South Carolina Preparing For UConn ...Again

[Sonny44]

Is SC better than MD? We beat MD by four really before the panic fouling at the end.
UCONN by 15.

 

[EricLA]

To me this is the same SC team as last year. UCONN for my money is a better, deeper team than last year. With far too many weapons. A team that has played a far tougher OOC schedule. Home court is an advantage, but UCONN by 20-25. Geno empties the bench in the last 5-8 minutes.

IMHO the only way Geno REALLY empties his bench is if SC does as well. Not because he wants to maintain a "lead", but because he wants to put his players in a position to succeed. If he has Chong, Butler, Williams, Collier and Samuelson in the game vs. SC's starters, that's not going to build the confidence of the bench.

 

[Gus Mahler]

OK, let's try this to make it interesting:

Winner is awarded a guaranteed #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Loser gets a #65 ranking and is required to play that pre-tourney "qualifying" game to earn a #16 seed. Game to be played against a boys' intramural squad.

I like your plural possessive.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

and that joint will be jumpin with 15,000+ fans. The energy level will be sky high.

The game against the Huskies will be the most spotlighted women's basketball game -- and perhaps women's sports event of any kind -- ever in the Palmetto state.

"We learned it was a different level of basketball, and they were in a different place as a team," Mitchell said of the takeaway from the Gamecocks' 87-62 loss at UConn last February. "We realized, 'What we're doing is not enough,' and I think that kind of refocused us as far approaching the rest of the season. We looked at the film and were like, 'Look at that!' We'd see the things that we didn't do and they did."

Sessions echoed that sentiment: That playing UConn last season was an invaluable experience in regard to really measuring where the Gamecocks were.

"I don't think we were ready. We thought we were, but we weren't," Sessions said. "You watch them on TV, and people say how efficient they are, and so you think you know that. But then when you're actually playing against so much efficiency, just being in that moment, it's really hard to do.

"They play so well together, and they have great players like Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson. From that game on, we thought that if we face UConn again, we want to see if we can do better against all the things they do well."

[MORE]

Actually, 18,000; the game is sold out.

 

[Aluminny69]

This is pure irrelevant and nonsense.

Taken out of context, like you did, then yes you are correct.

But, if you are looking for a team to help prepare SC for UConn, then my suggestion of a boys team makes sense. That is what Zorro asked....

 

[Hongster]

Taken out of context, like you did, then yes you are correct.

But, if you are looking for a team to help prepare SC for UConn, then my suggestion of a boys team makes sense. That is what Zorro asked....

I'm sorry old timer but this is how you wrote and it didn't sound like that at all.
See below in bold.

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.

 

[pacific 44]

Amazing.Everyone is predicting the exact same scores this year that were predicted for last year's Stanford game.With that in mind,Uconn by 12.

 

[MaineFan]

Are any of you Huskies fans going to the game on Monday?

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]

 

[Suebird10fan]

Is SC better than MD? We beat MD by four really before the panic fouling at the end.
UCONN by 15.

You can't go by any one game Sonny (as you well know). That's why it's not relevant that we beat OSU by 44 on their home court while SC struggled to a home court eight-point win.

My prediction: UConn 77-56. I think UConn is peaking at the right time and I'm expecting Bre and Mo to bring their A+ games.

 

[SCGamecock]

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]

This is true. USC is in the middle of downtown Columbia and there's a lot of development where the arena is. Parking is very scarce and traffic will be a nightmare about an hour before the game. My suggestion? Get there way early.. park in Discovery Garage and walk a few blocks north to the Vista, it's a bar and restaurant district. Have dinner and then walk back to the arena for the game.

There's also Horizon Garage a little farther away and metered street parking if you're lucky. There used to be ample lot parking around the arena but the University is turning all of those lots into student housing..

 

[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.