Wow what a start to the season for South Carolina. 100 points in an exhibition vs. Rutgers, 100 vs. Notre Dame, and 114 vs. Maryland. This looks like the best offense team Dawn has ever coached and we're only 2 games into the season. I know they started out #6, but I don't understand how any voter wouldn't bump them to #1 after the way they've started this year.
Both games the opposition has been able to hang with SC early on, but they got worn out and SC comes in waves with their depth and just completely overwhelmed both teams. Them bringing in elite athletes like Fulwiley/Watkins off the bench is a luxury no other team has.
They also have two very good passing PGs in their starting 5, and Raven Johnson in particular has been brilliant to start the season. She's not afraid to make tough passes to Cardoso and every time they've been money. Just a high IQ player and looks like an elite PG with her ability to control tempo and run the show. She also is MUCH more confident shooting the ball.
In particular Chloe Kitts looked great today. She is a work horse for Dawn and has all of the tools to be a really solid player. She's also very long and active defensively even if she isn't going to swat 5+ shots like Watkins/Cardoso. I'm surprised she's this good considering she got so little playing time last year--side note, what was the reason for reclassifying and enrolling early? I'm sure she improved a lot last year just from practicing but it seems like a wasted year.
I've said it on other threads too but Fulwiley is a really special player. Aside from her sheer speed and athletic ability, she has the potential to be a lockdown defender and is very good at picking the ball from opposing guards. Offensively she looks like a seasoned floor general out. Shehe doesn't force shots or plays that aren't there, she looks for her teammates and is a capable scorer and creator. Like Raven Johnson, she seems to just understand the flow of the game and the offense which is impressive for someone so young and with so much athletic ability. Honestly though the whole team was looking to make the extra pass and get the highest quality shot. I don't anticipate SC will maintain this level of play the full season, but so far they look like an all time great team at the level they're playing early on.
As for negatives, I'll say that the defense is not near the level it was a year ago, particularly from the perimeter. In a half court setting the perimeter defense wasn't good, players weren't active on closing out perimeter shooters and they gave up 10 threes. Defensive intensity needs improvement in the half court setting. No one (yet) looks like a Zia Cooke type defensive player where they're really up in your face and hawking the opposing guards. Cardoso also struggled with fouls and I thought she was exposed defensively when she was pulled out of the paint by the player she guarded, which was similar to the Final Four last year when SC had no answer for Iowa's isolated 2 man game with Clark/Czinano. Brenda implemented this on a few plays in the first half but she just doesn't have a center like a Brink/Edwards/Kitley who would be more effective since they're capable inside and out. Going up against UCONN or other teams that have bigs who can face up and score inside, she'll need to game plan for it. Reminds me of when Ionescu and Oregon used and abused Teaira McCowan in the regular season and Elite 8 a few years ago and Mississippi State never made an adjustment. Anyway, all of that is pretty minor when you're putting up 100+ every night. What a performance.
