USC Gamecocks 2024-25 Season: Part Two

[ERWUC65]

Both teams seemed to have bad luck at the rim with many rimming in and out

A nice way of saying that it was a poor representation of high level college women's basketball.

 

[WBBTakeover]

A nice way of saying that it was a poor representation of high level college women's basketball.

It was high level basketball--at least by one team. Stifling, stingy defense is high level basketball.

 

[WBBTakeover]

SC would welcome a track meet. LSU would not have the depth to sustain it. LSU built that gaudy point average off of playing bad teams. I bet their SEC points are nowhere close to that.

Sure, South Carolina could've made the game a track meet because we're just that talented. True contenders can excel in multiple ways. But--why do that when you know that's what LSU wants to do? LSU does not want to play a junkyard dawg style of basketball because they're short on junkyard dawgs. We have several. Our players don't get frustrated when we don't have "pretty" stat lines. Theirs do.

Make no mistake--that was a demoralizing, mentally-exhausting, grinding 25+ minutes for LSU--and no matter how close the game got in the second half, those players knew deep down that they didn't have a realistic shot at winning with that style of play. Hence the panic shots, forced passes, and the '90s style block party courtesy of Sania Feagin.

 

[Coburn]

Nm

 

[triaddukefan]

If y'all need me to provide DJ services at your next home game, just let those in charge know. Just provide gas money, lodging at the Hyatt Place, ,and free meals and I will do it, Warning, I wont be playing any Waylon Jennings or the Statler Brothers or whatever music y'all are used to hearing.

 

[cancontent]

Having a legit PG who can direct things makes all the difference. The difference between PG play between LsU and SC is astounding

SDW is horrible
View attachment 106494

Yes she's struggled this season, but she's not horrible. Most on the board know I'm not her biggest fan but LSU's offence isn't a good fit for her at all.

Her career stats indicate she can do the job. To the level of the WNBA? Maybe not, but she could definitely hold her own overseas from what I 've seen.

To me, this is like Van Lith's situation last year. Seeing Van Lith this season at TCU seems to confirm this.

 

[Bone Dog]

Yes she's struggled this season, but she's not horrible. Most on the board know I'm not her biggest fan but LSU's offence isn't a good fit for her at all.

Her career stats indicate she can do the job. To the level of the WNBA? Maybe not, but she could definitely hold her own overseas from what I 've seen.

To me, this is like Van Lith's situation last year. Seeing Van Lith this season at TCU seems to confirm this.

SDW maybe should have stayed at Duke, as you said elsewhere. The stats suggest improvement at LSU, but I think those may be misleading given how weak Kim’s early season schedule was. And judging from today’s TCU-Texas A&M game, I worry about Hailey Van Lith’s improvement too. It may not be as substantial as appears. She had some brilliant stretches today, but also several absurd ones too.

Kids churn their portal in search of something. And they end up on teams with little chemistry as a result.

 

[jumpstart]

If y'all need me to provide DJ services at your next home game, just let those in charge know. Just provide gas money, lodging at the Hyatt Place, ,and free meals and I will do it, Warning, I wont be playing any Waylon Jennings or the Statler Brothers or whatever music y'all are used to hearing.

They usually play "Sympathy for the Devil" when they play you guys, so that will do. You need sympathy after they get through with you.....

 

[USMC(ret)]

SDW maybe should have stayed at Duke, as you said elsewhere. The stats suggest improvement at LSU, but I think those may be misleading given how weak Kim’s early season schedule was. And judging from today’s TCU-Texas A&M game, I worry about Hailey Van Lith’s improvement too. It may not be as substantial as appears. She had some brilliant stretches today, but also several absurd ones too.

Kids churn their portal in search of something. And they end up on teams with little chemistry as a result.

And this is what makes South Carolina a unique team: a dozen really talented players who buy into the concept of sharing the ball on offense and playing hard, physical defense.
Van Lith’s story at Louisville, LSU, and TCU is an example of the opposite. She had a very nice career at Louisville as a shooting guard who wanted/needed the ball in her hands. She graduates, but without sniffing a natty, so she heads to LSU, fresh off a natty; but LSU already has three other players who want/need the ball in THEIR hands, and Hailey Van Lith is forced into playing point guard, and it’s a bad fit from the start. I remember watching games where it seemed like her teammates were consciously freezing her out. So, it’s onto TCU, where she can reprise her role at Louisville.
Kim Mulkey said it best in her remarks after the last game against the Gamecocks: “They have 10 McDonalds All Americans… how do you even keep 10 McDonalds All Americans?” Answer: you only sign those you think will buy into your vision of championship contending team. Nothing revolutionary in that… I think that was Geno’s blueprint, too. It works for him, and it works for Dawn.

 

[visitingcock]

And this is what makes South Carolina a unique team: a dozen really talented players who buy into the concept of sharing the ball on offense and playing hard, physical defense.
Van Lith’s story at Louisville, LSU, and TCU is an example of the opposite. She had a very nice career at Louisville as a shooting guard who wanted/needed the ball in her hands. She graduates, but without sniffing a natty, so she heads to LSU, fresh off a natty; but LSU already has three other players who want/need the ball in THEIR hands, and Hailey Van Lith is forced into playing point guard, and it’s a bad fit from the start. I remember watching games where it seemed like her teammates were consciously freezing her out. So, it’s onto TCU, where she can reprise her role at Louisville.
Kim Mulkey said it best in her remarks after the last game against the Gamecocks: “They have 10 McDonalds All Americans… how do you even keep 10 McDonalds All Americans?” Answer: you only sign those you think will buy into your vision of championship contending team. Nothing revolutionary in that… I think that was Geno’s blueprint, too. It works for him, and it works for Dawn.

Yes it HAS worked for them - thus far. bUT it did not appear to have worked well this last recruiting cycle. ( based upon recruit rankings) Geno did not sign normal UConn level recruits. SCar signed only one recruit again perhaps not of the usual level.

Was this most recent cycle an anomaly or is NIL disrupting thing that have mattered more in the past!

 

[USMC(ret)]

Yes it HAS worked for them - thus far. bUT it did not appear to have worked well this last recruiting cycle. ( based upon recruit rankings) Geno did not sign normal UConn level recruits. SCar signed only one recruit again perhaps not of the usual level.

Was this most recent cycle an anomaly or is NIL disrupting thing that have mattered more in the past!

Not sure there’s a lot of NIL money in WBB, except at a very few schools (Texas can print money). I think some schools recruit successfully off of their pedigree. Geno can point to his past players in the WNBA and his many natties… heck, you could populate an entire wing of the Hall of Fame with his former players. I suspect some players transfer out of programs because their parents think that minutes on the court in games is more important than actual player development, and the parents are often not impartial when it comes to evaluating their own kids.
And then there’s kids who have what I call “Kobe Bryant Disease”. They want minutes, they want shots, and they want fame… no interest in natties. These kids watched Kobe dribble the ball outside the arc, and then decide if he was going to drive the lane or shoot the 3. Shaq to Kobe:” There’s no I in team.” Kobe to Shaq: “No, but there’s an M and an E”. Some players want to be JuJu Watkins instead of Raven Johnson or Tessa Johnson. And some coaches recruit with that in mind.

 

[cancontent]

Not sure there’s a lot of NIL money in WBB, except at a very few schools (Texas can print money). I think some schools recruit successfully off of their pedigree. Geno can point to his past players in the WNBA and his many natties… heck, you could populate an entire wing of the Hall of Fame with his former players. I suspect some players transfer out of programs because their parents think that minutes on the court in games is more important than actual player development, and the parents are often not impartial when it comes to evaluating their own kids.
And then there’s kids who have what I call “Kobe Bryant Disease”. They want minutes, they want shots, and they want fame… no interest in natties. These kids watched Kobe dribble the ball outside the arc, and then decide if he was going to drive the lane or shoot the 3. Shaq to Kobe:” There’s no I in team.” Kobe to Shaq: “No, but there’s an M and an E”. Some players want to be JuJu Watkins instead of Raven Johnson or Tessa Johnson. And some coaches recruit with that in mind.

You mean the young Kobe Bryant I hope? The later version of Kobe was very different than the one you're referring to.

 

[Cockygirl]

Not sure there’s a lot of NIL money in WBB, except at a very few schools (Texas can print money). I think some schools recruit successfully off of their pedigree. Geno can point to his past players in the WNBA and his many natties… heck, you could populate an entire wing of the Hall of Fame with his former players. I suspect some players transfer out of programs because their parents think that minutes on the court in games is more important than actual player development, and the parents are often not impartial when it comes to evaluating their own kids.
And then there’s kids who have what I call “Kobe Bryant Disease”. They want minutes, they want shots, and they want fame… no interest in natties. These kids watched Kobe dribble the ball outside the arc, and then decide if he was going to drive the lane or shoot the 3. Shaq to Kobe:” There’s no I in team.” Kobe to Shaq: “No, but there’s an M and an E”. Some players want to be JuJu Watkins instead of Raven Johnson or Tessa Johnson. And some coaches recruit with that in mind.

So true! Some kids want to be the super star of their team, some want to be the home town hero, some see dollar signs (I think several schools offer a good bit of money), and some just want a championship however they can contribute. It is much different these days in the recruiting world.

 

[visitingcock]

 

[JstVisiting]

If it doesn’t click for Milaysia soon, she’s going to spend her entire career watching most 4th quarters.

Tonight’s game was over til she wasted 5 straight possessions, most of them bad 3s.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

And this is what makes South Carolina a unique team: a dozen really talented players who buy into the concept of sharing the ball on offense and playing hard, physical defense.
Van Lith’s story at Louisville, LSU, and TCU is an example of the opposite. She had a very nice career at Louisville as a shooting guard who wanted/needed the ball in her hands. She graduates, but without sniffing a natty, so she heads to LSU, fresh off a natty; but LSU already has three other players who want/need the ball in THEIR hands, and Hailey Van Lith is forced into playing point guard, and it’s a bad fit from the start. I remember watching games where it seemed like her teammates were consciously freezing her out. So, it’s onto TCU, where she can reprise her role at Louisville.
Kim Mulkey said it best in her remarks after the last game against the Gamecocks: “They have 10 McDonalds All Americans… how do you even keep 10 McDonalds All Americans?” Answer: you only sign those you think will buy into your vision of championship contending team. Nothing revolutionary in that… I think that was Geno’s blueprint, too. It works for him, and it works for Dawn.

Having the most good players works for most coaches.

Mulkey was basically excuse making, smh.

I guess her team of scrappy no-talents went as far as her coaching could take them (he says drily).

Reminds me of her saying her young team wasn't ready to match up with experienced SCar last year. They were the defending champion with bulk of their roster back and South Carolina had to replace five starters.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

If it doesn’t click for Milaysia soon, she’s going to spend her entire career watching most 4th quarters.

Tonight’s game was over til she wasted 5 straight possessions, most of them bad 3s.

It's getting worse.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Boy, that Tennessee-SCar game was ugly.

I suppose that Caldwell would ideally be doing this with better players, but that was really unimpressive display.

Carolina looks like they could use a few days off.

 

[SCGamecock]

5 straight ranked wins in 15 days, 2 against top 10 teams. The fatigue finally caught up with them in the 4th quarter.

Proud of the team, they deserve this break.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

5 straight ranked wins in 15 days, 2 against top 10 teams. The fatigue finally caught up with them in the 4th quarter.

Proud of the team, they deserve this break.

Just bad decision making in 4th Q, not fatigue.

 

[SCGamecock]

Just bad decision making in 4th Q, not fatigue.

Bad decision making late in the game is often times a result of fatigue. Not always, but some times.

 

[packwrap]

Bad decision making late in the game is often times a result of fatigue. Not always, but some times.

How can they be fatigued with that deep bench?

Recruiting? Dawn is just very honest when she recruits. She tells them it's crowded, but they will play 15-20 min per game, be part of the fam, compete and win titles, and start when they are upperclassman. It works!

LSU always beat up on the board here, but...

AD and Prez thrilled with Mulkey hire. She immediately made them relevant again, they already lucked into an ncaa title, and she continues to recruit well.

They will be around again this year in final 8, and I'm sure they left the SC game believing they can beat them in a rematch.

Mulkey recruits less quantity than Dawn, but then she can play her stars more minutes. Kids like that, you can't be a Clark, JuJu, Morrow, Reese, FJ unless you play 30min a game.

Different styles make it fun to follow, it's a great year for NCAA women. Even Tenn being competitive again has been positive.

 

[USMC(ret)]

Thoughts on the Tennessee game earlier tonight:
1. Never seen us miss that many layups… if we had made even half of them, we would have won by at least fifteen.
2. As previous posters stated, Lay did not play well, and played only 9 minutes. Not trending in the right direction.
3. Maddie is returning to form.
4. Not a good night for Feagin, either.
5. Dauda should not be allowed to inbound the ball against the press, ever again.
6. A helluva five game streak…. Played five ranked teams, beat five ranked teams. Of course, that also speaks well for our conference.

 

[VA Huskie]

Amazing to me that “Lay” only played 9 minutes and had the 2nd most shots on the team. The announcers keep talking about what an incredible talent she is. I agree that she’s amazingly athletic, but not a very good basketball player at this time. If she learns how to play under control she could become the “generational” player that Dawn referred to her as being.

 

[bballnut90]

Amazing to me that “Lay” only played 9 minutes and had the 2nd most shots on the team. The announcers keep talking about what an incredible talent she is. I agree that she’s amazingly athletic, but not a very good basketball player at this time. If she learns how to play under control she could become the “generational” player that Dawn referred to her as being.

When she figures out that better shot selection and decision making will earn her minutes, she’s going to be an All American. I thought she’d make that jump this year but it hasn’t happened yet.

 

[bballnut90]

Just wanted to point out that Joyce Edwards (relatively quietly) averaged 16ppg off the bench in the 5 consecutive wins over ranked teams. Pretty impressive stuff for any one, let alone a freshman. She isn’t flashy but is incredibly effective and might be SC’s best player already.

 

[TC22]

When she figures out that better shot selection and decision making will earn her minutes, she’s going to be an All American. I thought she’d make that jump this year but it hasn’t happened yet.

I think she’s figured it out and then tonight happens. MiLaysia is a very talented player but doesn’t have a very high BB IQ. You can tell she was the only player on her team that was good, that they blew out everybody, and her coach let her do whatever she wanted. Talaysia Cooper was the same. She was 5/21 tonight. Very talented but not very smart when it comes to how you win games. Saniya Rivers was the same way.

I Hope Lay sticks around and learns what Dawn is trying desperately to teach her.

 

[Puppy Love]

Congrats on the win. I thought the game was ugly and that mental fatigue got to SC in the fourth quarter. Edwards is young and sometimes looks it on the court, but man does she have game.

 

[cancontent]

The stat that the bench outscores the starters was an eye opener last night. Great problem to have.

 

[GamecockFam]

How can they be fatigued with that deep bench?

Recruiting? Dawn is just very honest when she recruits. She tells them it's crowded, but they will play 15-20 min per game, be part of the fam, compete and win titles, and start when they are upperclassman. It works!

LSU always beat up on the board here, but...

AD and Prez thrilled with Mulkey hire. She immediately made them relevant again, they already lucked into an ncaa title, and she continues to recruit well.

They will be around again this year in final 8, and I'm sure they left the SC game believing they can beat them in a rematch.

Mulkey recruits less quantity than Dawn, but then she can play her stars more minutes. Kids like that, you can't be a Clark, JuJu, Morrow, Reese, FJ unless you play 30min a game.

Different styles make it fun to follow, it's a great year for NCAA women. Even Tenn being competitive again has been positive.

I was worried about this game from a fatigue standpoint because I knew we gave it our all against LSU and typically teams have off nights after big games. This felt a little like a trap game since fatiguing the opponent is part of Tennessee's strategy.

Also, our bench has shortened at times during this gauntlet of top 25 games. I thought we played decently after we adjusted in the 2nd quarter. I doubt we will play as bad as we did in the fourth if we played Tennessee at the beginning of the gauntlet instead of the end -- especially right after the LSU game.