Thoughts on SC vs UCLA?

[bbsamjj]

I'll be honest, I went 0-2 in my semifinal predictions, so really have no idea what will happen tomorrow afternoon. SC starts out as 3.5 pt favorites.

I think SC is a bad matchup for UCLA, but then again, I also thought Texas was a bad matchup. Between Okot, Dauda, and Tournebize, they actually have the size (and the fouls) to matchup with Betts. Looking at starting lineups:

C: Betts vs Okot: Advantage UCLA, but Okot may be closest Betts has to an equal all year.
F: Kneepkens vs Edwards: Advantage SC, but if Kneepkens gets hot from 3, it's a problem.
G: Jaquez vs Johnson: Advantage Jaquez, but if either gets hot from 3...
G: Rice vs Latson: I can see Raven guarding Kiki Rice instead; but for purposes of this exercise, I think this is a wash. Rice is more well rounded, but Latson is super athletic.
G: Leger-Walker vs Raven: I'm giving the slight edge to Raven because of her defense, but two 5-year PGs who make very few mistakes.

Bench: Dugalic/Younger Betts vs Makeer/McDaniel/Dauda; Dugalic is like a 6th starter, and Makeer has been hot lately. Younger Betts and Dauda are basically there to pick up fouls and provide size. So with McDaniel, giving slight edge to SC, but it's tight.

Coaching: Close vs Staley: Advantage SC, if for nothing else because Staley has been here so many times.

I think SC's athleticism and confidence in these settings wins out, but UCLA has the size, shooting, and discipline to pull the "upset."

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I was wrong for both semis as well. I like Dawn and have issues remaining from the PAC days with UCLA. So I'll root for South Carolina while thinking that the game is likely a toss-up.

 

[Charliebball]

I've felt for most of the season that UCLA, with its six seniors, was the team that UConn would have to beat for the Championship........South Carolina has the more athletic squad, but something tells me this is UCLA's year......

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I was wrong for both semis as well. I like Dawn and have issues remaining from the PAC days with UCLA. So I'll root for South Carolina while thinking that the game is likely a toss-up.

I sort of thought the UCLA-Texas winner should be favored over the other bracket.

I was impressed that UCLA was able to get in the dirt and scrap it out in a tight one like that.

They have the size advantage and the experience advantage and maybe the want it advantage (not sure about that one).

I would feel pretty bad about Tournebize or Dauda matching up with Betts, but maybe we could get away with it.

Seems like another one where the team most able to execute its offense is the winner.

 

[Bone Dog]

SC beat UConn by playing with more pace and physicality than UConn was capable of. Last year UConn thrashed UCLA with pace and physicality. I don’t think Cori’s team has changed its style of play since then, even with the addition of Kneepkens and the departure of Barker, and SC is significantly quicker and capable of similar or greater physicality than UCLA is.

Conclusion: another NC for Dawn, and well deserved. The challenge for teams playing bigger teams is to be quicker than they are. Well, SC is not smaller and they play a lot quicker.

 

[JstVisiting]

UCLA struggled with Texas pressure, and Carolina is longer and quicker than Texas. We also have a peer big in Okot, 6 fouls and length in Tournabize, and an almost big changeup in Douda who has played the most meaningful minutes of her Carolina career the last two games.

South Carolina also won the semi despite a mediocre offensive performance from most of their rotation. I doubt they will all have two so so games in a row.

I also think the UCLA players’ “we’re going to the (freak)ing national championship!!!” postgame huddle was indicative of a “wow! We finally made it!” attitude that will not affect the Gamecocks.

I think South Carolina wins.

 

[Reypl21]

I'm rooting for UCLA, because I like Betts a lot. I don't think UCLA's guards are good enough to win it all. Unless they actually hit their shots. South Carolina's guards are just too athletic. Dugalic will have to play a huge game to keep Betts from getting doubled. I also think UCLA's offense is a little too predictable. South Carolina has the size and athleticism to deny the post passes or push Betts to a spot where she can't score. Still, I predicted UConn and Texas to win their games. So I don't know a lot either. Rooting for UCLA!

 

[nwhoopfan]

SC beat UConn by playing with more pace and physicality than UConn was capable of. Last year UConn thrashed UCLA with pace and physicality. I don’t think Cori’s team has changed its style of play since then, even with the addition of Kneepkens and the departure of Barker, and SC is significantly quicker and capable of similar or greater physicality than UCLA is.

Conclusion: another NC for Dawn, and well deserved. The challenge for teams playing bigger teams is to be quicker than they are. Well, SC is not smaller and they play a lot quicker.

NOBODY is gonna play more physical than Texas just did, and UCLA managed to beat them. So I'd scratch that off the list of reasons UCLA can't beat South Carolina.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

NOBODY is gonna play more physical than Texas just did, and UCLA managed to beat them. So I'd scratch that off the list of reasons UCLA can't beat South Carolina.

I am still recovering from my crush on Texas.

I would have said prior to last two games (that SCar played) they were an overall better defensive team that puts more pressure on initiating the offense than SCar.

I'm willing to entertain that SCar can match it. Makeer's abrupt leap has really scrambled things.

(Full disclosure I did still pick SCar in my home bracket)

 

[Bone Dog]

NOBODY is gonna play more physical than Texas just did, and UCLA managed to beat them. So I'd scratch that off the list of reasons UCLA can't beat South Carolina.

My point wasn’t that UCLA isn’t physical. What they aren’t is fleet of foot. That’s how Paige & Co managed to thrash them last time around. Cori herself said as much during the game, that they weren’t prepared to play at UConn’s pace. SC is both physical and quick.

 

[nwhoopfan]

My point wasn’t that UCLA isn’t physical. What they aren’t is fleet of foot. That’s how Paige & Co managed to thrash them last time around. Cori herself said as much during the game, that they weren’t prepared to play at UConn’s pace. SC is both physical and quick.

I'm definitely not predicting that UCLA is going to win. I don't know about the pace Texas plays at, but they've put plenty of points on the scoreboard this year and they certainly have some athletes. I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between Texas and South Carolina.

 

[JellyBean]

I went 1-1. I had UConn vs UCLA for the Championship with UCLA winning. This is UCLA's year.

 

[Topdawg]

I am 0 for 2 so far.

For this one, I am picking UCLA based on intangibles. Their class has many seniors who are in a now or never situation. Perhaps it is good for the game to have the winner be a team that has not won this century.

Maybe SCar will make me go 0 for 3?

 

[JstVisiting]

I'm definitely not predicting that UCLA is going to win. I don't know about the pace Texas plays at, but they've put plenty of points on the scoreboard this year and they certainly have some athletes. I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between Texas and South Carolina.

Texas, like all elite programs, runs over mismatched teams, but they do not play as fast as Carolina in peer to peer matchups. It is usually a battle of styles between us trying to speed them up and them trying to slow us down.

Also, as I referenced a few days ago in the tournament thread, they are slightly more physical in the pound you on the interior sense. We are quicker and more aggressive on the perimeter.

 

[JstVisiting]

The reason the SEC CG was such a shock for our fans is at both Texas and Mississippi State, Vic usually has South Carolina Minus Perimeter Play.

 

[ConnMotors]

I’m not a fan of either team but UCLA is whom I’d want to win.

 

[packwrap]

Just getting over UConn loss. Men in the final sure helps. 😁

UCLA impressed me with how 'tough' they played vs Texas. That's no easy matchup and players like Dugalic and Leger-Walker really showed up ready to play.

They will need to find this same toughness a second time to hang with SC.

Still in a game that matches 6 senior WNBA draft picks on UCLA vs 6 total future WNBA players on SC, I think Gamecocks have the edge.

SC for the win 64-56. Winning it with speed and defense and Makeer again scoring 15+ exploiting mismatches.

On a sidenote, we never talk about SC being a portal team, but Latson and Okot have been perfect fits in the SC starting five and played a big role in the UConn win.
Latson 16pts 11 reb! Okot 6&9.

 

[Zarathustra]

"The 'enemy' of my enemy is my friend" Go UCLA.
As for who/what will be the deciding factor? Consult the
refs!!!

 

[Centerstream]

I don't care who wins but I hope the final score is 42-39.

 

[Bone Dog]

On a sidenote, we never talk about SC being a portal team, but Latson and Okot have been perfect fits in the SC starting five and played a big role in the UConn win.

Excellent post. But I’m not so sure about this last part. SC doesn’t strike me as more of a portal team than UConn is. Dawn and Geno both build their teams through recruiting and use transfers to fill in gaps. They commit to the players who commit to them and build a stable and continuous culture. I’d distinguish this from teams that are essentially composed of transfers, like UCLA or USC or Tennessee etc.

Of course, one could argue that Cori has stuck with a few long term transfers who are sort of like recruits — Betts Dugalic Gardiner — while only a few others have been more transient, like Barker (from last season) Kneepkens and Leger-Walker. Next year’s roster, however, is looking to be another portal patchwork.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Excellent post. But I’m not so sure about this last part. SC doesn’t strike me as more of a portal team than UConn is. Dawn and Geno both build their teams through recruiting and use transfers to fill in gaps. They commit to the players who commit to them and build a stable and continuous culture. I’d distinguish this from teams that are essentially composed of transfers, like UCLA or USC or Tennessee etc.

Of course, one could argue that Cori has stuck with a few long term transfers who are sort of like recruits — Betts Dugalic Gardiner — while only a few others have been more transient, like Barker (from last season) Kneepkens and Leger-Walker. Next year’s roster, however, is looking to be another portal patchwork.

All good teams are portal teams.

UConn, SCar, UCLA, Texas certainly all are.

The elites, so far, all do have a homegrown core though.

 

[Bigboote]

In this article, all five ESPN prognosticators picked South Carolina. IIRC all five picked UConn over South Carolina, though, so take it with a pretty good-sized lump of salt. If South Carolina plays like they did against UConn and UCLA like they did against Texas, I would pick South Carolina. But that's a significant (but not huge) if.

Edited to correct whom they picked. That was a huge brain fart on my part.

 

[Bone Dog]

All good teams are portal teams.

UConn, SCar, UCLA, Texas certainly all are.

The elites, so far, all do have a homegrown core though.

I hear the phrase “portal team” and think of the patchwork teams that Tennessee and USC have depended on over the past few years. They are conspicuously transient. That’s not who UConn or SCar are.

 

[packwrap]

The line has moved to -4.5 for South Carolina. Wonder how the refs will call this game after all the recent chatter?

Portaling. I wasn't being critical of SC on portal. UConn also has 2 of the top 7 from portal. I was more commenting on how important Latson and Okot were, and how well those moves worked out for SC.

 

[bballnut90]

The line has moved to -4.5 for South Carolina. Wonder how the refs will call this game after all the recent chatter?

Portaling. I wasn't being critical of SC on portal. UConn also has 2 of the top 7 from portal. I was more commenting on how important Latson and Okot were, and how well those moves worked out for SC.

Dawn has been one of the best at utilizing the portal to get players that fit well:
-Adding Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray en route to a title
-Bringing in Fletcher in 2022 to help bring Raven along while she recovered from her ACL. Raven was playing starter minutes by the end of the season.

-Bringing in Cardoso/Pao which led to their 2024 title. Cardoso seemed like overkill at first and turned into one of the most dominant posts in the nation.

-Adding Okot and Latson to replace Watkins/Feagin/Fulwiley

She missed out on some big transfers including Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, but the ones she’s landed fit the team mold very well. Most of these players showed notable improvement in Columbia and become important pieces on great teams.

 

[bballnut90]

I'm rooting for South Carolina but if I had betting money I'd probably go with UCLA. I think the wings will be the X-factors. Whichever trio wins the battle between Makeer/Tessa/Latson and Rice/Jaquez/Kneepkens will win the game.

 

[REB1094]

I’m rooting for UCLA here. Because I’m selfish and petty. I want Geno to be the king of college basketball and Dawn Staley would have 50% of the rings this decade if they win today. She’d be the current star of the sport with a W today

I also really like Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez so want to see them win!

Let’s go Bruins!

 

[nwhoopfan]

She’d be the current star of the sport with a W today

I think she already is even if she doesn't win today. And this is coming from someone who is not a fan.

 

[ninety-nine]

I'm rooting for UCLA because South Carolina already has three titles, all recent, and UConn is starting to take a back seat to them. UCLA is just getting started, so not as much of a threat to our rep.

 

[jdote33]

I love the game tho wish uconn was playing. True legacy game for so many involved. I think Raven Johnson and Kiki Rice are criminally underrated. A championship would mean a lot to both. Big game for each coach. I feel Cori Close kinda gets destroyed on the interwebs, she has a chance to make history. Of course sc getting their 3rd chip this decade would be pretty insane. I know the game just started but I thought UCLA would win. I think they are just the most talented team in the country with a lot of experience. But sc is sc so we'll see.