USC Gamecocks 2024-25 Season: Part Two

[visitingcock]

Thoughts on the game vs Alabama tonight:
1. Good news: we beat a ranked opponent on the road… bad news, it was butt ugly, with turnovers galore and horrible 3 pt shooting.
2. The Gamecock radio crew did not sugarcoat it… we were outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Poor shot selection, careless passing, stupid fouls, way too many turnovers.
3. Our bigs: Kitts, Feagin, and Edwards had almost half of our points, and we easily won the rebounding battle. Dauda still trying to figure it out.
4. Our backcourt: a mixed bag. Raven and Bree couldn’t get anything to fall. Lay was great inside the arc, made one 3 pt shot, but took several ill-advised 3’s, too. Tehina had11 points, but was cold beyond the arc. Tessa normally picks up the others when they’re not on, but not tonight. Maddie finally made it back, but was clearly and understandably rusty.
5. We’re just not hitting on all cylinders. Athleticism on defense is keeping us in games, but we have to fix our inconsistencies in offense. Is it just me, or do we seem to have a lot of our shots inside blocked? A positive note: we seem more accurate at the free throw line this year.
6. Next up: Oklahoma, another top 20 ranked team, at CLA.

Bama had five first half blocks

 

[Darwin]

Thoughts on the game vs Alabama tonight:
1. Good news: we beat a ranked opponent on the road… bad news, it was butt ugly, with turnovers galore and horrible 3 pt shooting.
2. The Gamecock radio crew did not sugarcoat it… we were outplayed in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Poor shot selection, careless passing, stupid fouls, way too many turnovers.
3. Our bigs: Kitts, Feagin, and Edwards had almost half of our points, and we easily won the rebounding battle. Dauda still trying to figure it out.
4. Our backcourt: a mixed bag. Raven and Bree couldn’t get anything to fall. Lay was great inside the arc, made one 3 pt shot, but took several ill-advised 3’s, too. Tehina had11 points, but was cold beyond the arc. Tessa normally picks up the others when they’re not on, but not tonight. Maddie finally made it back, but was clearly and understandably rusty.
5. We’re just not hitting on all cylinders. Athleticism on defense is keeping us in games, but we have to fix our inconsistencies in offense. Is it just me, or do we seem to have a lot of our shots inside blocked? A positive note: we seem more accurate at the free throw line this year.
6. Next up: Oklahoma, another top 20 ranked team, at CLA.

We lead the SEC in FT% by a wide margin, times have changed.

The leash is off Edwards, she is officially the dominant offensive player for SC now if anyone has missed that transition. Fulwiley being given more minutes every game now and it shows. Kitts and Feagin filling in nicely in the absence of Watkins. They ready for another run perhaps.

 

[USMC(ret)]

We lead the SEC in FT% by a wide margin, times have changed.

The leash is off Edwards, she is officially the dominant offensive player for SC now if anyone has missed that transition. Fulwiley being given more minutes every game now and it shows. Kitts and Feagin filling in nicely in the absence of Watkins. They ready for another run perhaps.

Darwin, I think the results of the next three games will determine how ready we are for another run. We beat Texas by 17 and Alabama by 18, so we’re trending in the right direction. I think we have the best head coach in the country, so if anyone knows how to fix our issues, she will.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Darwin, I think the results of the next three games will determine how ready we are for another run. We beat Texas by 17 and Alabama by 18, so we’re trending in the right direction. I think we have the best head coach in the country, so if anyone knows how to fix our issues, she will.

I agree with much of this.

The three remaining opponents in the gauntlet don't necessarily scare me, but the one game that makes me a bit uneasy is the one involving the orange-clad folks on Rocky Top. Oklahoma and LSU have too many flaws that can be exploited, and both of those are home games. Tennessee is looking for that one moment to show everyone that they're back.

 

[visitingcock]

I agree with much of this.

The three remaining opponents in the gauntlet don't necessarily scare me, but the one game that makes me a bit uneasy is the one involving the orange-clad folks on Rocky Top. Oklahoma and LSU have too many flaws that can be exploited, and both of those are home games. Tennessee is looking for that one moment to show everyone that they're back.

Tennessee has flaws too. The most obvious is defense. In particular, their half court defense is horrible after you break their press. Their half court offense is not much better. We just have to stay disciplined. In the full court situations.

 

[Tngamecock]

We are simply having to win in a different fashion since we don’t have a dominant big person in the middle. To be honest with you I don’t see a team in the SEC remotely close to being better than us. Not saying we can’t drop a game, But right now, it appears UCLA, SC, along with maybe UConn are the cream of the crop.

while watching South Carolina play Alabama last night, there was not one minute to me that it didn’t appear South Carolina was in complete control. Even when Alabama cut it to 4, I never felt they were a threat. We kept a 10 point lead for 90% of the game.

 

[USMC(ret)]

We are simply having to win in a different fashion since we don’t have a dominant big person in the middle. To be honest with you I don’t see a team in the SEC remotely close to being better than us. Not saying we can’t drop a game, But right now, it appears UCLA, SC, along with maybe UConn are the cream of the crop.

while watching South Carolina play Alabama last night, there was not one minute to me that it didn’t appear South Carolina was in complete control. Even when Alabama cut it to 4, I never felt they were a threat. We kept a 10 point lead for 90% of the game.

I’d add Notre Dame to that cream of the crop list.

 

[USMC(ret)]

Big news today… Coach Dawn Staley getting a pay bump, new contract worth in excess of $25 mil.
Every time I see CLA sold out for a WBB game, I am reminded how fortunate we are to have her as our program leader. Congrats, Coach… you earned it!

 

[TC22]

We are getting a lot more shots blocked because we are driving a lot more. MiLaysia has a couple blocked every game. Of course she also gets fouled a couple of times and gets to the free throw line.

Sshhhhh on the FT. Don’t jinx them.

Playing on the road is hard. We couldn’t throw it in the ocean last night but Bama had to defend the 3 pt line because we are capable. It opened up the inside. Feagin was very, very good again last night. She made some huge passes into Joyce and Chloe. I liked when Chloe and Joyce played together also last night.

It’s very telling that Miriam was a starter for Arkansas last year but just looks lost out there for us. At this point just put Adhel in for those few minutes and let’s let her learn.

One thing can be said for our team…they don’t panic. They have the same demeanor Dawn has.
My picks for the FF come from UCLA, SC, Notre Dame, USC, UConn. LSU, Texas, Tennessee, Md, Kansas State could all go on a run and get there but I really think it will come down to that first group.

Beat Oklahoma!.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

We are going on a season and a half of the team getting loose with a lead.

Hazard of so many good players wanting to shine perhaps.

Fulwiley is determined to do it her way and it is what is with the resulting blocks and turnovers. She tends to come out ahead but she hasn't made much progress from last year, if any.

 

[GamecockFam]

We are going on a season and a half of the team getting loose with a lead.

Hazard of so many good players wanting to shine perhaps.

Fulwiley is determined to do it her way and it is what is with the resulting blocks and turnovers. She tends to come out ahead but she hasn't made much progress from last year, if any.

I know what you mean about Fulwiley but I thought she made much better decisions these past two games. It looks like she is progressing to me.

 

[TC22]

I think Fulwiley has also made a giant leap the past couple of games. You take the good with the bad with a player like her. There’s no doubt she makes a difference when she’s in the game. She’s trying to learn. Give the kid some grace. Against Bama she had 1 TO and O fouls, 16pts, 4 R, and a block in 21 minutes. That’s pretty solid. She also draws fouls and gets to the free throw line.

 

[Darwin]

I think Fulwiley has also made a giant leap the past couple of games. You take the good with the bad with a player like her. There’s no doubt she makes a difference when she’s in the game. She’s trying to learn. Give the kid some grace. Against Bama she had 1 TO and O fouls, 16pts, 4 R, and a block in 21 minutes. That’s pretty solid. She also draws fouls and gets to the free throw line.

She is also almost unguardable in the open floor and draws the attention of the defense at all times which helps her teammates tremendously.

 

[Tngamecock]

I’d add Notre Dame to that cream of the crop list.

I wouldn’t…. i’ve watched them play several times, and have a couple of similar opponents that we blew out and they played close. I’m just stating fact, we are still a cut above most teams.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I wouldn’t…. i’ve watched them play several times, and have a couple of similar opponents that we blew out and they played close. I’m just stating fact, we are still a cut above most teams.

They haven't been healthy. Not having Hannah Hidalgo is a major loss for them. Still, they haven't dropped a game since she went down.

Re the "cream of the crop" list: ND has a win over UConn (as does Southern Cal). We are likely to beat UConn when we face them in less than a month. Where would that leave UConn?

 

[Darwin]

They haven't been healthy. Not having Hannah Hidalgo is a major loss for them. Still, they haven't dropped a game since she went down.

Re the "cream of the crop" list: ND has a win over UConn (as does Southern Cal). We are likely to beat UConn when we face them in less than a month. Where would that leave UConn?

A #2 seed. Which is where they will be at year end due to SOS. They could win at SC, but win or lose they are prob locked at a 2 seed.

 

[WBBTakeover]

A #2 seed. Which is where they will be at year end due to SOS. They could win at SC, but win or lose they are prob locked at a 2 seed.

I agree, which means they aren't really a cream of the crop team.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Lay is truly something else!!!!!!!!!!

 

[visitingcock]

I agree, which means they aren't really a cream of the crop team.

They were a 3 seed last year. Sometimes a good chef ( and often wit UConn) gets the cream to rise at the end,

 

[USMC(ret)]

Thoughts on today’s game against Oklahoma:
1. I thought it was our most complete game of the year… not perfect, but really good. We came out hot and kept the pressure on. Read somewhere that the Sooners like a fast tempo… obviously not as much as us. Helped that the Sooners were cold from beyond the arc early.
2. Everybody on the roster played, and all except Maddie and Sakima scored. On most teams not named the Gamecocks, when your top scorers have to sit, it’s really difficult to replicate their offensive production. Not us… our bench gives no breaks.
3. Thought that the Sooners’ size in the paint might make life difficult, especially after Kitts had her first shot blocked. We adjusted, and were able to score in the paint.
4. Although a freshman, Edwards is our most skilled offensive big. She had some nice moves to score in the paint.
5. Lay once again had her own highlight reel, but also continued to demonstrate tendency to launch a three way to early in the possession. She is fun to watch, but has to play smarter.
5. Another solid game by Feagin… while I hate not having Watkins available, Feagin’s increased minutes has done wonders for her confidence.
6. We’re three games into our “gauntlet”, with three decisive wins. LSU’s next… they won today. Tennessee after that, and they lost to Vandy today. Only two games on our calendar make me nervous: LSU and UConn. I admire Geno and what he’s accomplished. Can’t stand Mulkey… I’d pull for the Taliban against her LSU team. YMMV. Forever to thee.

 

[GamecockFam]

@USMC(ret) playing at Texas will be another hard game. I wouldn't use the results from the prior game as a measuring stick for the next game at their place.

I think the biggest reason we have started looking like a national title team is because of the play from Edwards and Feagin. They both seemed to have had the light turn on and I don't expect them to regress. Fulwiley is getting better, Raven is no longer in a funk, and Dauda looks close to being another solid rotational player. This team looks like it's starting to come together and perform to the South Carolina standard!

 

[TC22]

Dawn understands MiLaysia so well. There’s a fine line to “controlling” a player like Lay. I’ll tell you, as a season ticket holder, she is must watch in person. But Dawn lets her leash on on Lay when she plays good D and she is playing great D right now.

LSU will be another contest but they’ve got outrebounded by Florida today. Really? Anyway, the game will be intense. Glad I have my tickets cuz it’s gonna be fun!

 

[Baller29]

Dawn understands MiLaysia so well. There’s a fine line to “controlling” a player like Lay. I’ll tell you, as a season ticket holder, she is must watch in person. But Dawn lets her leash on on Lay when she plays good D and she is playing great D right now.

LSU will be another contest but they’ve got outrebounded by Florida today. Really? Anyway, the game will be intense. Glad I have my tickets cuz it’s gonna be fun!

I don’t see anyone keeping within SC in conference play outside of Texas. Even then SC is a much better team


1. SC

2. Texas





Rest of conference


OU is a better team than LSU so I don’t think it’ll be remotely close this week

 

[visitingcock]

I don’t see anyone keeping within SC in conference play outside of Texas. Even then SC is a much better team


1. SC

2. Texas





Rest of conference


OU is a better team than LSU so I don’t think it’ll be remotely close this week

LSU has. Experience playing SC and playing them in CLA. Kim and her veterans won’t be as shell shocked by the crowd as Texas and Oklahoma were.