South Carolina (25) @ Purdue - 12/16/18

[sivad40]

Well ND only had one championship before this past April..... and most people considered them to be an elite program.

Louisiana Tech has three championships, so are they elite? Was Duke considered to be elite when Coach G was there? Why is Miss St. is considered to be elite by some but they don't consider SC elite even though SC has more success in the same time frame when Miss St. became elite?

 

[Shades]

Unfortunately I agree with you. I expect MSST toughest SEC game to be at SC. We seem to have a tough time beating SC especially when we play them at Columbia.

Pssst.... they don’t have Aja Wilson anymore

 

[SCspur]

Unfortunately I agree with you. I expect MSST toughest SEC game to be at SC. We seem to have a tough time beating SC especially when we play them at Columbia.

I think we’ll have A tough time in Starkville as well but I just wanted to assure everyone that no matter how good or bad either team is, everything including the past records goes out the window. Miss St and SC is now a true rivalry.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Its been amazing to watch South Carolina and miss st's programs dramatically evolve over the recent years. Dawn and Vic have done wonderful jobs. Both programs will be the cream of the crop in the SEC for the foreseeable future.

Miss St is definitely on the ups with better recruiting these past two years and the addition of some big transfers. The transfer from Ole Miss will be big for Vic next season along with Rickea Jackson. Vic usually gets the most out of his kids and has worked with less talented rosters than others.

South Carolina will be back, its just gonna be one of those years they will have to grind it out, some big guns are on the way with this stacked recruiting class. Boston and Amihere will be problems for a lot of teams.

SCspur, question, why has SC struggled so much with 3 point shooting? There are some talented kids, just a bit stumbled by many shoot the 3 ball for such a low percentage.

 

[JordyG]

Well ND only had one championship before this past April..... and most people considered them to be an elite program.

How many FF's and finals did Muffet make before winning her 2nd championship? How many times did UConn deny them a finals berth or another championship? Nevertheless, I too like the way Dawn is doing things at SCar. She was smart to institute an option offense this year and build toward the future. She learns as her charges learn. Just smart BB by building dividends for the future. Option offenses win championships. Period.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Well ND only had one championship before this past April..... and most people considered them to be an elite program.

True. But I don't think it was solely due to their national championship. By that token, Maryland and Texas A&M would be "elite" programs.

 

[shiverz45]

I think SC has become an elite program but does not have an elite team as of right now. Although the trophy case is light I see MSST as being elite. Over the past 4 years I would say UCONN, Notre Dame, SC, MSST, Louisville, Maryland and Baylor. I based it on national titles, Final 4s, and conference championships(regular and tournament).

 

[DefenseBB]

Elite is a “now” term that exhibits excellence. It can be sustained like UConn’s 23 year run since 1995, or shorter like MSU two FF’s these past 2 years. You need to be a top team in your conference year in year out, be dominant nationally and a top 5 team in 1 of 5 years, top 10 team 3 of 5 years and top 20 in the other year. No more than 8 elite teams exist.
To me, the current elite programs are:
UConn, ND, Baylor, SC, MSU, Stanford, Louisville and Maryland.

Programs that are still relevant but no longer elite (or not yet) are Tenn, Duke, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and OSU.

Again, this is a subjective view,

 

[SCGamecock]

I saw all the games, including the medal round in person. USA won because of Stewie, Diana, Sue, Tina, Britney, et al. USA struggled in exhibition games against Canada and Japan. I was not impressed in Dawn's coaching in those games, or any games for that matter. The experienced players gave kudos to Dawn. Were they being sincere or politically correct? We may never know.

So basically what you’re saying is Team USA won because the very good players played the game?

I mean, sure. The very good players usually play the game in these situations.

In all honesty, it’s really not hard to coach Team USA.. Dawn has said this. They are professionals. You’re not coaching fundamentals or how to play. You’re coaching a game plan to beat your opposition and the players on Team USA are just THAT good to execute any game plan.

What’s considered a good coaching job is mostly subjective if we’re only looking at a series of wins.

 

[SCGamecock]

How many FF's and finals did Muffet make before winning her 2nd championship? How many times did UConn deny them a finals berth or another championship? Nevertheless, I too like the way Dawn is doing things at SCar. She was smart to institute an option offense this year and build toward the future. She learns as her charges learn. Just smart BB by building dividends for the future. Option offenses win championships. Period.

I was talking to a lower level small college (not sure the division) coach recently about SC’s struggles and she said basically this. No, I don’t think it’s a throwaway season... but SC is changing up everything we’ve done offensively for the last 5 years. This is a learning year for the players and coaches in my opinion.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Pssst.... they don’t have Aja Wilson anymore

Enjoy our losses this season because help is on the way next season.

 

[DefenseBB]

Tennessee isn't winning the SEC with Holly as the HC.

I don't care how much talent she has

Well, she has already won the SEC twice so you might be off in your perspective.
There is also the prospect that this years team has so much raw talent and the SEC is way down in talent that the Lady Vols could win the conference despite Holly

 

[DefenseBB]

So basically what you’re saying is Team USA won because the very good players played the game?

I mean, sure. The very good players usually play the game in these situations.

In all honesty, it’s really not hard to coach Team USA.. Dawn has said this. They are professionals. You’re not coaching fundamentals or how to play. You’re coaching a game plan to beat your opposition and the players on Team USA are just THAT good to execute any game plan.

What’s considered a good coaching job is mostly subjective if we’re only looking at a series of wins.

Umm, NO, JUST NO! You need to look no farther than what the NBA players struggled with until they assigned Coach K to take them. Coaches are the difference makers to get a team to play together.

 

[JordyG]

I was talking to a lower level small college (not sure the division) coach recently about SC’s struggles and she said basically this. No, I don’t think it’s a throwaway season... but SC is changing up everything we’ve done offensively for the last 5 years. This is a learning year for the players and coaches in my opinion.

And when that new class hits the campus all that she and her charges have learned will be applied next year and every year after. You can't be a team with an offense stuck in amber like Holly or Aston who's playing a double post for Budda's sake. Now if someone like say Mulkey or Brenda bit the bullet they and their great recruiting classes would actually contend. Plus Dawn schedules a much tougher OOC than the other four. Smart woman.

 

[Jmsdawg]

Its been amazing to watch South Carolina and miss st's programs dramatically evolve over the recent years. Dawn and Vic have done wonderful jobs. Both programs will be the cream of the crop in the SEC for the foreseeable future.

Miss St is definitely on the ups with better recruiting these past two years and the addition of some big transfers. The transfer from Ole Miss will be big for Vic next season along with Rickea Jackson. Vic usually gets the most out of his kids and has worked with less talented rosters than others.

South Carolina will be back, its just gonna be one of those years they will have to grind it out, some big guns are on the way with this stacked recruiting class. Boston and Amihere will be problems for a lot of teams.

SCspur, question, why has SC struggled so much with 3 point shooting? There are some talented kids, just a bit stumbled by many shoot the 3 ball for such a low percentage.

I realize your question was for SCspur but I would like to comment. I believe both SC and Mizzou are both having problems adjusting to a new offense. Both of those coaches are strong advocates of Positionless BB, I saw Marquette play that style against MSST and it was great BB but it takes unique players and teamwork plus you must be HOT from 3 point land for it to really click. That style has not really been established at SC or Mizzou and I believe that is part of the problem both teams have experienced. UCONN has used positionless BB for a while with success but they have the players and teamwork to pull it off.

 

[Go/huskies]

Enjoy our losses this season because help is on the way next season.

Herbert Harrigan has been one of the more consistent players for South Car all season, do you think she will remain a start or be moved to the bench in favor of Boston and Amihere? If I was Dawn I would go small and start Amihere and Herbert Harrigan, bring Boston off the bench.

 

[SCGamecock]

Herbert Harrigan has been one of the more consistent players for South Car all season, do you think she will remain a start or be moved to the bench in favor of Boston and Amihere? If I was Dawn I would go small and start Amihere and Herbert Harrigan, bring Boston off the bench.

Herbert-Harrigan is such an enigma to me. She could be so good but she just doesn’t have a consistent enough motor.. sometimes she gives minimal effort and this team depends on her way too much for that.

Offensively she’s great, she can shoot and attack the basket but her confidence wavers and she second guesses herself. Hence, the enigma. She’s a mismatch but I’m not sure if she knows it.

 

[Jim R]

Umm, NO, JUST NO! You need to look no farther than what the NBA players struggled with until they assigned Coach K to take them. Coaches are the difference makers to get a team to play together.

"Coaches are the difference makers" - truer words have never been spoken!

 

[Dillon77]

Well ND only had one championship before this past April..... and most people considered them to be an elite program.

True. But I don't think it was solely due to their national championship. By that token, Maryland and Texas A&M would be "elite" programs.

Does not get in the way of the main points of your posts, but we Irish treasure the few championships we do have....ND has won two (2) and the second one was even in this century (barely) in 2001. Somewhat appropriate for this thread because they beat Purdue. That Irish team was led by a frew of ND's favorite daughters -- Ruth Riley, Niele Ivey and Alicia Ratay, who could fire away from three with the best of them (heck, she was one of the best of them).

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Enjoy our losses this season because help is on the way next season.

Hope so. It's nice to have you pesky folks around.

 

[DeeHusky]

I see a lot of ppl don’t think Miss St is good. I thought that last year until they went to the final four. They have a good coach who can get more done with less talent. The epitome of “Hard work beats...” — I would NOT count them out.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Herbert Harrigan has been one of the more consistent players for South Car all season, do you think she will remain a start or be moved to the bench in favor of Boston and Amihere? If I was Dawn I would go small and start Amihere and Herbert Harrigan, bring Boston off the bench.

I got Boston as much more likely to get starting minutes than Amihere.

Dawn does what she does with lineups so anyone's guess who she will end up actually starting the games, particularly early on.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I see a lot of ppl don’t think Miss St is good. I thought that last year until they went to the final four. They have a good coach who can get more done with less talent. The epitome of “Hard work beats...” — I would NOT count them out.

You didn't think Miss State was "good" last year?

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Herbert-Harrigan is such an enigma to me. She could be so good but she just doesn’t have a consistent enough motor.. sometimes she gives minimal effort and this team depends on her way too much for that.

Offensively she’s great, she can shoot and attack the basket but her confidence wavers and she second guesses herself. Hence, the enigma. She’s a mismatch but I’m not sure if she knows it.

She doesn't really have the feel for knowing when to go and when not to go.

I don't think she wants it very bad.

 

[Plebe]

Although Te’a Cooper has led the team in scoring, Dawn has apparently concluded that her hero ball has come at the expense of the team. Against Purdue she came off the bench and, though she played about 20 minutes, seemed to be on a leash of sorts.

 

[SCGamecock]

She doesn't really have the feel for knowing when to go and when not to go.

I don't think she wants it very bad.

My #1 problem with her as a player. And it’s fine to be that way at most programs, but not SC, and there comes a point when youre a hindrance to your team. Dawn is extremely patient with her players, too patient at times IMO... but she’s the coach. She sees these players more in a week than I will in my life probably. I digress.

 

[DeeHusky]

You didn't think Miss State was "good" last year?

I didn’t until February/March came around and they were still winning. I really, truly believe Vic is a good coach. The first time they went to the final four it was a totally different team than last year. Now they have a totally different team this and they still seem to be performing well. The only talent he has had was Victoria Vivians and look what he’s done. I don’t underestimate this guy at all.

 

[oldude]

I didn’t until February/March came around and they were still winning. I really, truly believe Vic is a good coach. The first time they went to the final four it was a totally different team than last year. Now they have a totally different team this and they still seem to be performing well. The only talent he has had was Victoria Vivians and look what he’s done. I don’t underestimate this guy at all.

There is one constant = Tiera McGowan.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I didn’t until February/March came around and they were still winning. I really, truly believe Vic is a good coach. The first time they went to the final four it was a totally different team than last year. Now they have a totally different team this and they still seem to be performing well. The only talent he has had was Victoria Vivians and look what he’s done. I don’t underestimate this guy at all.

I don't think it was that different.

Morgan William, Vivians, McCowan were all returning starters.

Holmes, Schaeffer, Johnson were contributors.

 

[DeeHusky]

I don't think it was that different.

Morgan William, Vivians, McCowan were all returning starters.

Holmes, Schaeffer, Johnson were contributors.

Have you seen the Geno quote, “..just because you getting the players back doesn’t mean you have the same team?” McCowan’s breakout year was this past year; she didn’t do much her sophomore year. Holmes, Shaeffer, and Johnson only started one year after barely playing the year before. He took all those players and made them a Nat’l runner up two years in a row. The first time they went they also had Dominque Dillingham and Breanna Richardson. Each year they’ve had completely different identities. With Vic being a defensive guy, his teams do a helluva job on offense. Dawn needs to take a page out of his book if you ask me. Yes, she’s beaten him a lot but all of those matchups were won because Miss St seem intimidated by them from my point of view.