SCs title to lose?

[GamecockFam]

I think we can say that this probably cements South Carolina as the probable #1 overall seed but we've played too many close games to say that we are the runaway favorites...

 

[Skins87]

Henny is by far the best player this years draft she should be the number 1 pick by a large margin.

Should we call a doctor for you because you must be delirious if you are serious

 

[Skins87]

Henny is by far the best player this years draft she should be the number 1 pick by a large margin.

Should we call a doctor for you because you must be delirious if you are serious

 

[SECbbfan24]

Still games with UGA, TN, TAMU, LSU, and UK ahead. But the team needs to keep working on its layup drills and FT efficiency....

Y’all will beat LSU with ease… we don’t have the horses…

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Sometimes teams are destined to win it all and it looks like South Carolina is that team.

 

[Creature]

SC isn't blowing teams out every game so they aren't a sure thing. Other than Boston...they need consistency. As much talent as they have...if she has an off game against a good team, then they can lose.

This also means their room for growth from SCar

 

[LoTrader]

You all realize that South Carolina won the game on their home court in the final seconds--good on South Carolina. I would argue that Stanford and South Carolina are evenly matched. Had the game been played on Stanford's court or even a neutral court, the outcome may have been different. In any case, I believe the oddsmakers will have these two teams as equal favorites to hoist the trophy.

 

[jpp13]

Stanford and SC are the two favorites right now to meet in the title game. I'm interested to see if SC enters the tourney undefeated. Dawn's mojo is being the underdog and playing the "no respect" card at every opportunity neither of which any rational person would by right now.

 

[cancontent]

Not comfortable with saying that the title is SC's to lose. This thought brought the infamous NE Patriots season in 2007 where it seemed like a foregone conclusion even before the play-offs started. We saw how that ended.

Let's just enjoy the season and see how SC progresses.

 

[JstVisiting]

You all realize that South Carolina won the game on their home court in the final seconds--good on South Carolina. I would argue that Stanford and South Carolina are evenly matched. Had the game been played on Stanford's court or even a neutral court, the outcome may have been different. In any case, I believe the oddsmakers will have these two teams as equal favorites to hoist the trophy.

They will not have these two teams “equal favorites.”

 

[JDuro]

If the Gamecocks are hitting on all cylinders in March, they will be champs but that’s rarely how sports work. Right now they still have work to do offensively particularly from beyond the arc and at the FT line. Also need to get Zia back in the groove.

But right now there’s not a huge separation from the top teams that the Gamecocks could very possibly be upended in the NCAAT by the likes of Stanford, NCSU, UMD, Arizona, or UConn (who I believe in the long run, will benefit from Paige’s injury), and a handful of other teams In the the top 12-16.

 

[JDuro]

Henny is by far the best player this years draft she should be the number 1 pick by a large margin.

As much as I would love to see it, that ain’t happening. Henny though is definitely making a case for consideration to be a lottery pick or drafted in the top 5.

 

[jchusky]

This will not be the last time they play this season.

 

[Bigboote]

South Carolina is far and away the #1 team in the country. Right now. They defeated UConn, Stanford, and Maryland, but they didn’t look invincible doing so.

Favorites? Absolutely. Prohibitive favorites, I don’t think so.

 

[bbsamjj]

SC doesn't look unbeatable. But they have more depth, size, and experience than anyone else in the nation. I think they have the "best" chance of winning a championship, but also don't think they are so far ahead of everyone else that it's theirs to lose.

That being said, while stranger things have happened (see Louisville Baylor with Griner), I'd be VERY surprised if they are not in the final four.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

You all realize that South Carolina won the game on their home court in the final seconds--good on South Carolina. I would argue that Stanford and South Carolina are evenly matched. Had the game been played on Stanford's court or even a neutral court, the outcome may have been different. In any case, I believe the oddsmakers will have these two teams as equal favorites to hoist the trophy.

Remember that Stanford lost to Texas on their home court. I don't think that matters to much with top teams. Stanford was awesome in the first half. Too bad they couldn't duplicate that in the 2nd.

 

[GoUconn7961]

In the past few years every time I thought UConn would win it all, they didn't.
I don't voice those thoughts out loud any longer.

Jinx.

 

[GoChips20]

While the likely overall #1 seed, I don’t at all think SC is a prohibitive favorite. With that said, I do think they have played, and thereby beaten, the teams they’d realistically face in the Final Four and beyond: UConn, Stanford, NC State, Maryland.

As an aside, I suppose you could extend that to “or will play” to include Georgia and Tennessee.

South Carolina relies heavily on defense and rebounding - two elements that travel and will win you a lot of games. And I understand that over the course of a game, there’s a usual regression to the mean, but sometimes a team just gets hot and stays that way. If Stanford had shot the ball in one of the last two quarters anywhere near the way they shot the ball in the first two, SC doesn’t come back in that game, I don’t think.

What I’m saying is that SC needs improved coordination and efficiency on the offensive end of the floor to complement its defensive protection. Without it, you risk another defensively-competent team (really any of those I mentioned, even Maryland) outscoring you on a given night.

There’s not much use in conjecture around Carolina’s title odds but I do think there are several horses in this race this season.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

I want to believe that but w/o Paige playing, I think the loss to them earlier is going to psyche out the Huskies in January. Unless our seniors are playing like seniors by then.

The January game isn't that important...and we can be pretty sure there will be no Paige... the game, IF it all works out, that will matter most will be in March/April.

 

[Ron and Vida]

I can see SC getting to the FF undefeated. No one in the SEC has a snowball's chance of beating them. Boston is this year's A'ja Wilson - everything goes her way...

I can't believe that I am posting this about SC but they looked pretty mediocre in the first half and then played a third quarter that is reminiscent of UConn from not so very long ago.

I loved the coaching and style of play of Stanford in the first half.
Just like the Huskies at their best.
Win or lose it was beautiful to watch

 

[Gamecockfan77]

This particular game is unlikely to ever happen again.

Stanford is pretty unlikely to get an 18 pt lead not to blow.

Cooke and Jones will probably play better.

Someone else could get hurt or be in a funk.

A single game doesn't tell you much and isn't necessarily even an vague indicator of what the future matchup looks like.

Stanford can rebound with South Carolina and get shots. They have a lot of problems with Henderson. Those are the two consistent things in the two matchups.

Those might not even be the case next time.

 

[bballnut90]

SC is the clear #1 team in the country right now but far from beatable. As others have noted, the key is getting their players to play their best at the end of the season. The last couple of years Dawn and Co. have done well at peaking at the right time, we'll see if they can follow suit this season.

If I'm an SC fan, the last thing I'd want though is to enter the tournament undefeated. I dont think the added pressure (ever) helps, especially when this team has some weaker points and areas of vulnerability.

 

[BBallF]

Definitely SC's title to lose, especially if the refereeing is of the same poor reticent quality which clearly favors the more physical team.

 

[Viet Vet]

Chill. Three months until March Madness.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Carolina could lose a conference game. Even the greatest Tennessee teams rarely went through an SEC season undefeated.