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Message: [QUOTE="Surly1, post: 4136081, member: 11599"] After watching both UConn & South Carolina play this weekend, it seems reasonable to place SC as the prohibitive favorite for the NC. Dawn Staley and her team are playing with a mission in mind. They didn’t have an opportunity to compete in the called-off pandemic season and I feel Staley believes they gave away the game against Stanford in the Final Four, thus loosing out on winning in the championship game vs Arizona, which they would have been favored. Both Zia Cooke and Boston have dramatically improved their games and are playing with immense confidence. This is Boston’s third season and they are playing with one thing in mind. It was evident in The game against UConn - who is SC’s measuring stick. In contrast, thus far, UConn’s key players, other than Paige, have not shown similar improvement or the same sense of urgency. With Paige on the floor, a UConn vs SC would be a close match, the game in the Bahamas notwithstanding. A scenario where Paige doesn’t return this season or is not back to 100% puts SC in the drivers seat. Is SC unbeatable? Of course not. There are a few teams that could not knock them off. NC St matches up well. Md on a hot shooting night. Texas could given Vic Schaefer is not intimidated. Stanford can if they develop an effective PG. And of course UConn. Over the next few months, I believe this team will develop their identity similar to past UConn teams, with a reliance on defense, emphasis on every posesssion and a grind it out mentality. UConn has size this year and they can play inside/out ball. Much can change getting back injured personnel, but hopefully something clicked for the players during the UCLA game. It was the first time I witnessed this season a sense of ”fight” coming out in them. A sense of recognition as to “This is who we are.” I hope it continues in the Louisville. The season can’t be placed on hold questioning whether Paige is or isn returning. As a team, they have to charge forward not expecting to have her. If she returns, all the better. [/QUOTE]

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