double teamed and I think she’ll do better in the WNBA with the 3 second rule and better shooters surrounding her.

I think Dawn should have had Johnson take more jumpers in the beginning, try to force Iowa to guard her. SC just didn’t really look that intense or focused. I thought Cardoso was really good and efficient and should have started the second half. It just didn’t seem like they really tried to make an adjustments to stop Clark. I thought LA was excellent when she was in, she rebounded well and disrupted Clark so was confused we didn’t see more of her. Even Clark seemed a bit confused why SC was guarding there posts closely outside the paint and not sagging off. I thought the girl (Marshall maybe?) who was guarding Cooke was excellent and should be getting some credit. Really fun game to watch, Clark is the whole show!

 

[browns]

Boston did not have a great game. But one game does not define a player. I remember Taurasi crying after a playoff game when she could not hit a shot—wanted to put the team on her back, but just not her night. It happens.

But DT was a freshman when that happened not a senior..and Geno told her it would never happen again...3 titles later he was right

 

[jdote33]

IMHO I can't see Boston returning anyway for a 5th year as her 6 senior teammates leave!
Except for Cardoso I don't think any powerhouse players return!
Here is SoCar's roster 2023:

South Carolina Gamecocks Roster​

Team Roster

Name	POS	HT	Class	Birthplace
Laeticia Amihere15	F	6' 4"	SR	Mississauga, AB
Brea Beal12	G	6' 1"	SR	Rock Island, IL
Aliyah Boston4	F	6' 5"	SR	St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Kamilla Cardoso10	C	6' 7"	JR	Montes Claros, Brazil
Zia Cooke1	G	5' 9"	SR	Toledo, OH
Talaysia Cooper11	G	6' 0"	FR	Turbeville, SC
Sania Feagin20	F	6' 3"	SO	Ellenwood, GA
Kierra Fletcher41	G	5' 9"	SR	Warren, MI
Bree Hall23	G	6' 0"	SO	Dayton, OH
Raven Johnson25	G	5' 8"	FR	Atlanta, GA
Chloe Kitts21	F	6' 2"	FR	--
Victaria Saxton5	F	6' 2"	SR	Rome, GA
Olivia Thompson0	G	5' 8"	SR	Lexington, SC
Ashlyn Watkins2	F	6' 3"	FR	Columbia, SC

They are still pretty talented, just going to be really young. Last night when they got off to a slow start, it was really Zia Cooke who was able to keep them in the game and she's done that so many times over the past couple years. So it will be tough without her. But I like Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins. Obviously Cardoso is very good. I agree she doesn't do all the things Boston does and lacks some of her intangibles, but she's very good.
I know the contrast of styles between SC and Iowa is so obvious but sheesh. Clark had all the space in the world when she would beat her initial defender as she is surrounded by shooters. Cardoso and Boston were constantly being double teamed as every perimeter player besides Cooke was almost treated like a non shooter. That's why I think having Kitts instead of Beal will help a lot offensively. If their 2 can shoot a bit, they'll really be in business

 

[browns]

If Boston wants to be the first person taken in the draft she better go this year. Clark is by far the best player right now in college basketball and she will be the first player taken next year unless she is not healthy. I'm amazed at how effortless she makes shooting 40 foot shots look and they all look like they have a chance to go in. She rebounds, she passes really good too. she is the person to build your pro team around.

Shoots 58.8% from 25' and beyond..simply unbelievable

 

[HuskyNan]

Thought it was a bit laughable Boston seemed to be complaining that the refs let a lot go because SC is always deemed the “aggressor.”

Boston is an EXCELLENT player, but I often felt she was a bit over hyped. I just don’t see how averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds gets you on the convo for NPOY when you have players like Clark, Seigrest, even Reese absolutely dominating. Granted I know she didn’t play a lot of minutes at times, but I just don’t see her as this dominating player she gets made out to be. She’s great on defense and I know she was often double teamed and I think she’ll do better in the WNBA with the 3 second rule and better shooters surrounding her.

I think Dawn should have had Johnson take more jumpers in the beginning, try to force Iowa to guard her. SC just didn’t really look that intense or focused. I thought Cardoso was really good and efficient and should have started the second half. It just didn’t seem like they really tried to make an adjustments to stop Clark. I thought LA was excellent when she was in, she rebounded well and disrupted Clark so was confused we didn’t see more of her. Even Clark seemed a bit confused why SC was guarding there posts closely outside the paint and not sagging off. I thought the girl (Marshall maybe?) who was guarding Cooke was excellent and should be getting some credit. Really fun game to watch, Clark is the whole show!

Why do people use points as an indicator of excellence? Diana Taurasi averaged 15.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, nice averages but hardly Maddy Siegrist numbers. And Diana is one of the best to play the game

Career stats:
Sue Bird averaged 11.3 ppg, 2.8 reb, 5.0 apg
Tina Charles 15.4 ppg, 9 reb
Aliyah Boston 14.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg

All incredible players