South Carolina & the QUEST FOR 100

[BroadwayVa]

I have No Comment on that game, until the SMU game is over and until Tony C has issued his opinion. At that time I will just 2nd Tony C's official statement

Brilliant prediction!! Smart move!

 

[BroadwayVa]

This is a fascinating statistical comparison, but I think you do have to account for the fact that the quality of opposition in conference play is higher for South Carolina than for UConn. For the season as a whole, however, the quality of the opponents may be fairly comparable -- I frankly don't remember who the Gamecocks played in their out-of-conference schedule (other than Duke).

I agree that the starting lineup won't change, but I wouldn't be surprised if Butler gets more than her usual number of minutes, as she did against Baylor and Texas. As I've previously noted, she seems to play better against bigger opponents whose style is similar to hers, and Coates certainly fits that description. I think Butler, with some help, may be able to neutralize Coates and to score against her. But a bigger problem for South Carolina is to choose someone whom Coates can guard when UConn's starting 5 are on the floor -- any one of them can drive past her without breaking a sweat. She could try to camp out under the defensive basket and just be a backstop, but that means one of UConn's players will be left open to take jump shots, and I don't think Dawn would be comfortable leaving any of them open.

My observation is that when a small, fast team like UConn plays its game, a big/slow player like Coates can easily be a liability at both ends, but especially at the defensive end. I remember that with Stef Dolson a few years ago when UConn played a small/fast Georgetown team. In the Sweet 16 game, Stef was taken out for the last 10 minutes of the game, because she wasn't helping and Lorin Dixon was playing well.

As a coach/strategist, I would rather have Geno's team facing South Carolina than Dawn's team facing UConn. Dawn's challenges will be greater than Geno's.

I think Uconn right now 1 through 7 has had more quality oOC games than USC and beat them by a greater MOV. I like your observations and conclusions--
I too remember the Georgetown game --with a befuddled Stef--and an intense Geno. Sugar got her normal points--I wish I could remember the two GT players that dragged Step into the basket --and the other dropped 3's . Their smaller post really wore Stef out. Lorin Dixon--had one of her better games in that one--she had 3 memorable games and this was one of them. Thanks for the memories!!!

 

[BroadwayVa]

I think Geno has the core 4 and #5 already working hard on driving, faking, and hesitating underneath early and often in the first quarter forcing Coates and Wilson to engage our speed. AC and AW should amass a fair number of blocks ..and fouls.

​

Your can't bring fouls home with you--got to use them wisely in games!! I too expect them to swat at nearly every thing Uconn throw up in the 8 to 0 ft range. Katie Lou will wear a Gamecocks full length coat for at least the first half. Chong will be double teamed as much as she may allow them. But it is near impossible to stop 5 players at the same time.

 

[BroadwayVa]

After watching "Geno Auriemma Show", I watched last years game against South Carolina. I got so excited, and all I could do was laugh. The only questions I have are, who guard who? I know they do a lot of switching. Do they concentrate on Coates and Wilson, and make Gray and Davis beat them?

Geno will front Davis and Wilson and try to keep them from getting the ball--as he did with Griner. Gabby and Napheesa stay low---keep them busy outside of the arc and try to limit 3's. They should out rebound Uconn --uconn should out score them--Geno will gladly take 3 three's than 4 2's

 

[SCspur]

Geno doesn't change his starting lineup. That would be counterproductive.

To slow down Coates and Wilson, deny the entry pass. Press SC's guards to dribble even more than they do. Don't forget, Geno nd company have been stressing getting in the passing lanes to distrupt the opponent. This also leads to steals and the UConn fast break.

SC's guards are irratic as best. Their 3 point shooting is not a major threat.

Lou needs to find her stroke for the 3. But more important, Lou needs to make th cut & curl to the foul line for that sweet jumper. That will be the dagger for SC.

Just wanted to make a few points...
Gray, Davis and even Cuevas-Moore are shooting the ball much better as of late. Davis at 6'2" has the speed and athleticism to play KLS. the difference in the game will be foul trouble and SC does foul more but I also think SC will go small a lot in this game and play Gray at the 4. I think the smaller lineup matches up really well with UCONN.

 

[Carnac]

I think Geno has the core 4 and #5 already working hard on driving, faking, and hesitating underneath early and often in the first quarter forcing Coates and Wilson to engage our speed. AC and AW should amass a fair number of blocks ..and fouls.

​

Exactly Java. If you can't beat 'em, sit them down with foul trouble.

 

[Carnac]

Absolutely correct; Coates especially might give up before half time.

One thing we know for sure, their bigs will give out before ours do.

 

[oldude]

Just wanted to make a few points..
Gray, Davis and even Cuevas-Moore are shooting the ball much better as of late. Davis at 6'2" has the speed and athleticism to play KLS. the difference in the game will be foul trouble and SC does foul more but I also think SC will go small a lot in this game and play Gray at the 4. I think the smaller lineup matches up really well with UCONN.

I agree that SC may be a better team if they go small, but in the biggest game of the year, I don't know how Dawn can ask Coates & Wilson to platoon with each other.

 

[TitleTown]

Collier-Coates
Williams-Wilson
Samuelson-Gray
Nurse-Davis
Chong-Harris

 

[oldude]

I honestly believe that if the game is played with UConn's best vs SC's best at Gampel, the Huskies win by double digits. The wild card is foul trouble, and that is a double-edged sword as both teams have had key players sit with foul trouble this season.

 

[bags27]

So many good observation. I esp. like HuskyFan1125's point that if Pheesa can sometimes initiate her offensive moves from outside (including a couple of jumpers), that will really stress the defense.

 

[Dougie]

OK guys. ESPN is talking about it. The sportswriters are writing about it. Even Geno addressed it on the latest edition of his show. So I lifted this thread title from a Sports Center segment this morning (Quest for 100), and it’s time for the BY to address the SC game and the QUEST FOR 100.

I know it’s a little disrespectful to Travis Mays and the Mustangs to start talking about 100 when UConn has yet to secure 99, but in all honesty SMU will put up about as much resistance on Saturday as an old beach house facing a tidal wave. The good thing about facing SMU prior to SC, is that the Mustangs are just about the only team in the AAC with real size. They can go 6’3”, 6’5” & 6’6” up front and will be able to challenge UConn’s inside shooting and contest rebounds at both ends. In effect, SMU is the perfect tune-up game for SC.

Boneyarders tend to worry a bit about challengers to the Huskies esteemed position at the top of WBB. So here you go. More than any other team that the Huskies have faced or will face this season, SC creates the most challenging matchup problems for UConn. IMO, they have the two most active and talented BIGS in the country in Coates & Wilson. They have a wealth of talented players including the two transfers, Gray and Davis, both of whom are star players in their own right. SC is going to pound the ball inside against the Huskies on offense, clog the lane with their bigs on defense and play tough man-to-man defense on UConn’s outside shooters.

So how does UConn pull out a victory against the imposing Gamecocks? Here are a couple thoughts on the question:

SC has faced some very good teams this year, but they’ve not faced a team that plays defense like UConn, and SC can struggle at times on offense. The Huskies will challenge every shot and create havoc in the passing lanes. When faced with a strong defensive effort, SC’s offense can become almost constipated. Players stop moving and cutting. They stop passing the ball and their offense degenerates into a series of one-on-one efforts.

While I and many others believe that the Gamecocks have the ability to upset the Huskies, what is far more important is, “Do the Gamecocks really believe they can beat the Huskies at Gampel?” SC has never beaten UConn. Two years ago, SC came into Gampel as the #1 team in the nation and got blown out 87-62. Last year, before a sellout crowd in Columbia, the Huskies controlled the game winning comfortably 66-54. At the end of both games Dawn looked somewhat distressed and a little bewildered at the outcome. Does this Gamecock team believe they can do something that no other team has done in a very long time? Because if they don’t believe, when the Huskies go on a run during the game, as they surely will, the Gamecocks will find it difficult to respond.

It should be one hell of a game on Monday night.

I love your description of SC's sometimes constipated offense. But I'll take it one step further and say that after a few quarters of running with UCONN, they will be downright "exhaustipated"- too tired to give a #!

 

[Bigpetunia]

I like our chances.

So do I...and I'm looking for a Baylor-like game from Crystal! SC will not be able to run with this team.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

The outcome depends on which Kaela Davis is shooting that night.

 

[HoopsFan21]

How quickly do Collier and Gabby pick up their second foul? That's the achilles heel.

 

[stwainfan]

The outcome depends on which Kaela Davis is shooting that night.

Davis is a very talented player. How do you think she has played this year?

 

[Los24]

Just wanted to make a few points..
Gray, Davis and even Cuevas-Moore are shooting the ball much better as of late. Davis at 6'2" has the speed and athleticism to play KLS. the difference in the game will be foul trouble and SC does foul more but I also think SC will go small a lot in this game and play Gray at the 4. I think the smaller lineup matches up really well with UCONN.

Wanna bet who comes out better from the Davis vs KLS matchup? Larry Bird almost always faced a more athletic defender....

 

[SCspur]

Davis is a very talented player. How do you think she has played this year?

I personally think she has played well as far as becoming team oriented and realizing s she's not the only star anymore but as far as shooting percentage goes... I think she could be better. Sitting out a year has not done well for her shooting but as of late she and Gray are finding their groove in the offense and that's going to be big heading into the tourney. I really wish she stays for another year, as you can see she is becoming much better on the defensive end and you must be able to play defense in the WNBA to make a roster. Her defense against Vivians and even DeSheilds was good. If she can play some valuable defense on KLS then I except her to do really well.

 

[SCspur]

Wanna bet who comes out better from the Davis vs KLS matchup? Larry Bird almost always faced a more athletic defender...

Compare how much you want but she is not Larry Bird... yes she is VERY good but is she unguardable?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

 

[Los24]

Compare how much you want but she is not Larry Bird.. yes she is VERY good but is she unguardable?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I'm really trying to be objective. Who has shut her down? I just can't recall a game. Even when she has struggled recently (2 games) she is still getting good looks and dropping 20 points.

 

[SCspur]

I'm really trying to be objective. Who has shut her down? I just can't recall a game. Even when she has struggled recently (2 games) she is still getting good looks and dropping 20 points.

No one has shut her down but as some one stated earlier in the thred South Carolina holds their opp near the same average UCONN does so your not going up against any ordinary team defensively.
-Against FSU she was guarded by Maria Conde 6'1"... has height but definitely not in the same league as Samuelson.
-Against Baylor she was guarded by 6'2" Alexis Prince.... basically the same height and prince has a very long wingspan and even though she had 16 points I didn't think she "went off"....
-Against Notre Dame she was guarded by 6'0" Jackie Young... and as good as Young is this match up screamed MISMATCH.. also Young is probably ND best perimeter defenders so they were doomed from the start.
-Against Texas she was guarded by LaShann Higgs and Brianna Taylor both 5'9"... Taylor is actually a good defender and gave Samuelson fits in the beginning but her foul trouble kept her out the game and Higgs has speed but lack of height got her ate up agaisnt KLS on the curl screens.
-Against Ohio St she was guarded by Sierra Calhoun 6'0" and Linnae Harper 5'7" ... Ohio St isn't even a defensive team so I don't know why I even made a point for them LOL... but she absolutely dominated the matchups AND WHY IN THE WORLD WAS HARPER GUARDING HER???
-Agaisnt Maryland she was guarded by Kristen Confroy 5'9" and Kaila Charles 6'1" ... bad matchup from the beginning Confroy is known just for shooting so I don't know why frese would put her on KLS... Charles is a very good freshman but she didn't matchup well either and thus led her to dominating the game.... EVEN AFTER THE THREW UP ON THE SIDELINE!!
-Agaisnt SC she'll most likely be guarded by Kaela Davis 6'2" and Allisha Gray 6'0" both are very capable defenders and matchup very well with KLS.. Davis with the same height and length would probably be used to contest her shots and her post ups, while gray would be used to face guard her( if needed) and test her handling abilities.

Now I'm not saying by any means that they'll shut her down but I'm betting they would do a better job then the other teams ( with the exception of Baylor's Alexis Prince) defending her and limiting her touches and shot attempts.

 

[hoophuskee]

Just wanted to make a few points..
Gray, Davis and even Cuevas-Moore are shooting the ball much better as of late. Davis at 6'2" has the speed and athleticism to play KLS. the difference in the game will be foul trouble and SC does foul more but I also think SC will go small a lot in this game and play Gray at the 4. I think the smaller lineup matches up really well with UCONN.

 

[hoophuskee]

No one has shut her down but as some one stated earlier in the thred South Carolina holds their opp near the same average UCONN does so your not going up against any ordinary team defensively.
-Against FSU she was guarded by Maria Conde 6'1".. has height but definitely not in the same league as Samuelson.
-Against Baylor she was guarded by 6'2" Alexis Prince... basically the same height and prince has a very long wingspan and even though she had 16 points I didn't think she "went off"...
-Against Notre Dame she was guarded by 6'0" Jackie Young.. and as good as Young is this match up screamed MISMATCH.. also Young is probably ND best perimeter defenders so they were doomed from the start.
-Against Texas she was guarded by LaShann Higgs and Brianna Taylor both 5'9".. Taylor is actually a good defender and gave Samuelson fits in the beginning but her foul trouble kept her out the game and Higgs has speed but lack of height got her ate up agaisnt KLS on the curl screens.
-Against Ohio St she was guarded by Sierra Calhoun 6'0" and Linnae Harper 5'7" .. Ohio St isn't even a defensive team so I don't know why I even made a point for them LOL.. but she absolutely dominated the matchups AND WHY IN THE WORLD WAS HARPER GUARDING HER???
-
Now I'm not saying by any means that they'll shut her down but I'm betting they would do a better job then the other teams ( with the exception of Baylor's Alexis Prince) defending her and limiting her touches and shot attempts.

This isn't true at all. Lou missed a layup. On another play it was Atkins that reached in.

 

[SCspur]

This isn't true at all. Lou missed a layup. On another play it was Atkins that reached in.

I think you need to go watch the replay... Taylor stayed with Samuelson and denied her the ball a lot and even when she did get the ball out on the perimeter Taylor dared her to dribble and she hesitated and when she did Taylor poked the ball got the steal and forced KLS to foul her.

 

[SCGamecock]

I would be surprised if Coates and Wilson are on the floor together for a large portion of the game on Monday.. they start together, play a few minutes then the rotation typically starts. Then they start the 2nd half together... unless Coates and Wilson on the floor together proves to be some kind of significant mismatch you won't see it for long stretches. Wilson will likely play 35+ minutes if foul trouble doesn't get in the way. Wilson can definitely play an entire game, she has already this season.

UConn will get drives to the basket in this game. Our interior defense has been a nuisance the entire season. Our guards are tall, athletic and long... they are much better perimeter defenders in my opinion. UConn is also very long and stringy with KLS, Collier, and Gabby.. so I can see them occasionally sagging down on our post players to deny the entry pass, which is the key.. don't let the pass happen because if it does it's going to be either 2 points or foul shots.

UConn will be UConn. We already know what they're going to do.. they're not going to change anything all of a sudden for SC. The key to SC keeping this game close or possibly winning will be the bigs staying on the floor and whether we can get anything offensively from Gray, Davis, Cuevas-Moore. SC has to move the ball around and reverse it if needed.. if we fall into stagnation and start forcing entry passes then I can definitely see this going the way of the Duke game where literally every entry pass we made was turned over by Duke.

 

[hoophuskee]

I think you need to go watch the replay.. Taylor stayed with Samuelson and denied her the ball a lot and even when she did get the ball out on the perimeter Taylor dared her to dribble and she hesitated and when she did Taylor poked the ball got the steal and forced KLS to foul her.

I think you need to watch it again. UCONN was going after Texas's big players in the 1st half. They had an immobile center and a freshman. Taylor did not "dare" her to dribble. There is NO REASON for Lou TO Dribble. You're making it a point that Lou doesn't dribble much vs a 5'9 player as if that has meaning. IMO it doesn't. She poked the ball away ONCE from Lou. So that qualifies for giving Lou "fits?"

Why would you think Lou needs to dribble vs a 5'9 quicker player? Does it mean that it makes Lou worse for being smart and just using her size to shoot over her? When Taylor poked the ball away from Lou that one time, another time Atkins poked the ball away, another time Lou missed a layup, in the 2nd half Lou misses a 3poitner then a minute later drills one, and then sticks a jumper off a pick, how do you intepret all of this as "Taylor denying Lou the ball?" You realize a good pick - you're not going to deny Lou the ball right? Especially when you are only 5'9.

 

[SCspur]

I think you need to watch it again. UCONN was going after Texas's big players in the 1st half. They had an immobile center and a freshman. Taylor did not "dare" her to dribble. There is NO REASON for Lou TO Dribble. You're making it a point that Lou doesn't dribble much vs a 5'9 player as if that has meaning. IMO it doesn't. She poked the ball away ONCE from Lou. So that qualifies for giving Lou "fits?"

Why would you think Lou needs to dribble vs a 5'9 quicker player? Does it mean that it makes Lou worse for being smart and just using her size to shoot over her? When Taylor poked the ball away from Lou that one time, another time Atkins poked the ball away, another time Lou missed a layup, in the 2nd half Lou misses a 3poitner then a minute later drills one, and then sticks a jumper off a pick, how do you intepret all of this as "Taylor denying Lou the ball?" You realize a good pick - you're not going to deny Lou the ball right? Especially when you are only 5'9.

It's really not that deep but I was just recognizing good defense but I mean at some point she will have to dribble. she has the size and shooting for perimeter play but I would certainly make her put the ball on the floor and see if she can handle it as well as the other guards. Players like Kaela Davis, Alexis Prince and Diamond Deshields can make her put it on the floor because they are the same size and have the length to contest a lot of her shots.

 

[Kibitzer]

I think you guys should get some sleep or you get all tuckered out, then snooze through the Big Game on Monday.

 

[oldude]

I think SC and Davis will do a reasonable job defending Lou, but here's the problem. UConn doesn't play 1 on 1 basketball and they will get good shots for Lou regardless.

They will run her on the curl at the foul line where she is a deadly shooter. They will pull everyone out of the lane, flash her into the paint and feed her the ball in the low post where she doesn't miss. They will set a high screen at the arc will Lou will take a couple dribbles to run her defender into the screen and shoot an open 3.

Lou is not fast but she runs the court extremely well. On fast breaks before the defense can set up she will sprint to the basket or slide out to the arc where her teammates will get her the ball before the defense is set.

Finally, if Davis or anyone else overplays her when she has the ball, she is capable of putting the ball on the floor and with her long strides and Inspector Gadget arms, she is very good at driving to the basket and making a long scooping layup with either hand.

TX, ND & MD all defended Lou well for a qtr or even a half, but eventually she was able to get her shots and score.

 

[huskeynut]

It's really not that deep but I was just recognizing good defense but I mean at some point she will have to dribble. she has the size and shooting for perimeter play but I would certainly make her put the ball on the floor and see if she can handle it as well as the other guards. Players like Kaela Davis, Alexis Prince and Diamond Deshields can make her put it on the floor because they are the same size and have the length to contest a lot of her shots.

SCspur - we have a good discussion going. As to you comments on guards that can make Lou put it on the floor, that may come to pass. But know Lou can put it on the floor and drive the lane. She is faster than you think. Her long legs eat up a lot of ground per each stride. Also, Lou does rise up to get her shot off. Lou also does a great job of running her defender off a screen and being free to shot.

More important is the fact that UConn has 5 players that can score in double figures every night. Lou isn't the only one. UConn does not rely on a lot of one-on-one play to get shots off. Looking forward to an exciting game! Best to the Gamecocks.