South Carolina scored 7 points in the 1st Q

[SCGamecock]

No, that just looks like a team that's struggling against teams they should be beating fairly easily. Now I suspect your definition of miraculous is also quite unusual, even bizarre.

Says who? This belief that your MOV versus top 25 teams should be 20+ is absurd. We've won the games we're supposed to win thus far. I've literally seen only one team that's capable of winning in that way and that's UCONN. The huskies are one of the most disciplined teams I've seen in college basketball in general, men or women's. That UCONN system is in place and has been for 20+ years. SC is still finding its system. Just because SC is #2 you shouldn't expect them to play like UCONN. That was also already established in this thread.

Maybe one day we'll become that dominant program, but right now, we're just not there yet. We're still a scrappy blue collar team fighting for respect.

 

[toadfoot]

Says who? This belief that your MOV versus top 25 teams should be 20+ is absurd.

I dare you to find where I ever said any such thing. Are you claiming to be able to read my thoughts?

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

MSU just barely beat a bad SMU team. But they found a way to win by 2.

MSU also only lost by 6 at Texas.

 

[Tonyc]

UConn will embarrass SC.

 

[HoopsFan21]

UConn will embarrass SC.

Not sure about that. CoLA is a tough place to play. I'll be happy just to escape with a win.

 

[tony yusef]

Notre Dame held UConn to 63 in last year's title game and kept it competitive throughout. UConn could smack SC around this time too but I don't think it's a fait accompli.

What does Notre Dame holding UConn to 63 pts in the last years title game have to do with SC? If you didn't know, Notre Dame has proven they match up very well with UConn. They too can defend but more importantly are so good offensively they force you to defend them all over the floor. That will not be the case for SC....

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

What does Notre Dame holding UConn to 63 pts in the last years title game have to do with SC? If you didn't know, Notre Dame has proven they match up very well with UConn. They too can defend but more importantly are so good offensively they force you to defend them all over the floor. That will not be the case for SC....

You mean like when ND only scored 66 against USC in the Final Four last year?

 

[tony yusef]

You mean like when ND only scored 66 against USC in the Final Four last year?

What does that have to do with SC vs UConn?... Listen carefully, IN ORDER TO BEAT UCONN YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD OFFENSIVE TEAM, YOU HAVE TO HIT A QUANTITIVE AMOUNT OF 3'S AND HOPE UCONN HAS A BAD SHOOTING NIGHT, this of course is no secret.... I've seen this SC team struggle to score 60 pts against teams that UConn would put a 90 against. A low scoring night for UConn is 70pts, SC couldn't score 70 in 5 quarters. This is why they have to play better than they have all year long to hang with UConn, who after playing non- competitive teams in their conference will be salivating at the chance to strut their stuff against the #2 ranked team on their home floor. Obtw, who won that game where ND scored 66pts?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

What does Notre Dame holding UConn to 63 pts in the last years title game have to do with SC? If you didn't know, Notre Dame has proven they match up very well with UConn. They too can defend but more importantly are so good offensively they force you to defend them all over the floor. That will not be the case for SC....

It has to do with your comment that UConn can't be held to 60 points. Last year's final certainly was not an offensive game.

 

[TheGOAT23]

You don't think UCONN will pack it in versus SC? What do you think the defensive game plan is versus SC?

We've yet to play a game this season where the opponent hasn't packed it in the paint the entire game.

Maybe UConn will pack it in with 4 players and let Sessions beat them. Mitchell will be probably be face guarded by Mo. I watched most of the 2nd half of the S.C./ MSU game and I have to say that MSU's transition "D" was horrible when it mattered most. S.C. (Roy) did run the pick and roll with some success, but UConn does a good job of doubling the guard and rotating back to the "Bigs". More often than not, they don't let you pick and roll because they over play the pick. Glad that Dawn recruited girls from S.C. Hopefully, she will continue the trend.

I didn't make it to the game in Storrs (1hr 30 mins away) last season because of the snow and I heard that it's a nightmare trying to get off of campus after a game on a clear day. I wished I could attend the game at CLA on Feb 8th. I was born and brought up 40 mins away. I attended many Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus events at the Coliseum back in the 80's.

 

[UConnCat]

It has to do with your comment that UConn can't be held to 60 points. Last year's final certainly was not an offensive game.

I think it's best to separate championship games from regular season games, particularly when talking about foes who are very familiar with each other. Championship games tend to be lower scoring affairs. There's the pressure of the game itself which leads to the pressure to make shots. Every possession is contested. There are fewer turnovers and thus fewer opportunities to run which means fewer possessions and having to score against half-court defense. Again, add in the familiarity of UConn and Notre Dame and you have the two best offensive teams scoring 63 and 53 points, respectively. UConn scored in the 70s in 6 of its 10 championship games; the exceptions (in addition to last year's game) were 93 against a Louisville team that played little defense, 53 against Stanford (another example of game pressure) and 82 against Oklahoma.

Your point that started this back-and-forth was that SC's size and defense could "ugly the game for UConn." There certainly were moments in last year's blow-out UConn win when you could see UConn's post defenders struggle with Coates and Wilson. Remember, Kiah Stokes hardly played in that game even though many thought she'd be needed to contend with SC's size. As it turned out, Kiah wasn't needed. UConn was able to get out in transition a lot. UConn neutralized SC's size on defense by spacing the floor; SC's post defenders struggled defending Stewart and Tuck in space. KML was on fire. UConn was able to defend SC's size by keeping 4 defenders in the lane and SC's guards didn't make UConn pay for it.

I can't imagine UConn will defend SC's size much differently than last year though they won't have the luxury of ignoring Ibiam for 14 minutes. Kia and Moriah will defend Mitchell and Sessions/Roy/Dozier/Cuevas/Cliney will be given the opportunity to make perimeter shots. It'll be interesting to see how Dawn chooses to defend UConn. A less than healthy Tuck will make that job somewhat easier.

 

[SCGamecock]

Maybe UConn will pack it in with 4 players and let Sessions beat them. Mitchell will be probably be face guarded by Mo. I watched most of the 2nd half of the S.C./ MSU game and I have to say that MSU's transition "D" was horrible when it mattered most. S.C. (Roy) did run the pick and roll with some success, but UConn does a good job of doubling the guard and rotating back to the "Bigs". More often than not, they don't let you pick and roll because they over play the pick. Glad that Dawn recruited girls from S.C. Hopefully, she will continue the trend.

I didn't make it to the game in Storrs (1hr 30 mins away) last season because of the snow and I heard that it's a nightmare trying to get off of campus after a game on a clear day. I wished I could attend the game at CLA on Feb 8th. I was born and brought up 40 mins away. I attended many Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus events at the Coliseum back in the 80's.

If the game comes down to Sessions scoring then we're pretty much screwed. Sessions is best when she's asked to manage the game, not produce. In those situations, when Sessions does produce good things usually happen. Jefferson did a very good job of face guarding Mitchell last year, so Mitchell should expect more of that this year. UCONN's strength is their versatility, so many players that can do a thousand different things offensively and defensively. After playing UCONN last year, I wonder what Dawn's game plan is this year. It has to be something more than just dump it to the post, it's going to take much more than that to win a game versus UCONN.

I also appreciate the fact Dawn has recruited so many from South Carolina. I think that's one of the reasons her program has skyrocketed in popularity. She made herself known across the state then she went about and recruited girls from hometowns in every little corner of SC. The fans feel really attached to the program because they know the girls so well and have watched them grow up basically. Where in SC are you from?

 

[SCGamecock]

I think it's best to separate championship games from regular season games, particularly when talking about foes who are very familiar with each other. Championship games tend to be lower scoring affairs. There's the pressure of the game itself which leads to the pressure to make shots. Every possession is contested. There are fewer turnovers and thus fewer opportunities to run which means fewer possessions and having to score against half-court defense. Again, add in the familiarity of UConn and Notre Dame and you have the two best offensive teams scoring 63 and 53 points, respectively. UConn scored in the 70s in 6 of its 10 championship games; the exceptions (in addition to last year's game) were 93 against a Louisville team that played little defense, 53 against Stanford (another example of game pressure) and 82 against Oklahoma.

Your point that started this back-and-forth was that SC's size and defense could "ugly the game for UConn." There certainly were moments in last year's blow-out UConn win when you could see UConn's post defenders struggle with Coates and Wilson. Remember, Kiah Stokes hardly played in that game even though many thought she'd be needed to contend with SC's size. As it turned out, Kiah wasn't needed. UConn was able to get out in transition a lot. UConn neutralized SC's size on defense by spacing the floor; SC's post defenders struggled defending Stewart and Tuck in space. KML was on fire. UConn was able to defend SC's size by keeping 4 defenders in the lane and SC's guards didn't make UConn pay for it.

I can't imagine UConn will defend SC's size much differently than last year though they won't have the luxury of ignoring Ibiam for 14 minutes. Kia and Moriah will defend Mitchell and Sessions/Roy/Dozier/Cuevas/Cliney will be given the opportunity to make perimeter shots. It'll be interesting to see how Dawn chooses to defend UConn. A less than healthy Tuck will make that job somewhat easier.

Great analysis!

 

[TheGOAT23]

If the game comes down to Sessions scoring then we're pretty much screwed. Sessions is best when she's asked to manage the game, not produce. In those situations, when Sessions does produce good things usually happen. Jefferson did a very good job of face guarding Mitchell last year, so Mitchell should expect more of that this year. UCONN's strength is their versatility, so many players that can do a thousand different things offensively and defensively. After playing UCONN last year, I wonder what Dawn's game plan is this year. It has to be something more than just dump it to the post, it's going to take much more than that to win a game versus UCONN.

I also appreciate the fact Dawn has recruited so many from South Carolina. I think that's one of the reasons her program has skyrocketed in popularity. She made herself known across the state then she went about and recruited girls from hometowns in every little corner of SC. The fans feel really attached to the program because they know the girls so well and have watched them grow up basically. Where in SC are you from?

I'm from just outside of Orangeburg. My favorite Gamecock's basketball player was Jo Jo English. Played at L.R. High School with Stanley Roberts.

 

[SCGamecock]

I'm from just outside of Orangeburg. My favorite Gamecock's basketball player was Jo Jo English. Played at L.R. High School with Stanley Roberts.

It really is a small world. I know that area very well. I have a lot of family in the Holly Hill area and also over towards the St. George area. I'm from Charleston, but my parents would make me spend weekends out in the country with my grandmother. I love how rural it is in that part of the state... people still wave at cars passing by and strangers speak casually to one another. It really is another place in time.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Your point that started this back-and-forth was that SC's size and defense could "ugly the game for UConn." There certainly were moments in last year's blow-out UConn win when you could see UConn's post defenders struggle with Coates and Wilson. Remember, Kiah Stokes hardly played in that game even though many thought she'd be needed to contend with SC's size. As it turned out, Kiah wasn't needed. UConn was able to get out in transition a lot. UConn neutralized SC's size on defense by spacing the floor; SC's post defenders struggled defending Stewart and Tuck in space. KML was on fire. UConn was able to defend SC's size by keeping 4 defenders in the lane and SC's guards didn't make UConn pay for it.

This is all true, but UConn doesn't have KML or the game at home this year. Different environment, slightly different team. Last year Gabby basically didn't play which won't be the case in two weeks.

For the record, I'm not saying what will happen, just that it's not out of the realm of possibility that it could play out in a certain fashion.

 

[cbraarj]

They are going to make them run just like last year and spread the floor to isolate Morgan and Stewie.On defense on the ball pressure of the guards and when thrown in the post either weakside help or a guard doubling down.They probably full court them to try to force the running game.Man to man or a matchup 2-3 zone and full court 2-2-1 Imo.

 

[Carnac]

How nice it would be if USC could replicate those SAME efforts when UConn comes a calling on Feb 8. Somehow, I don't think will happen. Like Stanford last year, South Carolina will be "jacked up' and extremely motivated to take the floor, and wrest away the #1 ranking from the Huskies, as was done to them. You know Geno will have his team ready to play. This is the last marquee game left on their regular season schedule. A nationally televised game that most of WCBB will be watching. A battle of the titans. To the victor goes the spoils and the bragging rights.

I'm sure coach Dawn Staley has changed some things, added a new wrinkle or two, knowing that UConn is not your average team. Staley knows they must bring their A+ game, if they are to have any chance of winning this game. UConn on the other hand will go with the usual game plan: run the same plays with the same resolve and intensity, playing against the game and not USC. Keep your head down and your man in front of you. Play hard for 40 minutes, and don't look up at the clock or scoreboard. In short, do your job!!! Last year, Stewie said that early in the game, they realized that USC didn't want to run with them. We'll see if that dynamic has changed.

Other than playing on their home court, and having a frenzied raucous fan group numbering 18,000 + cheering them on, USC won't have any advantages, and will have their work cut out for them. They know they can not survive a 5 point quarter against UConn, and have any hope of winning the game. Everyone remembers the 25 point "whuppin' and the embarrassment they endured on national TV last year. They arrived in Storrs undefeated and ranked #1. The toast of WCBB. They left humbled, beaten and bowed. They also left their #1 ranking on the court.

To say that they want to balance that account would be putting it mildly. One thing is for sure. One of them will suffer their first loss of the season. I'm betting on UConn to emerge victorious. Except for Baylor, UConn will have played two of the top four ranked teams. IMO, I expect the current top 4 ranked teams to make it to the final four.

Things happen, but I don't see any of these top four getting beat enroute to Indiana. Notre Dame and UConn are locks. Baylor was defeated by Oklahoma State, but they are on a roll and look like they won't lose again before the tournament in March. I also don't see USC losing more than once before March.

NO one has figured out USC yet. They've had some close calls, which is why I'm not sold on their resiliency just yet. I could be wrong. There's still a lot of basketball to be played. I don't see any of the top four teams collapsing between now and the beginning of the tournament.

Other than watching UConn becoming fine tuned, there won't be much for their fans to look forward to after Feb 8, and the beginning of the NCAA tournament. This should be a very interesting and exciting tournament. I'd be OK if it started right after the South Carolina game.