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Message: [QUOTE="Longtime fan, post: 4280152, member: 7093"] Okay. Here is my final challenge for the off-season. South Carolina is the defending champion, and everyone agreed that they were better than UCONN and deserved to win, injuries and illnesses notwithstanding. So far this off-season (in three days ), the following has occurred in Columbia, SC: 1. Saxon ( 6'2" senior) has decided to return for a fifth year, to win another championship. 2. South Carolina has acquired ( portal ) Kierra Fletcher ( guard ) from Georgia Tech to replace Destinee Henderson ( the only member of the team who is apparently not returning ). Fletcher was a four year starter at Tech averaging 13 points per game; 3.7 assists; 5.5 rebounds and shooting 41.6% from the field. She did not play this passed season due to a foot injury. 3. SC also expects the return of Raven Johnson, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2021, who missed the entire season due to a knee injury. 4. SC has had the No.1 ranked recruiting class in women's basketball two of the past three years. Their incoming class ( 2022) is ranked 6th vs. UCONN ranking 4th. 5. The 6'7" Brazilian transfer ( Cardoza ) from Syracuse last off-season has now had a full year, and championship run, under Dawn Staley's guidance. She knows the system and is settled in. The challenge is to identify what would have to happen for UCONN to defeat this SC team, given the assets ( players and coaches ) we now have in place. I say " assets now in place" because I don't think UCONN will use the portal this year ( we already have 11 players returning ) , and too many wild and crazy guesses might be so unrealistic as to become meaningless ( eg Morrow comes to UCONN, etc ). But you can say things like; 1. Paige will be player of the year again and able to play 40 minutes per game at full tilt. ( reasonable ) 2. AZZI will lead the nation in scoring ( possible) 3. Piath will emerge as Tina Charles 2.0. ( dream on, dudes ). 4. etc. Later, we can assess the likelihood of any of these scenarios. I can't think of anything else to do to get me to next season. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach