South Carolina Preparing For UConn ...Again

[VA Huskie]

77-56 sounds reasonable to me. But I'm curious as to what our USC fans think? Do you see the Gamecocks as having a chance? Do you expect a blowout? What say you? I get really nervous before games like this. Yes, UCONN is better, on paper. But a really psyched team in front of 18,000 screaming fans. Refs as a wildcard. Anything can happen.

 

[VAMike23]

UCONN by 12

71-59

 

[TheGOAT23]

I love, love, love that video-Geno is THE MAN! I'm going with UConn 82 SC 59. I also predict that after this game, many in the media will start asking this question, "Is this the all-time greatest women's BB team"? I believe the answer is yes-however, we know that that question can't be answered until the first week in April. Go Huskies-what a fun season this has been so far

IMHO, UConn's 2000-2001 team is the all time greatest WCBB team. That roster included Shea Ralph, Svetlana Abrosimova, Diana Taurasi, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones, Kennitra Johnson, Kelly Schumacher, Ashley Battle and Maria Conlon.

The starting 5 of Bird, Taurasi, Cash, Jones, and Williams is regarded as the best starting 5 in women's college basketball history by many.

 

[SCGamecock]

77-56 sounds reasonable to me. But I'm curious as to what our USC fans think? Do you see the Gamecocks as having a chance? Do you expect a blowout? What say you? I get really nervous before games like this. Yes, UCONN is better, on paper. But a really psyched team in front of 18,000 screaming fans. Refs as a wildcard. Anything can happen.

To be honest, it's really difficult for me to get a grasp on this game because nobody knows which SC team is going to show up and who's going to have the hot hand. If we get scoring from everybody, inside with Coates and Mitchell/outside with Roy, Mitchell, Sessions, Cuevas, then this game will be close. Our inside game is REALLY clicking right now. I expect UCONN to collapse the paint because of that. Our guards will have ample opportunity to hit outside shots and drive inside... will they execute and take advantage? That's a different story. You already know that UCONN is going to show up but SC hasn't been consistent offensively the entire year. SC will be fired up.. but even if they're fired up they still have to execute. UCONN will execute. SC is questionable.

UCONN winning by 15 wouldn't surprise me but neither would SC winning by 5. I have confidence this team will compete but I still don't know if they'll be able to score with UCONN. I predict a 15 point win for the Huskies.

My prediction? Something along the lines of 75-60 UCONN or 80-65 UCONN.. I obviously hope SC wins but I'm being realistic.

 

[jsloanjr]

UCONN's pressure defense is too tough for USC..........KY, almost beat them last night at home.......UCONN is a totally different animal than USC has seen this season........Look for the knock out punch early...UCONN 77 USC 48

 

[CocoHusky]

The starting 5 of Bird, Taurasi, Cash, Jones, and Williams is regarded as the best starting 5 in women's college basketball history by many.

2014 Team of Dolson, KML, Hartley, Stewie, MoJeff was better IMO because it featured a lineup of 5 players everyone of which had Multiple All American seasons.

 

[HoopsFan21]

2014 Team of Dolson, KML, Hartley, Stewie, MoJeff was better IMO because it featured a lineup of 5 players everyone of which had Multiple All American seasons.

How could Mo have had multiple AA seasons as that was only her second year? I don't recall her making an AA team her freshman year, but maybe.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Yes. Some of us are going to be there. I have read something about the possibility that there may be some construction around the Colonial Life Arena -- construction that may make it difficult to find parking. Is that correct? Do you have any suggestions about where to park?
[I'd be happy to discuss parking options through the PM system]

If you're spending the night, the smartest thing to do would be to stay within walking distance of the arena. There are plenty of hotels in the Vista and Main Street areas of downtown. If you have to park, I'd park in the Convention Center garage on Pendleton at Lincoln, the garage on Lady at Lincoln or the USC garage on Pendleton at Pickens, which has a shuttle to the game if it's too far for you to walk. There is a lot of construction around the arena and Greene Street is closed due to streetscaping/plaza/apartment construction. There is plenty of on-street metered parking north and east of the arena, but it's a workday so likely scarce. Here's to an exciting game.

 

[CocoHusky]

How could Mo have had multiple AA seasons as that was only her second year? I don't recall her making an AA team her freshman year, but maybe.

I'm projecting where Mo will be come graduation obviously. Mo was an AA last year for the first time and the Liberman award winner. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying she will accomplish both again this year. Do you?

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

77-56 sounds reasonable to me. But I'm curious as to what our USC fans think? Do you see the Gamecocks as having a chance? Do you expect a blowout? What say you? I get really nervous before games like this. Yes, UCONN is better, on paper. But a really psyched team in front of 18,000 screaming fans. Refs as a wildcard. Anything can happen.

I think we have a chance as long as Tiffany is healthy and we're hitting outside shots. There will be a lot more students that at a typical WBB game so it should be pretty loud. I know the students picked up all 4000 of their tickets. In comparison, students picked up about 1500 tickets for the Kentucky game out of a crowd just over 15,000. I think it will be a very close game that can go either way. Your biggest advantage is foul shooting in a close game, but it will be interesting to see how your younger players deal with the crowd.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I'm projecting where Mo will be come graduation obviously. Mo was an AA last year for the first time and the Liberman award winner. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying she will accomplish both again this year. Do you?

I agree, but you said the 2014 team was the best, so I don't see what projections have to do with it.

 

[Aluminny69]

After watching last year's game at UConn, here are my PROS for SC:
1. Home court advantage.
2. KML was a BIG factor last year. She's gone.
3. Tuck was a BIG factor last year. She looked rusty against Tulane, and only played 16 minutes. Hopefully, she will do great on Saturday.
4. UConn did not play any freshmen last year. (meaningful minutes I mean.)
5. Coates and Wilson play more than last year.

PROS for UConn.
1. They are the far superior team.

Nuff said.

 

[meyers7]

View attachment 11936

Love it, make sure you have a suit and tie, and a dress and heels for the apocalypse.

 

[CocoHusky]

I agree, but you said the 2014 team was the best, so I don't see what projections have to do with it.

In order to opine best starting 5 in women's college basketball history I projected 2 months from now to say that 2014 starting five would have included every starter being a Multiple time AA. Can the same be said for the 2001 team or any other starting line up in NCAA history?

 

[HoopsFan21]

After watching last year's game at UConn, here are my PROS for SC:
1. Home court advantage.
2. KML was a BIG factor last year. She's gone.
3. Tuck was a BIG factor last year. She looked rusty against Tulane, and only played 16 minutes. Hopefully, she will do great on Saturday.
4. UConn did not play any freshmen last year. (meaningful minutes I mean.)
5. Coates and Wilson play more than last year.

PROS for UConn.
1. They are the far superior team.

Nuff said.

My guess is South Carolina puts all their effort on controlling the interior and stopping Tuck and Stewie. They will challenge Mo, Kia, and KLS to beat them which could be a tall order given streaky shooting by KLS and a less offensively minded Kia. Felt a lot more comfortable about last year's game since it was at home, and if we ever needed points because the lane was clogged up, we had the Lewis Launch in our back pocket which proved invaluable.

 

[VA Huskie]

I've heard Stewie, Tuck and others say that games like this are why the came to UCONN. The crowd will certainly fire up the Gamecocks, but it won't bother us at all.

 

[HoopsFan21]

I've heard Stewie, Tuck and others say that games like this are why the came to UCONN. The crowd will certainly fire up the Gamecocks, but it won't bother us at all.

I agree. The South Carolina board says this will be the loudest game this UConn team has ever played in which will be a big factor because UConn never plays road games and has never experienced a loud arena before.

 

[JoePgh]

I happened to catch an interview that someone did with A'ja Wilson and Tiffany Mitchell that was shown last night during the Kentucky game. A'ja said something approximately as follows: "That UConn game last year showed us a whole different level of basketball than anything we had seen up to that time. You can watch them on film, but you don't realize it until you are dealing with it. So we will have to put on our big-girl pants when we play them next week."

Although, as I recall, they played Tennessee and Notre Dame after UConn last year, I suspect A'ja really meant to say "before or since" the UConn game. That is a pretty candid commentary on how the SEC competition shapes up in comparison to UConn.

Having said that, I thought that the Wilson-Coates high-low game against KY last night was quite impressive. I don't remember Coates having that much mobility -- is that something that she has developed recently? I wonder if she will now be able to guard Morgan Tuck more effectively than she did last year. If Morgan can move around her with as little difficulty as she did last year, the game won't be any closer than it was last year.

On the other hand, while the visual impact of watching the game was that the Gamecocks were slaughtering KY, the score remained close until almost the end. I'm still not quite sure how that happened, but SC did have several long scoring droughts at several points in the game. Maybe that is the consistency issue that was referred to above.

I am thinking that Geno may decide to have Samuelson / Collier share the defensive duties of guarding A'ja, thereby allowing her to have a good number of points but keeping Stewie out of potential foul trouble. Stewie could guard Sessions or Roy, but basically stay near the paint to swat shots that get past the other defenders. At the offensive end, I think Stewie will be able to get A'ja in foul trouble if the referee-ing is not too biased in favor of the home team (and I don't think it will be).

 

[Wally East]

IMHO, UConn's 2000-2001 team is the all time greatest WCBB team.

It's a great collection of talent. But all-time great teams don't lose three games in a season regardless of the reason.

 

[Farney]

but it will be interesting to see how your younger players deal with the crowd.

To me this is the real key. I think the big names on both sides will be steady and respond as you'd expect. What I'm not sure about is whether the youngsters, especially KLS. We are asking a freshman to play very important minutes and based on the recent rotation she will be in big spots. I think we will see more Saniya than we have lately but ultimately it may come down to whether KLS, Phee, and Gabby can respond in a big game.

 

[PalPa]

If we lose on Saturday it might relieve some of the pressure for Monday's game.

 

[Sonny44]

IMHO, UConn's 2000-2001 team is the all time greatest WCBB team. That roster included Shea Ralph, Svetlana Abrosimova, Diana Taurasi, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones, Kennitra Johnson, Kelly Schumacher, Ashley Battle and Maria Conlon.

The starting 5 of Bird, Taurasi, Cash, Jones, and Williams is regarded as the best starting 5 in women's college basketball history by many.

Certainly it was the best eleven.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Looking forward to Monday's game but not with Dave O'Brien. Tired of hearing the 5' 10" forward out of Sparks Nevada repetitive crap. Do some homework buddy. You have a great TV voice but you got to change it up a bit. Bring back Mike Patrick. UCONN by 12.

 

[cabbie191]

I think we have a chance as long as Tiffany is healthy and we're hitting outside shots. There will be a lot more students that at a typical WBB game so it should be pretty loud. I know the students picked up all 4000 of their tickets. In comparison, students picked up about 1500 tickets for the Kentucky game out of a crowd just over 15,000. I think it will be a very close game that can go either way. Your biggest advantage is foul shooting in a close game, but it will be interesting to see how your younger players deal with the crowd.

I hope Mitchell is fully recovered - it'll be great to see both teams at close to full strength go at it.

And I'm tickled that you have a sell-out! And that you won't have a snow storm to muck things up! Last year I drove from Wisconsin to see the game, only to get stuck in Hartford and not be able to make the last part of the journey!

 

[nd2tty]

South Carolina has to limit the turnovers and limit UConn's ability to score in transition. In the half court, how much will UConn's perimeter ball pressure and length affect SC's ability to enter the ball to the posts? If UConn hits 3s consistently, it could get real ugly. If not, 10-15.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I hope Mitchell is fully recovered - it'll be great to see both teams at close to full strength go at it.

And I'm tickled that you have a sell-out! And that you won't have a snow storm to muck things up! Last year I drove from Wisconsin to see the game, only to get stuck in Hartford and not be able to make the last part of the journey!

It's not supposed to snow, but it does snow here on occasion. When I moved here from New Jersey in 3rd grade I brought my sled with me and everyone laughed... until we had a 16" snowfall in Columbia that winter.

 

[uconnell]

Looking forward to Monday's game but not with Dave O'Brien. Tired of hearing the 5' 10" forward out of Sparks Nevada repetitive crap. Do some homework buddy. You have a great TV voice but you got to change it up a bit. Bring back Mike Patrick. UCONN by 12.

Please,please no Mike Patrick, can't stand him.

 

[SCGamecock]

It's not supposed to snow, but it does snow here on occasion. When I moved here from New Jersey in 3rd grade I brought my sled with me and everyone laughed... until we had a 16" snowfall in Columbia that winter.

From 2010-2012 we had a big snowfall (by southern standards) every year, usually in January or February. 2010 was my freshmen year at SC.. I think we had about 9 or 10 inches. We had an extra week of winter break..

The following February in 2011 we had another big storm.. I remember going to work (at Columbiana Mall) and there was no snow on the ground but by the time I left (roughly 7 hours later) I was unable to find my car..

 

[Replicant]

UConn fans may hate me for saying this, but you can take a good intramural boy's team that can play at least as well as UConn. Sorry, but I'm old school, so, until UConn beats a good boy's intramural team, that's my belief.

Just when we thought you couldn't possibly stoop any lower...you go and completely redeem yourself with this jewel!

 

[Replicant]

Question to all of the yarders:
Who do YOU think will have the most pressure on them come BIG MONDAY?
UConn or South Carolina?

To quote a great TN alum..."Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing" - Peyton Manning
UConn knows just like Bo knows!