Title Game

[JJTB]

As I’ve mentioned with the last two games……UConn guards are better and if the bigs hold their own, UConn wins. Geno vs Dawn? I take Geno! Go Huskies!

 

[jchusky]

I could be wrong but the 1st matchup to me looked more like Zia Cooke was defending her. I remember watching Paige many times burn her with layups in that Uconn matchup at Storrs.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Our backup PG was lost for the year after 8 minutes.

Henderson missed 3 or 4 games.

Cooke's whole season seems to have been affected by an early injury.

Grissette is not the same player as before her injury.

But otherwise, sure. We've basically ignored all of that without much trouble.

Certainly nothing as impactful as the Bueckers injury.

 

[jchusky]

Our backup PG was lost for the year after 8 minutes.

Henderson missed 3 or 4 games.

Cooke's whole season seems to have been affected by an early injury.

Grissette is not the same player as before her injury.

But otherwise, sure. We've basically ignored all of that without much trouble.

Certainly nothing as impactful as the Bueckers injury.

I was surprised at how much Rivers played vs Louisville, 20 minutes and wow she was terrific. Did not look like a freshman at all. Wonder how much she plays tonight.

 

[ThatCG1801]

I want 8 to hurry up and get here but on the other hand I don't want 8 to hurry up and get here. I'm 100% certain I'll shed tears tonight. Just not sure if they'll be happy or heartbroken tears.

And even if they are happy tears, those will be mixed with sadness at knowing we've likely seen the last time our seniors will play wearing Garnet and Black, a certainty with LeLe since she has no eligibility remaining. That's always bittersweet. You get so attached to your team members and their individual personalities on and off the court. Gah....making my own self tear up just thinking about it. I'm sure I can't be the only one who feels that way about their team.

Best of luck to both teams tonight. Hoping for a hard fought, injury free game.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I was surprised at how much Rivers played vs Louisville, 20 minutes and wow she was terrific. Did not look like a freshman at all. Wonder how much she plays tonight.

She apparently had a three game suspension to begin the tournament. It was eyebrow raising she got as many minutes as she did though not that inconsistent with what she was getting in the latter half of conference season.

If Rivers ever makes shots, she's an all American.

Hopefully she will get there. It doesn't look bad.

 

[cancontent]

If we're being honest Stanford has been biggest threat to South Carolina in terms of matchups. They marginally outmatched in size and and has just as much depth as us and besides been arguably the most consistent team all season. Of the two teams we definitely wanted UConn, not saying it will be easy but it's without a doubt the more favorable matchup for us.

A lot can be said about match ups, however many were saying the same about Stanford before they played UConn.
Maybe it's me, but this year, how teams match up hasn't had as much of an impact for the presumed favourites.

I'm not going to try to hazard a guess as to how these teams will play each other. I'm looking for a competitive, injury free game. Definitely rooting for Aaliyah but will also be happy for Amihere from as Canadian perspective. They've both gone through so much to get to this point.

 

[jumpstart]

I am going to make a bold prediction......the team that scores the most points will win the national championship.

 

[JstVisiting]

I think this is what @LwrcasefaN was trying to say

Voepel: I'm not sure the Gamecocks have had to grow a lot as much as they've had to maintain a level of excellent play all season. They have been No. 1 wire to wire because of their experience (starting two seniors and three juniors), relative good health and defense, which Staley has called the best she has had at South Carolina. The target has been on their backs all season, and even though they lost the SEC final to Kentucky, for the most part the Gamecocks have met every challenge.

As for UConn, Auriemma is accustomed to his program being a machine that runs over the opposition like a lawnmower over grass. He has built it and trained his players that way for nearly 40 years. So dealing with injuries to key performers, uncharacteristic missed shots, poor execution -- stuff almost every coach faces at some point every season -- has convinced Auriemma that this team has overcome miraculous odds to get to the championship game.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj16vC67vf2AhV2TDABHedLBbUQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fwomens-college-basketball%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F33655286%2Fuconn-south-carolina-predictions-why-huskies-championship-history-not-matter&usg=AOvVaw3FzBTR1illbwW2xczSXJFA

‘This year we had to overcome adversity’ just shows the lilly-gilded path UConn has traveled to many of their championships. Just wait til he learns that some teams have to play in hostile environments to reach the Final Four.

It’s a credit to Geno he built such a dominant program that he thinks overcoming adversity is special, but typically every championship teams needs to do it. Whether it’s an injury, a player not adjusting to her role or expectations, or just bad luck, every championship team in almost every sport faces a rough patch.

Geno better get used to it. The drop off is no longer from UConn to everyone else, but from a handful of programs (including UConn) to the rest.

 

[Basket]

Of Stanford and UConn, we got the opponent we wanted. Bueckers doesn’t need anyone whispering in her ear “remember, you too are mortal.” Brea Beal will teach that lesson again, while UConn has no answer for Boston.

I'm not sure why people are downplaying South Carolina, this game could easily go either way due to a number of factors. South Carolina has found ways to win against multiple opponents and unlike Stanford we're not as heavily reliant on the 3 to succeed. Our defense has been our bread and butter and our offense has been better as of late especially from the unheralded players like Saxton and Beal. Like UConn we now have more options both offensively and defensively than the beginning of the season. We seem extra focus and confident as of late, that plus our post depth is why I believe we can win this game.

Whenever I watched SC in the past with this group I surprisingly never came away impressed with Beal or Cooke. Both played well against Louisville. If Beal can slow Paige down a bit, game, set, match. SC seems focused which takes away their biggest opponent, themselves.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Well done. Congrats.

 

[JstVisiting]

Of Stanford and UConn, we got the opponent we wanted. Bueckers doesn’t need anyone whispering in her ear “remember, you too are mortal.” Brea Beal will teach that lesson again, while UConn has no answer for Boston.

I feel silly. I said Brea Beal would make Paige Bueckers look mortal while we pounded UConn inside while they had no answer.

But we pounded a UConn team with no answers inside while Destanni Henderson made Bueckers look mortal. My bad.

 

[Dwilliams02]

Congratulations SC fans. This one was well earned. Well earned.

 

[SCspur]

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

 

[Basket]

A lot can be said about match ups, however many were saying the same about Stanford before they played UConn.
Maybe it's me, but this year, how teams match up hasn't had as much of an impact for the presumed favourites.

I'm not going to try to hazard a guess as to how these teams will play each other. I'm looking for a competitive, injury free game. Definitely rooting for Aaliyah but will also be happy for Amihere from as Canadian perspective. They've both gone through so much to get to this point.

Aaliyah doesn’t have a strong enough game to battle SC. She’s UConns best on the glass and was no match for Boston. UConns posts couldn’t compete but that was expected

 

[TerpWomenFan]

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

Congrats to all the South Carolina fans. Well deserved.

 

[Bigboote]

Hats off to the Gamecocks. Most of us thought they’d need superior guard play to win, and that’s exactly what they did.

See you in the title game next year.

 

[Dynastic]

Hats off to the Gamecocks. Most of us thought they’d need superior guard play to win, and that’s exactly what they did.

See you in the title game next year.

Rough start, looked anxious, too many turnovers, unfortunately the Seniors didn’t show, had opportunities to close gaps which never materialized… and the refs didn’t give us any favors, but SC is good and athletic, hence the recruitment of Brady and Patterson.

 

[genzhusk]

What happened to Williams? Just when I started to think she was pretty good. She is a weird player. No leadership at all.

I know it’s hard for some to hear, but her best games are always against lesser talent, never top teams. It’s been this way her sophomore-senior years. She did a little better this year but still same pattern (great against lesser teams, not so great against top teams).

I am optimistic to see where everyone grows next year, and glad the seniors are moving on to the next level. 2017-2018 HS classes have been head scratchers everywhere. The 2020-2021 classes have been killing it at the top all over the country!

 

[ReadR00ster]

Wow what a season. They got it done with defense all year. I know this team was far from the best team ever, but they are definitely in the conversation for the best defensive team of all time. So proud of the ladies of Gamecocks WBB!

 

[ReadR00ster]

UConn Fans, congrats on a great season as well. Your team had me nervous all game and they never quit and hung in the game after getting down by a lot.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Congrats to South Carolina! The better team won tonight. This is the new big rivalry game in WCBB, so we'll be seeing each other a lot in coming years at least until Geno hangs it up.

 

[HuskyNan]

Congrats to South Carolina! The better team won tonight. This is the new big rivalry game in WCBB, so we'll be seeing each other a lot in coming years at least until Geno hangs it up.

Yeah, but I can’t hate South Carolina, kind of like Stanford. Mad respect to both, and games will be nail biters for the foreseeable future, but there’s no heat. A writer called UConn-Stanford a “civil rivalry “ and that includes So Carolina too

 

[bballnut90]

Congrats to SC. They looked like the hungrier team and were fully in control throughout. Boston was great per usual, but MOP should've gone to Henderson. She shut down Paige and carried SC offensively. Props to Dawn for shutting out doubters and anyone who questioned their offense (myself included). SC executed extremely well all weekend and proved they were solidly the best team in women's basketball this season. Congrats to the SC fans.

 

[ConwayGmck]

With a day to prepare, UCONN is playing the same SC team they played earlier in the year. SC isn't. Everyone on UCONN looks noticeably different than even 2 months ago. I don't think Paige or Boston is what decides this game. It will be the players around them.

In the 1st game, South Carolina won 73-57, or by 16 pts. In the Championship game, South Carolina won 64-49, or by 15 pts. So Connecticut DID improve from earlier in the season.......