Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="JoePgh, post: 4876420, member: 1131"] I just finished re-watching last year's game at the XL Center between UConn and South Carolina, which was played on 2/5/2023. It was a very close and near-even game. South Carolina did get a 12-point lead late in the 4th quarter, but UConn closed the margin in the last 2+ minutes, and SC benefited from a missed call on a Gamecock in-bounds play where the ball was handed off, rather than passed, over the sideline. So if the two teams were more or less equal last year, how do their available rosters then compare to this year's player availability? Here it is: [B]UConn has lost:[/B] Lou Lopez Senechal Aubrey Griffin (sigh! -- she scored 17 points in last year's game, including an and-1 at the very end) Dorka Juhasz Ayanna Patterson [B]UConn has gained:[/B] Paige Bueckers Ice Brady KK Arnold Ashlynn Shade [B]South Carolina has lost:[/B] Aliyah Boston Zia Cooke Brea Beal Victaria Saxton Kamila Cardoso Laeticia Amihere [B]South Carolina has gained:[/B] Milaysia Fulwiley Chloe Kitts Te-Hina Paopao (note that both Watkins and Feagin were on last year's Gamecock roster but did not enter last year's game) While UConn's losses are considerable, I think South Carolina's are even greater in both quantity and quality. Comparing gains (essentially incoming freshmen for both teams), UConn has more quantity, but SC probably has more average quality in its two freshman stars. But the margin there is not great. Last year's game fulfilled most people's statistical prophecies. South Carolina dominated in offensive rebounds (25-10) and second chance points (also 25-10), but UConn had a big edge in field goal percentage (52% to 39%). Somewhat surprisingly, UConn had more points in the paint (42-38) and more fast break points (12-5). This all suggests to me that Sunday's game will also be close, and may come down to big plays (or big calls) at the end of the game. So I would expect Sunday's game to be essentially even in personnel [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach