South Carolina ver Arkansas

[MooseJaw]

View attachment 63739
Aliyah Boston posts a double double in the first half, imposes her will over the hapless Razorbacks.
The Gamecocks scored 62 points in the 2nd half. UConn will have their hands full on Feb 8.
Box score

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To underrate SC is very dangerous, while I believe we can beat them, any team that lets them get on a roll can be in deep trouble. Boston may not be up to mid season form yet but she is gaining steam and has the bulk and game to impose her will on the competition. A big plus for S.C. they are starting to hit from outside.
I am not a fan of the way they play the game but I realize they don't give a fig about how anyone else views them. It will be a battle for sure when we get to beat them, our speed, finesse and depth should get the job done.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Boston by a decent margin

Yep. ONO is what she is. Boston is already better with a ton more upside.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Having moved to South Carolina, interesting watching South Carolina play Arkansas on SEC Channel. Few points I'm sure Geno is aware of:

-Have watched 2/3 of the game and not seen Boston run the court once. Usually a slow trot. Gets gassed after 5 minutes. ONO likely to run her out of game. Clearly overweight but still had a double, double at halftime. Huge-outweighed her Arkansas defender by 50-60+ pounds and moves well on pick and rolls. Does not move on defense but if near the ball will block it.
-Much of SC's offense revolves around getting the ball inside to Boston or when she gets doubled, kicking out to open shooter. If we don't have to double Boston, did not see great SC ball movement.
-Midway through second half, Arkansas got cold but was getting open shots every time down the floor.

SC a good team, but having watched them a few times this year, not as dominate as in the past. Feel good about future match ups.

Hahahahaha. ok.

 

[BostonBay]

Again? Really?!? Honest question: do you think that Paige Bueckers has the potential to be a generational player?

As of now, I'd say there are 2 current players who are "generational" - transforming their positions that will impact the game for years to come. Boston is redefining the post player & Paige is transforming the guard position.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Nice one Hop!

I'm waiting on the full game reply on Youtube. From clips, Boston was unstoppable but Arkansas's defense was poor and they didn't have the size to deal with SC. SC shot over 50% from the field and from 3 pt land.

But if Arkansas can score 82, shouldn't we be able to get into the 90s?

Arkansas plays very fast, shoots it better than UCONN, takes a lot of threes, and doesn't play much defense.

Won't be nearly as many points scored in the UCONN/South Carolina matchup.

 

[Carnac]

Boston or ONO?

Ginger or Mary Ann? We’ve already answered that question. The consensus was that Mary Ann was ALWAYS the right answer. All you have to do now is figure out which one is Mary Ann.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Arkansas plays very fast, shoots it better than UCONN, takes a lot of threes, and doesn't play much defense.

Won't be nearly as many points scored in the UCONN/South Carolina matchup.

UConn leads the nation with a 53.5% field goal percentage ahead by 1.5% of the second best Missouri. Arkansas isn't even in the top 50 as far as I can tell, so how is it that they "shoot it better than UConn?"

 

[Gamecockfan77]

UConn leads the nation with a 53.5% field goal percentage ahead by 1.5% of the second best Missouri. Arkansas isn't even in the top 50 as far as I can tell, so how is it that they "shoot it better than UConn?"

Arkansas shoots almost 38% from three point range as a team.

UConn shoots 34%.

Arkansas easily has a better shooting team.

UConn is better inside and takes fewer threes. Which helps FG percentage overall. As does not facing quality defenses.

 

[JDuro]

Nice one Hop!

I'm waiting on the full game reply on Youtube. From clips, Boston was unstoppable but Arkansas's defense was poor and they didn't have the size to deal with SC. SC shot over 50% from the field and from 3 pt land.

But if Arkansas can score 82, shouldn't we be able to get into the 90s?

 

[HopJim]

I think you're on your own in calling her overweight/not well conditioned. Keep in mind Geno had Stef Dolson for 4 years who was never trim or fast up the court and she excelled.

Go back to pictures of Stef over her four years. Worked hard on conditioning. Not an accident she (and others) were able to turn the hard work into championships. If Boston is in such good shape, why does she never run?

 

[visitingcock]

Go back to pictures of Stef over her four years. Worked hard on conditioning. Not an accident she (and others) were able to turn the hard work into championships. If Boston is in such good shape, why does she never run?

You ever see Jabbar run?

 

[bballnut90]

Go back to pictures of Stef over her four years. Worked hard on conditioning. Not an accident she (and others) were able to turn the hard work into championships. If Boston is in such good shape, why does she never run?

Seems you're the only one who has that opinion on Boston in regards to conditioning/being overweight. I'd suggest you watch more of her games and footage.

 

[HopJim]

Her weight scale and I know the truth.

 

[Carnac]

To underrate SC is very dangerous, while I believe we can beat them, any team that lets them get on a roll can be in deep trouble. Boston may not be up to mid season form yet but she is gaining steam and has the bulk and game to impose her will on the competition. A big plus for S.C. they are starting to hit from outside.
I am not a fan of the way they play the game but I realize they don't give a fig about how anyone else views them. It will be a battle for sure when we get to beat them, our speed, finesse and depth should get the job done.

The thing that concerns me most about this game is ONO’s ability to stay in the game. If she doesn’t play smart, I can see her picking up 2 fouls in the first half, maybe the first quarter. If she gets in early foul trouble, who is going to guard Boston then, Edwards?

Gabriel is not an option yet, and Aubrey is too small. Geno will have no choice but to go zone. As long as ONO is in the game and is productive, we should be ok.

If she gets in first half foul trouble and has to sit for an appreciable amount of time, and Boston goes off, UConn could possibly fall so far behind, they may not be able to catch up.

 

[jazz]

I think you're on your own in calling her overweight/not well conditioned. Keep in mind Geno had Stef Dolson for 4 years who was never trim or fast up the court and she excelled.

I don't want to split hairs here but she doesn't run hard up the court and doesn't consistently move her feet well. Many times, she doesn't move her feet at all actually. She looked better last year to me. I've only seen two games but she seemed to be better physically this game than the other game I saw vs NC state.

 

[jazz]

thanks JDuro!

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I don't want to split hairs here but she doesn't run hard up the court and doesn't consistently move her feet well. Many times, she doesn't move her feet at all actually. She looked better last year to me. I've only seen two games but she seemed to be better physically this game than the other game I saw vs NC state.

Boston

19-20: 12.5 pt 9.4 reb 2.7 blk 1.0 ast .609/.182/.744
20-21: 14.3 pt 11.1 reb 2.7 blk 1.4 ast .500 /.333 /.700

Boston started slow this season, but her counting numbers are up across the board.

I think the shooting percentage is partially taking more outside shots and partially struggling against the novelty of sagging defenses earlier this year.

She wasn't really a throw it in and convert a basket against a double team post last season. And if you had to fault her defense last season it would have been getting out on shooters in help situations.

I think she's improved in both categories this season.

She's also expanded her game outside and is better off the dribble.

But again, she had a slow start as she and the team started to adjust to way they were being played. And maybe some COVID lag. Might as well throw that in.

 

[MooseJaw]

Boston

19-20: 12.5 pt 9.4 reb 2.7 blk 1.0 ast .609/.182/.744
20-21: 14.3 pt 11.1 reb 2.7 blk 1.4 ast .500 /.333 /.700

Boston started slow this season, but her counting numbers are up across the board.

I think the shooting percentage is partially taking more outside shots and partially struggling against the novelty of sagging defenses earlier this year.

She wasn't really a throw it in and convert a basket against a double team post last season. And if you had to fault her defense last season it would have been getting out on shooters in help situations.

I think she's improved in both categories this season.

She's also expanded her game outside and is better off the dribble.

But again, she had a slow start as she and the team started to adjust to way they were being played. And maybe some COVID lag. Might as well throw that in.

She can be scary good, as shown in the last couple of games. At times she doesn't need good footwork, if she is in even questionable position that's all she needs. It's impossible to move her or get around her going for position or rebounds.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

She can be scary good, as shown in the last couple of games. At times she doesn't need good footwork, if she is in even questionable position that's all she needs. It's impossible to move her or get around her going for position or rebounds.

Yeah, she's not fantastic catching and converting off an entry unless she can seal off the defender. She's so big and strong, she makes it work.

She does a lot of damage in motion. On the boards, or recently off the dribble.

they're getting her cleaner looks in sets too these days. I think her percentages will continue rising.

 

[Alydar]

Arkansas shoots almost 38% from three point range as a team.

UConn shoots 34%.

Arkansas easily has a better shooting team.

UConn is better inside and takes fewer threes. Which helps FG percentage overall. As does not facing quality defenses.

So how did the Gamecocks do against the only quality defense they have faced, NCSt? 27%fg, 17%3pt, and Boston was 4-14 against the only quality post she has faced.

I'm a huge Boston fan but the fact is that she hasn't had success against a quality post. I expect that she will but until then I'll leave my anointing oil in it's vase.

 

[bballnut90]

I don't want to split hairs here but she doesn't run hard up the court and doesn't consistently move her feet well. Many times, she doesn't move her feet at all actually. She looked better last year to me. I've only seen two games but she seemed to be better physically this game than the other game I saw vs NC state.

NC State was probably the worst game of her career, SC looked awful that game. Id suggest watching Kentucky highlights too since that was a big game recently. She's not a rim to rim post like a Brianna Turner but she hustles and isn't slow back defensively. She started out the season slow but is playing great the last few games as SC gels as a team.

 

[bballnut90]

So how did the Gamecocks do against the only quality defense they have faced, NCSt? 27%fg, 17%3pt, and Boston was 4-14 against the only quality post she has faced.

I'm a huge Boston fan but the fact is that she hasn't had success against a quality post. I expect that she will but until then I'll leave my anointing oil in it's vase.

Question...aside from Cunane, who are some quality posts in your opinion?

 

[Alydar]

Question...aside from Cunane, who are some quality posts in your opinion?

Ark's front line was 6'1 5'11 5'9. I can confidently say that there was only one quality post in the game.
I'm not criticizing Boston, I'm criticizing her fans' attempt to call the Arkansas game evidence of Boston's dominance in the post.

 

[bballnut90]

Ark's front line was 6'1 5'11 5'9. I can confidently say that there was only one quality post in the game.
I'm not criticizing Boston, I'm criticizing her fans' attempt to call the Arkansas game evidence of Boston's dominance in the post.

Right, but you said, "I'm a huge Boston fan but the fact is that she hasn't had success against a quality post."

So I'm wondering who you'd consider to be quality posts in WCBB?

 

[ConwayGmck]

Posters here constantly say Boston doesn't run. She's had many games this season where she's taken a rebound/loose ball/or retrieved a block she administered to an opponent, and drove the length of the court dribbling the ball and laid it up or stopped for a short mid-range jumper. Comments about Boston not moving or being left behind is flat incorrect.

South Carolina plays a more up-tempo offense than in past seasons, with the guards they utilize these days. Henderson is near Cuevas-Moore speed level but with more control. Cooke and Beal are runners, and even Saxton who is a 6-1/6-2 is top-level athletic that runs the floor. Boston is a 6-5 Post with a legit Post body-type. She's not a stretch 4 playing in a Post position. Some fabricated narrative being constructed here that she should be transformed into a slender stretch that can run with the guards in order to somehow become relevant as a top player in college is surprisingly (to me, for this site) uneducated thought process. I struggle to recall ANY legit posts in post's bodies able to do that - perhaps Alaina Coates who had coat-hanger shoulders a mile wide but below that the slender body of a stretch 4, but again her body type was not quite the same....

 

[nwhoopfan]

Again? Really?!? Honest question: do you think that Paige Bueckers has the potential to be a generational player?

Boston, Bueckers, and Fudd are all generational players...in the last 3 years. Maybe generational player doesn't mean what it used to.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

So how did the Gamecocks do against the only quality defense they have faced, NCSt? 27%fg, 17%3pt, and Boston was 4-14 against the only quality post she has faced.

I'm a huge Boston fan but the fact is that she hasn't had success against a quality post. I expect that she will but until then I'll leave my anointing oil in it's vase.

I guess we will just have to live in suspense as to whether a second team all American and national freshman of the year is good or not.

 

[jonson]

Sadly, acknowledging basketball success seems all too often a zero sum game for some posters on this board. Crediting Boston doesn't mean diminishing Ono--or any other player at UCONN, past or present. To me this is A'ja Wilson redux, or, to speak of my team, some of the comments above are reminiscent of the constant sniping at Sabrina Ionescu. Had Boston chosen UCONN and Ono South Carolina I have no doubt that, for some posters at least, the narrative would be reversed. Why not simply acknowledge that, even if not a "perfect" post by UCONN standards, whatever those might be, Boston is, in Geno speak, really really good.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

South Carolina has only faced four teams with defenses that were not in the top 75 per Massey.

It scored 100+ on all 4.

Massey says Gonzaga was the best defense USC has faced at 10. State at 18. SD at 24. Kentucky at 25.

NC State is a damn good squad. All the credit to them for that win. It'd probably be another low scoring tight one if they met up again. Shouldn't think it would be until the F4 though.

 

[Alydar]

I guess we will just have to live in suspense as to whether a second team all American and national freshman of the year is good or not.

Don't start with that stuff or show me where I even hinted at that. ONO tonight dominated her opponent. The opponent was over 6'1. I totally discount the game. It's the same for all elite posts, they dominate 95% of their opponents and the only true test is against another elite post. ONO hasn't faced one yet. Boston did and played a poor game. That's all I said.