The coming battle for the National Championship

[Cuango]

This one's easy: They were clear underdogs against UCLA this season and it showed in their one matchup. Still, I take your point. Dawn's had many really dominant seasons, especially in recent years, but also several when the team wasn't ranked in the top-10. Here's a link to their ranking history, which probably tracks when they had to play as underdogs pretty well.

South Carolina Women's Basketball AP Poll History | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Check out South Carolina's Complete College AP Polls History and More About College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

www.sports-reference.com

Interestingly, during the Stewie years they were underdogs sometimes, and sometimes not, and Dawn still scheduled games with UConn despite this. They were as close to being equals when it was Stewie vs A'ja, and also when it was Moriah vs Bianca Cuevas and Tiffany Mitchell. But Stewie and Moriah typically won those matchups. Here's a highlight video from the best of those games, with SC ranked #1 and UConn ranked #2. This one includes some awesome Moriah highlights, including one around the 5:25 minute mark when Moriah takes a rebound baseline to baseline and beats everyone (including Bianca) down the court. Normally, you'd say a pass gets the ball down the floor faster than someone running with a dribble. But that wasn't always the case with Moriah, as on this day. [Also a sweet post move by Kiah at the 6:20 mark -- a baby hook She must have learned from Stewie.]

“Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine”

 

[JellyBean]

For me, on paper and because we are the defending champs, we (UConn) are the favorites. Then South Carolina. Followed by UCLA, Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma. South Carolina could be a problem, same with the other teams. So much just depends on how all the parts blend together. With South Carolina. They have a great coach in Staley and how she is able to get her bench players to buy in and play hard and produce. If Joyce Edwards and Chole Kitts develop their games just a little bit more and if Ashlyn Watkins comes back at 100%. South Carolina could be a problem.

A lot is going to depend on the health of the players, which team is committed to their common core values and principles, how teams handle adversity, and for us at UConn, do we slip into complacency or do we keep reminding ourselves that somewhere out there lurks a rival who is working harder and planning smarter to take us down.

We shall see. It is going to be another great season of WCBB and I can't wait!!

 

[ucbart]

Sleeping on this team? You do realize that ESPN picked SC as the preseason #1 team in the country?

The SC " we don't get respect" is nauseating at this point. ESPN falls all over them. I mean, ever after UCONN BLEW OUT SC in Columbia, Dawn's "fams", I mean, the ESPN studio crew, still picked them to win the NC, even after they looked terrible in every game of the NCAAT(and no, Texas doesn't count because Vic can't beat her and Texas can never out ugly SC).

I'm renaming South Carolina to Victim U. It's just enough. Dawn is treated like she hung the moon in the sky and still we have to hear about this. And before you say a word that SC players don't get respect, that's on Dawn herself. She's made herself the star of the show and there isn't enough limelight for any of them who average 12ppg.

 

[MooseJaw]

In answer to when Dawn last lost to superior talent, I would have to say both UConn games last season! I think we had better talent than SC.

I agree, but would bet that 90% of the WCBB fans in the country would have disagreed when UCONN played SC for the first time. Many here on the BY bet against our Huskies, check the scores where we prognosticate the outcome. There were other indicators as well, or our Huskies would never have been a second seed.

 

[MSGRET]

I agree, but would bet that 90% of the WCBB fans in the country would have disagreed when UCONN played SC for the first time. Many here on the BY bet against our Huskies, check the scores where we prognosticate the outcome. There were other indicators as well, or our Huskies would never have been a second seed.

Almost half of the prognosticators, 48% or 37 of 77 had SC winning. It was the highest number of non UConn votes this year. In the Championship game only 0.035%, 2 of the 57 votes cast were for SC.

 

[oldude]

Almost half of the prognosticators, 48% or 37 of 77 had SC winning. It was the highest number of non UConn votes this year. In the Championship game only 0.035%, 2 of the 57 votes cast were for SC.

Well, at least BY’ers are capable of learning. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with the national pundits, many of whom acted as if UConn’s beat down of SC in Columbia never really happened.

 

[ERWUC65]

When SC has a dominant post player then they succeed. Last year, they did not, but prior to that their bigs (Cardoso, Boston, Wilson) were the difference. This year, while 2 new players (Akot,Tac) have the height, they do not have the experience or polish, so the jury is out as to what to expect.

 

[ucbart]

I agree, but would bet that 90% of the WCBB fans in the country would have disagreed when UCONN played SC for the first time. Many here on the BY bet against our Huskies, check the scores where we prognosticate the outcome. There were other indicators as well, or our Huskies would never have been a second seed.

I think everyone knew we had more talent the entire time, but that collection of said talent never played a big game where they looked like that talent was cohesive….. and that’s why there were doubts.

 

[Geew1992]

I think everyone knew we had more talent the entire time, but that collection of said talent never played a big game where they looked like that talent was cohesive….. and that’s why there were doubts.

No, not before the first game. BYers were preparing for B2A from SC after what happened in the Tennessee game. Fortunately, it was Uconn giving the B2A

 

[towerman]

Been on sabbatical from The Boneyard since the end of the season. FF should be Texas, SC, UCLA and UCONN with Texas as the least likely.

 

[MooseJaw]

I think everyone knew we had more talent the entire time, but that collection of said talent never played a big game where they looked like that talent was cohesive….. and that’s why there were doubts.

Everyone knew we had more talent. It would appear from the polls, game scores with 3 loses that a lot of the people missed the memo, were we were known to have more talent. I do think we did have more talent, or at least a group of young ladies who took team play to a new level. This is where Geno comes into play, turning a group of individuals into a cohesive team, it took him a while, but Geno turned a group of young ladies into a true team.

 

[Husky fanatic]

scratch ND, substitute LSU

“A” yuh

 

[Bone Dog]

I have watched all the tournament games over a dozen times each by now. You see new things each time, or you notice patterns. Here’s one thing I noticed. Sarah does more rim runs than any other big in D1. Some of it is because of blocked shots at the top of the key — those are a guaranteed two points at the other end. But a whole lot of them come from long rebounds.

If she doesn’t have to grapple with the opposing big for a rebound and a guard grabs it, in the blink of an eye Sarah is motoring down the court. Paige or KK or Kaitlyn were always looking for her on that break, and there isn’t a guard in the land who can stop Sarah by herself on the break. And no bigs can run with her.l, I scepter maybe Joyce Edwards or Ashlyn Watkins.

If we see them next season, I wonder if Dawn will have coached those two to follow the break. Either way Wu, it could be a lot harder to do with next season’s personnel. And even if they think to run with her, that means they’ll have had to give up other responsibilities. However you slice it, Sarah poses insoluble problems for opposing coaches.

 

[HopJim]

I think everyone knew we had more talent the entire time, but that collection of said talent never played a big game where they looked like that talent was cohesive….. and that’s why there were doubts.

Geno's small lineup was difficult to evaluate. Like any basketball team that relies on 3-4 guards at once, when they are hot in their shooting, they are hard to beat. The key was Azzi and while at times last year she played like an All American, the majority of time she was good/not great. If you rated UConn on potential, the Huskies had more talent but hadn't proved it. Based on the entire season until the first SC game, difficult to know how things would end up.

 

[Skeets]

Almost half of the prognosticators, 48% or 37 of 77 had SC winning. It was the highest number of non UConn votes this year. In the Championship game only 0.035%, 2 of the 57 votes cast were for SC.

OK, I had to look it up. I had:

UConn - 76
Game chickens - 70

I don't believe I have ever picked another team over UConn. I'd rather lose this prestigious contest than pick the other team. Shame on the 48%. You know who you are.

 

[MooseJaw]

OK, I had to look it up. I had:

UConn - 76
Game chickens - 70

I don't believe I have ever picked another team over UConn. I'd rather lose this prestigious contest than pick the other team. Shame on the 48%. You know who you are.

thank you, shame, no I don't think so, just a lack of in Geno we Trust.

 

[Bone Dog]

Thinking about tournament rivals, but also teams on the cusp (or even the wider cuff) of contention, I wonder what next season's Tennessee game will look like. I'm tempted to think it will be like the Arkansas St. game. But it probably won't be quite that lopsided. Will it be a hard fought game or a blowout? Will we matchup better to their pressing style, or will we be discombobulated by it, or will we simply run them off the court?

Tennessee has 3 bigs who can run: Spearman, Barker and Wolfenbarger and a few athletic wings, but also a bunch of little guards. Having mobile bigs was key for them last season and will be again, while we only had Sarah who could really run with them. Next season, we could well have several -- Sarah Serah Ayanna and maybe even Gandy, and enough depth to allow Jana and Ice to run better without getting exhausted. And if both Blanca Carol and Morgan are up to speed, we could be bigger and quicker than them at every position. Certainly KK Kayleigh Azzi Kelis and Ash can run with their guards.

 

[jdote33]

Great thread. SC is super talented. I just don't love the Kitts Edwards combo together, though I think they are both really good. I think if Watkins is healthy, they could definitely win next year. I thought Raven had a down year but will have a chance to prove she's one of the best guards in the country. And Latson can also be a big difference maker. Sometimes with how basketball works, 1 great player can have the impact of 3 good players. I think Latson could be that great player and change a lot of dynamics on the team.
I do believe in UCLA. I think they are the biggest threat to UConn despite what happened in the tournament last year. Having a combo guard who can create her own shot and take pressure off of Rice like CLW is a game changer to me.
The only other team that I think is scary is LSU. I just think they have talented players who are wild cards. Idk how Mulkey makes it work but she did last year. ⁶

 

[MSGRET]

OK, I had to look it up. I had:

UConn - 76
Game chickens - 70

I don't believe I have ever picked another team over UConn. I'd rather lose this prestigious contest than pick the other team. Shame on the 48%. You know who you are.

I'll take your word for it. I'm not going back through all of my prognosticator's sheets to find out. I took it over the 2019-20 season.

 

[Nyskier]

I don't want to jinx us, but I actually think we have a chance at an undefeated season this year.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't want to jinx us, but I actually think we have a chance at an undefeated season this year.

Doomed.

 

[Cuango]

Great thread. SC is super talented. I just don't love the Kitts Edwards combo together, though I think they are both really good. I think if Watkins is healthy, they could definitely win next year. I thought Raven had a down year but will have a chance to prove she's one of the best guards in the country. And Latson can also be a big difference maker. Sometimes with how basketball works, 1 great player can have the impact of 3 good players. I think Latson could be that great player and change a lot of dynamics on the team.
I do believe in UCLA. I think they are the biggest threat to UConn despite what happened in the tournament last year. Having a combo guard who can create her own shot and take pressure off of Rice like CLW is a game changer to me.
The only other team that I think is scary is LSU. I just think they have talented players who are wild cards. Idk how Mulkey makes it work but she did last year. ⁶

What Dawn does with Latson is imo one of the more interesting things I’m looking forward to for next season. Will Dawn just release her and let her play the way she did at Fla St or will she micromanage her and limit her independence as she usually does? Will the hook come out after a few missed assignments or shots? I can’t wait.

 

[WiseWillie]

Perhaps it is LSU and Mulkey not SC and Staley that is being thought of as losing Serah to UConn

 

[YKCornelius]

What Dawn does with Latson is imo one of the more interesting things I’m looking forward to for next season. Will Dawn just release her and let her play the way she did at Fla St or will she micromanage her and limit her independence as she usually does? Will the hook come out after a few missed assignments or shots? I can’t wait.

Huh? "micromanage" and "limit her independence as she usually does"??? South Carolina plays team basketball, and has no need to rely on a single player to be "released". In fact, that approach is counterproductive for any program that has NC aspirations which SC clearly has had for the past decade. Dawn knows this and has coached and developed players inside of the team concept since her days at Temple.

I think Dawn's record of bringing in talented individuals, molding them into team players that not only places the Gamecocks in NC contention, but also launches those players into professional success in the WNBA and overseas, speaks for itself.

I can't fathom Dawn changing from a proven track record of success. And I would bet Latson and her entourage are counting on Dawn's ability to mold and develop her as opposed to "release her and let her play".

That said, I agree with you on your last sentence: I can't wait.

 

[MooseJaw]

Perhaps it is LSU and Mulkey not SC and Staley that is being thought of as losing Serah to UConn

Can't move on until I say. Who cares?