Title Game

[ConwayGmck]

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.

Yeah, but after the 1st Quarter, when CT out-scored USC 19-13 to pull within 8, and I think shot 54% for the first half, it felt like a 0-0 game to me at the time. But we somehow persevered......

 

[shiverz45]

I tho

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.

I thought the MOP was for the entire final four. Henderson definitely was MVP tonight, but Boston was better if you factor in both games.

 

[bballnut90]

Yeah, but after the 1st Quarter, when CT out-scored USC 19-13 to pull within 8, and I think shot 54% for the first half, it felt like a 0-0 game to me at the time. But we somehow persevered......

Agreed, but every time UCONN made a run SC countered and created separation. SC won all of the loose balls and their defense was smothering. It was a pretty dominant win from start to finish IMO.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Just finished it. Wow, congrats SCAR, such a complete game. Three thoughts:

-What a difference two days make. Fudd and Williams were a non presence, and even Bueckers was of limited impact. SCAR did such a great job limiting the backcourt. Henderson, by contrast, played like a woman possessed. What a performance.

-South Carolina's length is incredible. I think at one point they had a lineup with no on shorter than 6 1. And UConn just doesn't have the athleticism among their guards to counteract it. The result? SCAR had more than twice as many rebounds as UConn, and UConn had half as many as in their game against Stanford.

-it was striking to me how much better UConn was with some of its starters (Williams and Fudd) on the bench, and some bench players (Muhl, Ducharme, Westbrook) on the floor. After Bueckers, who briefly looked like she'd carry UConn on her back singlehandedly, the only other guard who impressed me was Ducharme, who really kept the motion moving on offense. Otherwise it was the bigs - ONO and Edwards - who made most of the offensive magic happen.

 

[SCGamecock]

Yeah, but after the 1st Quarter, when CT out-scored USC 19-13 to pull within 8, and I think shot 54% for the first half, it felt like a 0-0 game to me at the time. But we somehow persevered......

This reflects the growth in SC as a program… so many times I’ve watched good SC teams fold under the pressure of playing UConn during runs or before the game even began. But no more. There’s a certain relentlessness that’s becoming the program’s identity.

Seeing tonight and remembering the embarrassing blowout losses make it all so much more satisfying.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

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.......

Act like you've been there. AND I SAID...SC was the same team to prepare for...and nothing about whether UCONN or SC had IMPROVED. If I did....point it out.

 

[Basket]

This reflects the growth in SC as a program… so many times I’ve watched good SC teams fold under the pressure of playing UConn during runs or before the game even began. But no more. There’s a certain relentlessness that’s becoming the program’s identity.

Seeing tonight and remembering the embarrassing blowout losses make it all so much more satisfying.

Yep I always looked at SC as a team that would lose poise if they were pressured in a tight game against a good opponent. I wasn’t sold on their mental toughness or ability to execute under pressure. Wrong

 

[cancontent]

This reflects the growth in SC as a program… so many times I’ve watched good SC teams fold under the pressure of playing UConn during runs or before the game even began. But no more. There’s a certain relentlessness that’s becoming the program’s identity.

Seeing tonight and remembering the embarrassing blowout losses make it all so much more satisfying.

I also believe it talks to the players' commitment to the culture Staley envisioned for the program. This 2019 class has had a national championship as their goal since setting foot on campus. Things may not have worked out initially, but they didn't lose sight. It's a great reminder for all of us that it's possible if you put in the work.

 

[GamecockFam]

I also believe it talks to the players' commitment to the culture Staley envisioned for the program. This 2019 class has had a national championship as their goal since setting foot on campus. Things may not have worked out initially, but they didn't lose sight. It's a great reminder for all of us that it's possible if you put in the work.

I really see it as a 3 year journey in the making. In 2020 the post season was shut down due to Covid. We were ranked #1 in most polls and felt robbed of the chance to compete for a national championship. In 2021 we came up so close in the final four. But finally in 2022 we tasted victory! I feel like this win is as much for Ty Harris and Kiki Herbert-Harrigan as it is for the players who were on the court. The winning culture they helped build finally came to fruition yesterday! Go Gamecocks!

 

[GCKSFN4L]

UConn fans should be proud of this team, despite all the craziness that occurred this season they still found a way to make it to the finals which seemed impossible a few months ago.

I still think the matchup of these two teams was always going to favor SC this season and the only team that was going to beat SC without playing at their absolute best was Stanford. The defense and post play is a lot to handle and as long as SC didn't beat themselves there was highly likelihood that we would win the title.

This SC team looked so focused and poised going into the Final Four, that I was surprisingly calm leading into the Championship game. As I watched the first quarter it seemed so bizarre that the roles seemed reversed from the early UConn-SC series. SC didn't look scared of the moment and was able to get out to a decent lead early and was able to counter any runs that was made throughout the rest of the game. Overall it was good inaugural March Madness and I'm sure this experience will only fuel the fire both teams for next season.

 

[BRS24]

This SC team looked so focused and poised going into the Final Four, that I was surprisingly calm leading into the Championship game. As I watched the first quarter it seemed so bizarre that the roles seemed reversed from the early UConn-SC series. SC didn't look scared of the moment and was able to get out to a decent lead early and was able to counter any runs that was made throughout the rest of the game. Overall it was good inaugural March Madness and I'm sure this experience will only fuel the fire both teams for next season.

Yep. SC handled UConn's runs just like UConn handled NCSU and Stanford runs. They didn't panic.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

I think we need better sportscasters that actually knows what they are talking about. They don't know the players and obviously didn't see the game.

 

[triaddukefan]

Congratulations to Little Carolina. To celebrate the title, I'm thinking about heading to Bojangles for some Chicken Wings.

Really happy for Boston, especially how last year's Final 4 ended for her. Gotta feel great for Henderson to have her career end with a career high and a title. I've always been a Staley fan, so good for her to win #2.

To win a National Title and to win the Triangle Title in the same year

 

[Plebe]

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.......

So very classless. That's been one constant.

 

[triaddukefan]

smh I was thinking five years ago... Little Carolina won the women's title and Big Carolina won the men's title the next day. Now.. it has happened again .... lawd hamercy

 

[ConwayGmck]

Act like you've been there. AND I SAID...SC was the same team to prepare for...and nothing about whether UCONN or SC had IMPROVED. If I did....point it out.

Your argument was based more on semantics than anything. You stated that Connecticut had "changed"....that their identity will be different, and therefore the result from the game between the teams early in the season would NOT be the same result in the Championship game. At least, that was the clear implication that I took from your comments. South Carolina won that earlier game.

But all your arguments gave the obvious implication (to me) that these "changes" for CT would be FOR THE BETTER, and not the worst, for them. That equates to IMPROVEMENT for Connecticut, even if the word wasn't spoken.

If you meant that by CT's identity being different or changing, that meant that CT was WORSE a team as a result than they were back in November, then I apologize for mis-reading.

Likewise, regarding South Carolina, you stated CT "is playing the same SC team they played earlier in the year". That CLEARLY implied a lack of improvement for South Carolina in comparison to Connecticut. Again, this was my most logical interpretation.....

 

[ConwayGmck]

smh I was thinking five years ago... Little Carolina won the women's title and Big Carolina won the men's title the next day. Now.. it has happened again .... lawd hamercy

You'll have to change your avatar to this for at least a little while:

 

[Plebe]

Woofing Gods to @triaddukefan: Hold my beer! Only Little Carolina gets to hoist the trophy this year.

That's okay, IMO North Carolina won the biggest scalp of all by both spoiling K's home finale and ending his career within a one month span.

 

[triaddukefan]

That's okay, IMO North Carolina won the biggest scalp of all by both spoiling K's home finale and ending his career within a one month span.

I didnt realize that Plebe was a closet Tarheel fan. Guess I'll cancel those Let's Go Duke socks and slippers I was gonna send him.

 

[triaddukefan]

Woofing Gods to @triaddukefan: Hold my beer! Only Little Carolina gets to hoist the trophy this year.

Ha. I knew Kansas was toast. I even changed my Jayhawk avatar at halftime. Imma need to find a way to monetize my jinxing powers

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Your argument was based more on semantics than anything. You stated that Connecticut had "changed"....that their identity will be different, and therefore the result from the game between the teams early in the season would NOT be the same result in the Championship game. At least, that was the clear implication that I took from your comments. South Carolina won that earlier game.

But all your arguments gave the obvious implication (to me) that these "changes" for CT would be FOR THE BETTER, and not the worst, for them. That equates to IMPROVEMENT for Connecticut, even if the word wasn't spoken.

If you meant that by CT's identity being different or changing, that meant that CT was WORSE a team as a result than they were back in November, then I apologize for mis-reading.

Likewise, regarding South Carolina, you stated CT "is playing the same SC team they played earlier in the year". That CLEARLY implied a lack of improvement for South Carolina in comparison to Connecticut. Again, this was my most logical interpretation.....

No problem. It's not a deal-breaker. It's all good. Be well and congrats on a well-deserrved victory.

 

[HuskyNan]

So very classless. That's been one constant.

Oh, let him woof. His team won, fair and square. Was the comment unnecessary, maybe, but it was just some mild trash talk and who can blame him? This “neutral” board is still half UConn fans who were talking up the team’s improvement before the game.

C’mon, let’s not be so thin skinned.