SCs title to lose? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

SCs title to lose?

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
LoTrader said:
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.
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They will not have these two teams “equal favorites.”
 
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.
 
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ReadR00ster said:
Henny is by far the best player this years draft she should be the number 1 pick by a large margin.
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
LoTrader said:
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.
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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.
 
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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.
 
Centerstream said:
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.
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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. :););)
 
Centerstream said:
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.
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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
 
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.
 
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.
 
Definitely SC's title to lose, especially if the refereeing is of the same poor reticent quality which clearly favors the more physical team.
 
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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.
 
Like the late Dennis Green said...


dennis.gif
 
visitingcock said:
Uhm. UConn ain’t dead yet.
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No, but South Carolina is the team to beat. You guys have looked very, very good. If this was your first go round at a championship, I would say that that is a tougher burden than most people think, but Dawn Staley is a good coach who has been there before.

It ain’t over til it’s over, but the Gamecocks are the front runners. Hopefully will be able to take a little of that pressure off you the next time we meet.
 
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South Carolina is the clear favorite but I wouldn't go so far as to say they are a "prohibitive" favorite or that it's theirs to lose.

Their have been UConn teams that have been bigger favorites and lost. There are several teams that could beat them if they put it all together. They will be tested starting at the Elite 8. They are the single biggest favorite but I don't think they are over 50% to win the title.

I suppose a lot depends on whether Paige comes back and how effective she is if she does. If she comes back at even 90% that muddies the picture by re-introducing UConn as another legit title threat.
 
Orangutan said:
South Carolina is the clear favorite but I wouldn't go so far as to say they are a "prohibitive" favorite or that it's theirs to lose.

Their have been UConn teams that have been bigger favorites and lost. There are several teams that could beat them if they put it all together. They will be tested starting at the Elite 8. They are the single biggest favorite but I don't think they are over 50% to win the title.

I suppose a lot depends on whether Paige comes back and how effective she is if she does. If she comes back at even 90% that muddies the picture by re-introducing UConn as another legit title threat.
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Totally agree. The 17-18 UConn team in particular had to be a heavier favorite than this Carolina team would be.

Many have said Paige is likely out for the year, but I’m not so sure — even if she’s predicted to return in February and doesn’t come back until March, you could still play her in the tournament. Her freshman season didn’t count against her eligibility and you’re not keeping Paige in college six years so I’m not sure what would hold her out unless she’s there’s true concern over her health and readiness.
 
Orangutan said:
South Carolina is the clear favorite but I wouldn't go so far as to say they are a "prohibitive" favorite or that it's theirs to lose.

Their have been UConn teams that have been bigger favorites and lost. There are several teams that could beat them if they put it all together. They will be tested starting at the Elite 8. They are the single biggest favorite but I don't think they are over 50% to win the title.

I suppose a lot depends on whether Paige comes back and how effective she is if she does. If she comes back at even 90% that muddies the picture by re-introducing UConn as another legit title threat.
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I think NC State and Stanford, at this moment, are the only teams capable of beating South Carolina
 
Too early to crown SC.
UCONN was even or a better team for 2.5 quarters but there are 4 quarters in a game.
I’m not sure that UCONN will be healthy enough this year to make a run on them.
But I will say that falling way behind and needing to come back is a bad habit for SC get in to.
It works until it doesn’t.
Couple of injuries.
Foul trouble for one player in particular will cause them problems.
Lotta games to play before-sh... er stuff happens.
I do believe that SC is vulnerable.
Stanford can beat them.
UCONN (healthy) can beat them.
NC is a good team.
Maryland is a good team.
“That’s why they play the games...)
 
Stymie said:
s.
I do believe that SC is vulnerable.
Stanford can beat them.
UCONN (healthy) can beat them.
NC is a good team.
Maryland is a good team.
“That’s why they play the games...)
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Come on man..... let's hope a certain poster doesn't see this :eek:
 
Stymie said:
Too early to crown SC.
UCONN was even or a better team for 2.5 quarters but there are 4 quarters in a game.
I’m not sure that UCONN will be healthy enough this year to make a run on them.
But I will say that falling way behind and needing to come back is a bad habit for SC get in to.
It works until it doesn’t.
Couple of injuries.
Foul trouble for one player in particular will cause them problems.
Lotta games to play before-sh... er stuff happens.
I do believe that SC is vulnerable.
Stanford can beat them.
UCONN (healthy) can beat them.
NC is a good team.
Maryland is a good team.
“That’s why they play the games...)
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A great defending Championship team with Griner was odds on favorites to repeat.
Then they ran into Louisville, one of the great upsets.
 
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