SC vs LSU

[Dognusty]

Did you watch the game? A close, physical game by the two best defenses in the country, where a call here or there may have changed the result. One of the most exciting games I’ve seen. Hoping for a rematch in the NC game.

I don't think UCONN would make it. I honestly think SC played the worse game they have played all season and still won. I think that is a scary thought. And although the score says 4 point difference that game was really in hand at the 2 min mark. As composed I think 10 teams have a shot to beat Uconn. I only see one team giving SC a shot and that is Stanford.

 

[Dognusty]

Next year UConn is gonna be tough, but this year, to me, isn't the year. I'm just be really realistic

 

[Zinethar]

I don't think UCONN would make it. I honestly think SC played the worse game they have played all season and still won. I think that is a scary thought. And although the score says 4 point difference that game was really in hand at the 2 min mark. As composed I think 10 teams have a shot to beat Uconn. I only see one team giving SC a shot and that is Stanford.

One of the great things of this board is that posters are entitled to their opinion even why it is wrong . I obviously disagree with you as I think even though UConn tired at the end they still showed they belonged in that game and could have won it with a couple breaks. Instead of dropping a dislike I'll just disagree.

 

[Coburn]

You could say the same for Stanford though. Betts, Demetre, and Emma-Nnopu are all playing at much higher level than they were earlier in the year. Even Jump has improved her game significantly.

the only thing Betts’s game has in common right now with Cardoso is that they’re both 6’7 .

if they play again this season, it won’t be standing room only in Maples as well

…or Hartford

 

[JstVisiting]

Did you watch the game? A close, physical game by the two best defenses in the country, where a call here or there may have changed the result. One of the most exciting games I’ve seen. Hoping for a rematch in the NC game.

I'm hoping for a rematch in Greenville region finals, but I'd take the title game too. Means we don't have to play Stanford or LSU.

 

[cancontent]

the only thing Betts’s game has in common right now with Cardoso is that they’re both 6’7 .

if they play again this season, it won’t be standing room only in Maples as well

…or Hartford

The fact Betts hasn't gotten much playing time has short changed many from having a chance to see what she's capable of. There's a reason why she was a starter for USA's U19 squad in 2021 over several incoming freshman bigs, including DeBerry. Betts may be able to do more against Cardoso than some may assume.

 

[JstVisiting]

One of the great things of this board is that posters are entitled to their opinion even why it is wrong . I obviously disagree with you as I think even though UConn tired at the end they still showed they belonged in that game and could have won it with a couple breaks. Instead of dropping a dislike I'll just disagree.

Hopefully Geno would keep his composure better, because if he didn't like the way that game was called inside, he sure isn't going to like the way it's officiated on a neutral court.

I don't think UConn is going to get a better shot at South Carolina in the postseason than you just had in the regular season. We did not play "horrible", but we did play a B game on the road while in lucky bounce/brick 3's, you got a half-dozen extra points in the 1st quarter alone.

 

[Darwin]

I also think that SC is more than capable of repeating.

But I agree … if they have an off night and some team gets hot or even if another team keeps it close and gets a few lucky bounces, who knows. In the early rounds of the tourney last year I felt like SC was off their game at times and the only reason they didn’t lose was because their opponents just couldn’t hit the ocean from the shore.

However if SC plays like they did against UConn and LSU, they will be difficult to beat.

In the early rounds of the NCAA tourney last season S.C. was beating their opponents to a literal pulp. NC was the only team to give them a quasi test, including Uconn in the final tbh. The Uconn game was over after the first qtr.

 

[TC22]

Bad news. To be honest SC played horrible against UCONN.

I don't think SC played horribly, although I think we have played better. What I do think though is that the UConn game really helped SC tighten up their defense playing against 2 talented bigs before we played LSU. There were some noticeable adjustments during the LSU game. That's why Dawn likes to play great teams. You don't really learn much playing horrible teams. I know some don't give Dawn a whole lot of credit for being a great in game coach, but I think she's really become one of the best.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Hopefully Geno would keep his composure better, because if he didn't like the way that game was called inside, he sure isn't going to like the way it's officiated on a neutral court.

I don't think UConn is going to get a better shot at South Carolina in the postseason than you just had in the regular season. We did not play "horrible", but we did play a B game on the road while in lucky bounce/brick 3's, you got a half-dozen extra points in the 1st quarter alone.

UConn didn't even have their best player or their 6th best player in the game. To think "lucky bounces" outweighs Fudd and CD returning is absurd.

 

[Darwin]

the only thing Betts’s game has in common right now with Cardoso is that they’re both 6’7 .

if they play again this season, it won’t be standing room only in Maples as well

…or Hartford

Betts is effective at her height, and has some skills. But imo she is way less athletic than Cardoso. I’m not saying Betts is a stiff, not the case, but a big difference in agility and athleticism imho.

 

[Darwin]

Well to be fair UConn only has 1 healthy 3 pt shooter right now, so it was not that hard to take that away. If Fudd was available or is available for NCAA tournament that would make a substantial difference. Whether Fudd can return is still a huge question but I’d love a rematch with a healthy Fudd and Ducharme.

If I’m not mistaken, SC has the #1 3 point shooting % defense in the nation. It does not matter who they play, this late in the season the stats don’t lie.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

If I’m not mistaken, SC has the #1 3 point shooting % defense in the nation. It does not matter who they play, this late in the season the stats don’t lie.

UConn also shooting less than 30% from three in February. Doesn’t matter who they play, this short handed the stats don’t lie.

 

[Bone Dog]

Agree to disagree, Bone Dog.

I'd definitely pick SC, but I believe you don't do justice to the Stanford roster, either its starters or its bench. My point was simply that Stanford has athletes, and lots of very good ones. No one has as many as SC. That's not the issue, nor is that a guarantee the Gamecocks would win a rematch.

I don’t think we are disagreeing. I may not have expressed my initial reservation about Stanford clearly enough.

 

[maple]

In the early rounds of the NCAA tourney last season S.C. was beating their opponents to a literal pulp. NC was the only team to give them a quasi test, including Uconn in the final tbh. The Uconn game was over after the first qtr.

Man I swear I remember seeing one or two early tourney games where SC was just throwing up bricks in the first half. I remember thinking that I couldn’t see how they could beat Stanford playing like that. I even commented in the chat about it.

 

[Topdawg]

College basketball is exciting because upsets do happen. Improbable does not equate to impossible. Top ranked teams do go down and when they lose, it is not necessarily because they played poorly. Sometimes opposing teams have remarkable performances. Individual players have exceptional days.

That said, you do have to put in the work to increase the odds of having spectacular days. Many teams are working hard to have their chance in the bright lights and some of them may well prevail.

Those of you with foregone conclusions are awaiting the humdrum of the inevitable. Others are preparing to concoct the stuff of legend. Here’s to an exciting rest of the season!

 

[visitingcock]

College basketball is exciting because upsets do happen. Improbable does not equate to impossible. Top ranked teams do go down and when they lose, it is not necessarily because they played poorly. Sometimes opposing teams have remarkable performances. Individual players have exceptional days.

That said, you do have to put in the work to increase the odds of having spectacular days. Many teams are working hard to have their chance in the bright lights and some of them may well prevail.

Those of you with foregone conclusions are awaiting the humdrum of the inevitable. Others are preparing to concoct the stuff of legend. Here’s to an exciting rest of the season!

Well done mate. Well done

 

[Carnac]

Not today.

18-2 open. We "learned"

SC defense is the best in the country

Cardoso is really good on both ends

Kim spent much of the second half on the court, why no warning or T?

Morris can deliver

With this talent and effort no one is going to touch SC throughout the tournament.

That's my take too, but some folks don't believe me. I'm not selling out, I'm just a realist calling it as I see it. There was a time when other schools DID NOT want to be in UConn's bracket for the tournament because they knew there was no way they could make it out of the regional bracket to the final four. Now it's South Carolina's bracket they don't want to be in. IMHO, this championship is South Carolina's to lose. They're BIG, deep, experienced, and very confident. Next year (when we have ALL of our players back healthy), it will be our turn once again to be the elephant in the room.

 

[GoCardinal]

Cardoso has been better offensively, but she still is somewhat of a liability on defense. I think Brink would still be able to out-maneuver her like she did in the first game. We just saw Aaliyah Edwards do this to her in UConn's game with South Carolina. Even against LSU, their freshman was able to go around her a few times. I still think the length of Stanford can contend with South Carolina's, this has been the case regularly.

 

[visitingcock]

Cardoso has been better offensively, but she still is somewhat of a liability on defense. I think Brink would still be able to out-maneuver her like she did in the first game. We just saw Aaliyah Edwards do this to her in UConn's game with South Carolina. Even against LSU, their freshman was able to go around her a few times. I still think the length of Stanford can contend with South Carolina's, this has been the case regularly.

Can contend with? Unquestionably. I don't think any reasonable person can dispute that.

As to Cardosa being a "liability on defense" you are waaaaaaaaaaayy underestimating her. She has 1.9 blocks per game off the bench. Even though playing only 17.4 minutes per game, that 1.9 blocks per game is 32nd in the Nation. Yeah, Brink is better but not as much as you probably believe.

Brink........................ 23.6 minutes/pg, 3.4 blocks per game. = . 0.144 blocks per minute played
Cardosa.................. 17.4 minutes/pg, 1.9 blocks per game. = 0.131 blocks per minute played

 

[TC22]

Cardoso has been better offensively, but she still is somewhat of a liability on defense. I think Brink would still be able to out-maneuver her like she did in the first game. We just saw Aaliyah Edwards do this to her in UConn's game with South Carolina. Even against LSU, their freshman was able to go around her a few times. I still think the length of Stanford can contend with South Carolina's, this has been the case regularly.

You are correct. Cardoso is just learning to play defense. It's not just blocking shots. She's still a work in progress, but a lot of progress has been made this year. Stanford is the one team I don't want to see again because I feel like offensively we have the same strengths. Overall I think our defense is better and our PG situation is in a much better place than when we played. It's still the toughest matchup for us though in my opinion.

 

[TC22]

And why WAS Mulkey allowed to stay on the floor almost the entire game, especially in the first half when SC was shooting on their end? It was ridiculous. At one point she was so far on the court that she looked like part of our offense.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Can contend with? Unquestionably. I don't think any reasonable person can dispute that.

As to Cardosa being a "liability on defense" you are waaaaaaaaaaayy underestimating her. She has 1.9 blocks per game off the bench. Even though playing only 17.4 minutes per game, that 1.9 blocks per game is 32nd in the Nation. Yeah, Brink is better but not as much as you probably believe.

Brink........................ 23.6 minutes/pg, 3.4 blocks per game. = . 0.144 blocks per minute played
Cardosa.................. 17.4 minutes/pg, 1.9 blocks per game. = 0.131 blocks per minute played

But she can't guard the perimeter which is what the poster is saying. If you face a team with multiple post players that can play around the perimeter - which is the case with Stanford and Uconn, it will be tough to keep her on the floor for long stretches as she is a liability. Aaliyah Edwards scored 25 points in 28 minutes because she either got an open jump shot or an open layup driving in when she was defended by Cardosa. If it wasn't for foul trouble she would have had a career day offensively.

Brink is significantly better than Cardosa on both sides of the ball because she is a three level player on both sides. Cardosa is great around the basket but gets worse and worse the more you pull her away.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I loved the fantastic five, Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt, Stacey Augman, Greg Anthony, and David Butler, with "Tark the Shark" as the coach. It's still the largest margin of victory in the Men's NCAA Championship game, 30 points, 103-73. UNLV is the last NON-Power Conference team to win the championship and the only one to win since 1977. They are also the only team to score 100+ points in the championship game.

Louisville in 86 out of the Metro seems

I know we all make fun of Kim as she is a firecracker but I was pleasantly happy with how she acted during the game and after. No sore loser mentality or anything. She straight up said SC is the standard and said that is who they strive to be one day and used the game as a learning experience for the program and its current players.

She didn't take anything out on any player or throw excuses. She was actually remarkable calm. She used it as a tool to learn, grow and what they have to adapt to down the road.

Any coach though who has built their program into a powerhouse it is today took their lumps at some point to get there. Don't get embarrassed or make excuses. Just use it to fuel you and get better.

She started conceding the game early in the week. Partly setting the narrative. A narrative I think is truthful. They have had a great season.

It's Always good to downplay expectations. I think she sure hoped to steal it, but coaches understand matchups better than anyone.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

But she can't guard the perimeter which is what the poster is saying. If you face a team with multiple post players that can play around the perimeter - which is the case with Stanford and Uconn, it will be tough to keep her on the floor for long stretches as she is a liability. Aaliyah Edwards scored 25 points in 28 minutes because she either got an open jump shot or an open layup driving in when she was defended by Cardosa. If it wasn't for foul trouble she would have had a career day offensively.

Brink is significantly better than Cardosa on both sides of the ball because she is a three level player on both sides. Cardosa is great around the basket but gets worse and worse the more you pull her away.

It wasn't all Cardoso though. Maybe not even half the tone. The whole team was getting caught by Edwards pump fakes.

Saxton and Beal bit too.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Stanford and IU? Huh. Interesting. Stanford doesn’t have the athletes, though they have a similar problem at pg. I like Brink, but I expect she and Iriafen will get in foul trouble in their next meeting. If they have to play Betts Belibi and Prechdel against Boston Cardoso Watkins and Saxton, they’re doomed unless Jump and Demetre really light it up from 3. What I notice is that SC has come a lot further in solving their pg problem with Fletcher Hall and Johnson than Stanford has.

IU seems like a more interesting matchup. Better guards than SC by a long stretch, but substantially outmatched in the frontcourt. Will their guard play be enough better than SC’s post play? This was the same formula many of us imagined for UConn against SC. Our healthy backcourt is a bit better than IU’s, but even with an injury wracked backcourt we came pretty close to a win. Can IU do the same? Personally, I doubt it, but I’d love to see the game.

IU seems like the hot dark horse take right now.

Have a healthy respect for the program as one of this SC senior class's few losses. They execute.

 

[triaddukefan]

I loved the fantastic five, Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt, Stacey Augman, Greg Anthony, and David Butler, with "Tark the Shark" as the coach. It's still the largest margin of victory in the Men's NCAA Championship game, 30 points, 103-73. UNLV is the last NON-Power Conference team to win the championship and the only one to win since 1977. They are also the only team to score 100+ points in the championship game.

Hey hey hey... Lets stick to the topic at hand. . Bringing back some painful memories.

 

[cancontent]

Hey hey hey... Lets stick to the topic at hand. . Bringing back some painful memories.

Just fast forward to the following year. That was an awesome rematch with a MUCH better ending.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Just fast forward to the following year. That was an awesome rematch with a MUCH better ending.

As a high school senior who grew up with Methodist pastor graduate from Duke Divinity School, I flipped out at the UNLV win in 1991.

 

[MSGRET]

And why WAS Mulkey allowed to stay on the floor almost the entire game, especially in the first half when SC was shooting on their end? It was ridiculous. At one point she was so far on the court that she looked like part of our offense.

I was hoping that one of the SC players threw a bullet pass and hit her. That would have made the officials give her a technical foul for interfering with play on the court.

Louisville in 86 out of the Metro seems.

Back in the late 70's to early 90's the Metro Conference was one of the premier basketball conference's in the Nation and it was way before the Big 5 was established in its current form. At one time they had the following ACC/SEC teams. South Carolina, Florida State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. The other teams were considered basketball powerhouses, they were Cincinnati, Memphis (State), St Louis, Tulane, and Southern Mississippi. At the time that Louisville won the Metro was still considered a Power Conference.