SEC 25-26
- Thread starter Vowelguy
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Not ready to move Caldwell’s team above Mulkey’s over the course of a full SEC season.
Nice list. Here are my initial thoughts.
1. High praise for Tennessee. I like what they did in the portal but will that elevate them to a top 5 sec team.
2. Can Ole Miss take the next step as a program? Like to being a top 12 team, a team that host the first week. I think they got some steals in the portal but they lost so much.
3. I think LSU is sooo interesting. Fulwiley and Koval, plus there freshman class is pretty big time. I'd probably put them ahead of Tennessee and Oklahoma.
4. I hope Vandy can build on their season last year. I hope they can get Heckel.
5. I actually think Kentucky can be pretty good next year. Dominika Paurova is coming back. They still have Teonni Key and Clara Strack. I think Jordan Obi gets a chance to play. Additionally they got Tonie Morgan in the portal
1. High praise for Tennessee. I like what they did in the portal but will that elevate them to a top 5 sec team.
2. Can Ole Miss take the next step as a program? Like to being a top 12 team, a team that host the first week. I think they got some steals in the portal but they lost so much.
3. I think LSU is sooo interesting. Fulwiley and Koval, plus there freshman class is pretty big time. I'd probably put them ahead of Tennessee and Oklahoma.
4. I hope Vandy can build on their season last year. I hope they can get Heckel.
5. I actually think Kentucky can be pretty good next year. Dominika Paurova is coming back. They still have Teonni Key and Clara Strack. I think Jordan Obi gets a chance to play. Additionally they got Tonie Morgan in the portal
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- SC
- Texas
- LSU*
- Tennessee
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma*
- Vandy
I just don't see it with Oklahoma. Maybe I'm discounting them because of how bad they looked in what's likely an awful style matchup with South Carolina, but they strike me as a team that runs over bad to good opposition, struggles with very good to great. I expect the league to be deeper at the top next year and an Oklahoma team that lost four of their top six to suffer for it.
ConnecticutBB
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Has Heckel visited Vandy yet?
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I do think the quality of coaches is vastly improved over the beginning of the decade. They seem to be bringing a lot more talent in too.
It’s a much different on than that which Dawn owned in 2000 with two seniors and a bunch of talented but inexperienced frosh.
It’s a much different on than that which Dawn owned in 2000 with two seniors and a bunch of talented but inexperienced frosh.
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1. SC
2. TX
3. Tenn
4. Oklahoma
5. Lsu
6. Kentucky
7. Ole Miss
8. Vandy
Bold predictions:
2. TX
3. Tenn
4. Oklahoma
5. Lsu
6. Kentucky
7. Ole Miss
8. Vandy
Bold predictions:
- Kim Caldwell will win SEC COY
- Ta’Niya Latson will win SEC POY
- Larry Vikers will have Auburn above .500 in conference play
- SEC Freshman of the Year will come down to Aaliyah Chavez, Mia Pauldo, Ayla McDowell, or Sania Richardson.
- Strack will repeat as DPOY (if Ashlyn Watkins redshirts)
Fulwiley SEC player of the year? I think she will either play Mulkey style or be benched. Fulwiley has never played "Mulkey style" basketball in her life. Dawn gave her a leash to incorporate her game into the South Carolina type offence. I don't think Mulkey will give her any leash beyond the first few games. Mulkey/Fulwiley is not a match made in heaven and could very well be a match made in hell.
WBBTakeover
"They put me through IT, but imma stick by them!"
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I agree with most of this. However, I can't see Auburn finishing above 0.500 in conference with their current squad. It's tough to win SEC games, as we saw with Tennessee (8-8), Vandy (8-8), and Mississippi State (7-9) last season (and, to me, those teams either were more talented throughout the roster or had more top-end talent). I do, however, see them being competitive enough to reach 0.500 overall.
My bold prediction is that Chavez averages 20 ppg and wins Freshman of the Year going away. My other award predictions (Latson POY, Dawn COY) aren't really that bold.
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The SEC never disappoints. I can see South Carolina and Texas finishing like they did last season, 1-2. LSU will be right in the mix. The rest of the field is open. Oklahoma could be a problem and challenge for that top in the SEC. In the words of the great Kevin Garnett.....
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I like Vikers approach and I think he had a decent roster to do so. He already beat two SEC teams last year and has played a lot of them in the past. That’s why I said it was bold because I knew many wouldn’t agree with me lol. Dawn may win COY but we know voters fatigue. Latson is undeniable imo. If Booker won it last year I can definitely see her taking it this year.
1. SC
2. Texas
3. OU
4. TN
5. Ole Miss
6. Kentucky
7. LSU
8. Vandy
Drop off rest
SC, TX, OU and TN improved their rosters
LSU downgraded not adding an elite talent or players who fit their teams needs. Still no PG, no quality bigs or a bench. Mulkey has been trending downhill with her coaching lately.
Vandy could be higher if pieces come together. Shae has been elevating her teams and they have been getting better each year
2. Texas
3. OU
4. TN
5. Ole Miss
6. Kentucky
7. LSU
8. Vandy
Drop off rest
SC, TX, OU and TN improved their rosters
LSU downgraded not adding an elite talent or players who fit their teams needs. Still no PG, no quality bigs or a bench. Mulkey has been trending downhill with her coaching lately.
Vandy could be higher if pieces come together. Shae has been elevating her teams and they have been getting better each year
I watched a number of LSU games last year and I’m not sure what the “mulkey style” is
imho they were totally undisciplined offensively
Never really ran offense
williams is out of shape and just played hero ball jacking up three-pointers
The team seemed to be poorly coached, and the star players were not held accountable at all
Certainly not her Baylor squads. currently LsU her teams are horrible and poorly coached. She needs to retire.
Her only success is 100% because of Angel Reese
WBBTakeover
"They put me through IT, but imma stick by them!"
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I appreciate the analysis! However, I can't see LSU finishing lower than 4th (maybe tied with Oklahoma) IF there are no chemistry issues/distractions.
The "Mulkey style" has evolved to 'the person on the floor making the most mistakes gets benched". That will be Fulwiley if she plays the game her way. Fulwiley is either making bad passes (and sometimes great passes) or being a showoff for the camera. She is a great 'individual' player but not even a good 'team' player. She ran the show in high school but couldn't contain herself at South Carolina. It will be more of the same at LSU.
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I disagree, mostly. Kim knows how to win with the talent she has. But as a developer of talent, she doesn’t seem very effective. She knows how to use great players to win, but her track record in building talent seems less impressive especially since she came to LSU. Reese, Morrow and Flau’jae are good examples. They were great when they arrived and didn’t really grow much once there. Flau’jae has another season to become even greater, I suppose. But she still seems more or less the same brilliant kid she was three years ago.
D
But the others I agree
Flaujae is definitely much better than when she was as a freshman imo. She was very inconsistent as a freshmen at times and on defense and has become more well rounded. Her decision making is still questionable at best and can be a ball hog
But the others I agree
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I don't think there is another level to unlock with Morrow or Reese. Morrow because she has maxed out her potential as a 6 foot post, Reese because you can only lead a horse to water.
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I kind of agree with Morrow. She needs to work hard at becoming a wing or she'll be out of the W in 2 years. There was a moment against the Mystics that I think will be very emblematic of her time in the league. She was perfectly positioned for a rebound off of a missed free throw, but the defender on her back just pluck the ball from over her head her like she wasn't there.
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If she needs a playbook to follow, she should look at Naz Hillmon. Slightly taller, but has found ways to make herself invaluable. Drafted well after others like Kirsten Bell but getting much more playing time and responsibilities. Maybe some time overseas will help, like it did Hillmon in her past two seasons in Australia.