SEC Tournament 2025

[packwrap]

I like your Bird/Magic thinking.

The only part I might differ with is that UConn would have been good without Strong.

Strong has anchored an otherwise fairly pedestrian frontcourt for UConn this year; playing both forward and center and leading team in rebounds, steals and blocks.

UConn could have survived without her, but might be 20-10, while the inexperienced frontcourt developed.

 

[bballnut90]

Heck of a game by Kitts. She has started to live up to the high school hype, and that's not an easy thing to do. I'm struck by how much stronger she is this year. Obviously put a lot of work in during the off season.

She made massive strides the previous off season too. Joined the 2022-23 team mid year, rode the bench and worked her butt off to beat out Watkins for a starting spot. Has worked her butt off again this past offseason. I’m not super sold on her as a WNBA prospect but she’s definitely improving her chances of moving up the draft boards next year.

 

[bballnut90]

Fudd was out and injuries are supposed to be taken into account. Plus, UConn has a better overall resume and metrics, and head-to-head is supposed to be taken into account when everything else is equal

*If rules are different for the women’s committee than the men’s, some of this may be inaccurate

Notre Dame was without Westbeld, so it should off set and credit UCONN gets for missing Fudd. If Notre Dame wins the ACC Tournament they’re safely ahead of UCONN. They have a better collection of wins and I think the stronger resume overall. If they lose to Duke, they might drop to the #6 overall seed. If they lose to NC State, it might be a toss up

 

[GamecockFam]

She made massive strides the previous off season too. Joined the 2022-23 team mid year, rode the bench and worked her butt off to beat out Watkins for a starting spot. Has worked her butt off again this past offseason. I’m not super sold on her as a WNBA prospect but she’s definitely improving her chances of moving up the draft boards next year.

I think she has similar traits and skills to Dearica Hamby. I could see Kitts having a similar professional career.

 

[JstVisiting]

I wouldn’t give up on 8/9 seeds being much more relevant to UConn interests.

…

You should be ahead of Notre Dame regardless.

 

[WBBTakeover]

OMG--this performance! chef's kiss Postseason Lay! Sania! Chlo! Tessa! BIG JOYCE (not the little)!!!! Maryam Dauda!

THIS version of the team has no peers. Sorry, y'all.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Dawn is spot on. Lay is an artist playing basketball. This is just--beautiful. My goodness--I am so excited for this run!

 

[WBBTakeover]

Yikes! Hope that Aneesah Morrow is okay.

This game <

 

[JstVisiting]

I’m old enough to remember when it was South Carolina’s fault LSU started fights.

 

[BRS24]

Morrow exits LSU's SEC loss with foot injury

LSU star Aneesah Morrow was helped off the floor during the third quarter of Saturday's Southeastern Conference semifinal loss to No. 1 Texas due to a foot injury.

www.espn.com

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Morrow exits LSU's SEC loss with foot injury

LSU star Aneesah Morrow was helped off the floor during the third quarter of Saturday's Southeastern Conference semifinal loss to No. 1 Texas due to a foot injury.

www.espn.com

Hoping it’s nothing serious. She’s a fantastic player.

 

[JellyBean]

I love watching SEC games, especially during the tournament! WOW!! That Texas/LSU game. It got intense!! LSU had just too many 1 v 5 plays down the stretch. Great win for Texas. I can't wait for the rematch between Texas and South Carolina today!!

 

[12au]

Mulkey said Morrow's good to go after the game. They were just being precautionary, she could've gone back in

 

[GamecockFam]

Ummm...I just watched Game day. Were shots just fired when Vic Schaefer used South Carolina's "Uncommon" theme to describe his team? Someone send that film to the team!

 

[WBBTakeover]

Ummm...I just watched Game day. Were shots just fired when Vic Schaefer used South Carolina's "Uncommon" theme to describe his team? Someone send that film to the team!

This dude is annoying. Win something first, Vic.

 

[JstVisiting]

My controversial SEC opinion is today is a chance to see this year’s POY match up with next year’s POY.

 

[BRS24]

A whole lotta meh here -

 

[Stagnant]

South Carolina suddenly looks really good again. And I think Texas has problems. Texas and Notre dame in the same boat atm for me. Neither playing well offensively.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

South Carolina suddenly looks really good again. And I think Texas has problems. Texas and Notre dame in the same boat atm for me. Neither playing well offensively.

South Carolina lost a tight game in Austin which probably should not and would not have gotten as much press if not for the shocking beating UConn put on them a few games later.

This game was very hopeful in that South Carolina was able to defend its boards and really cut down on its primary vulnerability. With that said, Taylor Jones still had a big day.

If South Carolina has this gear and confidence in the tournament it can win it again. But it still seems iffy to me, which is fine. My standard isn't being the undefeated, prohibitive favorites every year. Should be a fun last two weekends of basketball.

 

[bballnut90]

South Carolina suddenly looks really good again. And I think Texas has problems. Texas and Notre dame in the same boat atm for me. Neither playing well offensively.

I think Texas is fine--these conference tournaments are brutal and not typically the best representation of how a team plays. For Texas this was their 3rd game in 3 days, with less than 18 hours of turnaround time between beating a top ten LSU team and facing South Carolina on the road. I do think Texas was due for a loss considering they've had a fair number of squeakers in their 15 game win streak:
-4 point win vs. Tennessee
-3 point win vs. Ole Miss
-4 point win vs. South Carolina
-7 point win vs. LSU
-4 point win vs. Mississippi State
-7 point win vs. Ole Miss
-7 point win vs. LSU

Sometimes getting your butt kicked takes the pressure off and helps you regroup going into the NCAA tournament. I think losing in the conference tournament definitely helped both LSU in 2023 and South Carolina in 2022 regroup before they went on to win the championship.


Notre Dame I also think will right the ship and be okay, but losing 3 of their last 5 is a bad trajectory entering the tournament. If they can find their rhythm again, a matchup of South Carolina/Notre Dame could be an absolute bloodbath of an Elite 8 matchup.

 

[bballnut90]

South Carolina lost a tight game in Austin which probably should not and would not have gotten as much press if not for the shocking beating UConn put on them a few games later.

This game was very hopeful in that South Carolina was able to defend its boards and really cut down on its primary vulnerability. With that said, Taylor Jones still had a big day.

If South Carolina has this gear and confidence in the tournament it can win it again. But it still seems iffy to me, which is fine. My standard isn't being the undefeated, prohibitive favorites every year. Should be a fun last two weekends of basketball.

Regarding Taylor Jones--the game was effectively over when she finally got going. Feagin/Kitts won the front court battle today.

South Carolina definitely has the pieces to win it all again, but I think the keys are Sania Feagin and Milaysia Fulwiley. If Feagin can defend opposing bigs, hit from the high post and pass well to open players, South Carolina becomes absolutely lethal with better spacing and ball movement. It creates better catch and shoot opportunities and open lanes to attack the basket.

Fulwiley is also an x-factor because when she comes in with a ton of energy, it just ignites everything for South Carolina. She shot poorly today but I thought her effort and intensity were major reasons why SC created separation from Texas in the 2nd even if she wasn't the one knocking down shots. Playing in front of a hyped up home crowd helps too, but that wont be the case in regionals and the Final Four this year.

 

[JstVisiting]

…
Fulwiley is also an x-factor because when she comes in with a ton of energy, it just ignites everything for South Carolina... Playing in front of a hyped up home crowd helps too, but that wont be the case in regionals and the Final Four this year.

Maybe not Final Four, but I expect there will be a strong pro-Carolina crowd in Birmingham