USC vs. USC Tonight at 7:00 p.m., EST

[EricSD]

I'm not sure who you think is rubbing anything in anyone's faces, but when their fans come on here and argue with me when I call last year's SC team "over rated" and they go on and on about it, I think some "dose of reality" posts are in order. If you think differently that's fine, but I don't consider anything on here "rubbing it on others' faces". But I'm very glad the "post police" are represented tonight!

 

[j66kicker]

South Carolina has played one game, a game they won. Do we really need to rub it in others' faces that it wasn't a blowout? I'm sure they realize that. Four years ago the Huskies lost at home to St. Johns. That same year they were one putback away from going to the title game. I think a wait-and-see approach is needed.

Agree. I mean, at least they played a credible team. SoCal isn't ranked, but I wouldn't call them a 'cupcake'. S. Carolina got the win. I don't think it was a 'bad win'. And I'm sure they started getting some things figured out in the process.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I'm not referring soley to your post, Eric. But I do think there's a nah-nah thing going on since one of the preseason favorites to contend struggled. If SC is still struggling like this in three months, then I think many will have to reassess their original thoughts on the team.

 

[Topdawg]

Sure, South Carolina didn't look good tonight, but they won the game, which is really the goal for the first game of the season. I doubt that much insight can be gained on opening night because of the jitters that cannot be calmed by practice or exhibition game blowouts. Overreacting one way or the other seems unwarranted to me. How the Gamecocks develop over the season is far more important than how they looked tonight.

High seedlings create expectations and reactions. Let's see how quickly this team matures.

 

[Kibitzer]

For the record the USC Women of Troy (not theTrojans) played the USC (Lady?) Gamecocks.

I offer no editorial comment.

 

[UConnCat]

I think the reactions of fans here is pretty typical of fans generally. The reaction to a less than stellar performance is generally proportionate to the amount of hype leading up to the performance. SC's coach, players and fans have not been shy about talking of a national championship. Nothing at all wrong with that but it's always a good idea to back up the talk. That didn't happen tonight but there's a lot of time to figure things out if that is all that's required.

One thing Staley should be able to figure out is what lineup to put on the floor. To her credit she quickly abandoned the plan to play A'ja Wilson at the 2 guard as a mediocre USC team was able to expose that lineup in all of 4 minutes. South Carolina's best lineup tonight was with A'ja Wilson on the bench. I trust Staley will figure out how best to use a talent like Wilson but it won't be at the 2 guard. The part I'm less sure about is whether So Carolina has fixed last year's flaws (e.g., lack of perimeter shooting when inside options are shut down) which was a problem tonight. Counting on Sessions to make 3s to win the game is not a winning formula.

 

[hoophuskee]

Sure, South Carolina didn't look good tonight, but they won the game, which is really the goal for the first game of the season. I doubt that much insight can be gained on opening night because of the jitters that cannot be calmed by practice or exhibition game blowouts. Overreacting one way or the other seems unwarranted to me. How the Gamecocks develop over the season is far more important than how they looked tonight.

Sure there is. Some of us thought there was an over-reaction to having Wilson which from some said that USC would give UCONN fits. For me, I questioned how they could control the tempo. The fact USC didn't start a true pg tells me they're searching and unless Sessions (or unless Roy is a pg) can start and play productive big minutes as a pg - it just re-affirms my opinion. You're right it's still early but it doesn't take away from the fact that they have a long way to go.

 

[msf22b]

I would have imagined that a good coach would have realized in practice that Aja can't guard college two's
Perhaps the starting lineup was an opp for Dawn to prove to Asia that that was the fact (at least a credible explanation).
If so, I can't imagine Geno doing that.

Conversely, if Dawn didn't realize that Asia had deficiencies in that area, then perhaps she's not as good as we thought (the coach, not Asia).

 

[hoophuskee]

I would have imagined that a good coach would have realized in practice that Aja can't guard college two's
Perhaps the starting lineup was an opp for Dawn to prove to Asia that that was the fact (at least a credible explanation).
If so, I can't imagine Geno doing that.

Conversely, if Dawn didn't realize that Asia had deficiencies in that area, then perhaps she's not as good as we thought (the coach, not Asia).

I thought the same thing. She had to see it and of course would deny she saw it.

 

[semper]

This is a UConn board, and it would seem we can say what we believe about other teams, as long as we aren't (or should be anyway) mean spirited. Some of us have been saying that ND is probably no. 2, and so it's only human to have a game play out that suggests we might be right.

 

[EricSD]

I'm not referring soley to your post, Eric. But I do think there's a nah-nah thing going on since one of the preseason favorites to contend struggled. If SC is still struggling like this in three months, then I think many will have to reassess their original thoughts on the team.

Fair enough boss, and as you said, we will know soon enough as the season progresses!!

 

[easttexastrash]

I'm not sure who you think is rubbing anything in anyone's faces, but when their fans come on here and argue with me when I call last year's SC team "over rated" and they go on and on about it, I think some "dose of reality" posts are in order. If you think differently that's fine, but I don't consider anything on here "rubbing it on others' faces". But I'm very glad the "post police" are represented tonight!

You have never been one to rub anything in so I am not sure why anyone would get that impression.

 

[easttexastrash]

S Carolina's offense looked disjointed until the end of the game, at which point they went with last year's players and separated from SoCal. I think there are a lot of new pieces that Staley has to fit together.

I also think Cooper has a better team than most thought. They brought a real fighting spirit to the game and I was impressed by their performance.

And let's make note that they played a team from a power conference, not UMass Lowell, like Notre Dame did. Had ND played a better opponent we would have a better comparison of the two teams.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

For the record the USC Women of Troy (not theTrojans) played the USC (Lady?) Gamecocks.

I offer no editorial comment.

Just Gamecocks, "Lady" was dropped about 20 years ago and, yes, Columbia is the double entendre capital of the world.

We didn't play well tonight, but we won. Southern Cal fouled a lot tonight until they had a lot of players with 4 fouls. Once that happened, we went on a run to take control. Southern Cal has a pretty good team and I think they'll be in the tournament again. It's not the size of the victory that matters, but the fact that it's a "W". A'ja Wilson is not a "2", but I actually think Dawn is trying to show her that by letting her play a little 2. Sometimes a little psychology helps later on. As the season goes on I think A'ja will play the 3 75% of the time with the rest split between the 2 and the 4. We didn't come out flat tonight, I think the team came out anxious to impress an opening night crowd over 10,000 after a big, last second football win at Florida early in the day.

 

[hoophuskee]

Just Gamecocks, "Lady" was dropped about 20 years ago and, yes, Columbia is the double entendre capital of the world.

We didn't play well tonight, but we won. Southern Cal fouled a lot tonight until they had a lot of players with 4 fouls. Once that happened, we went on a run to take control. Southern Cal has a pretty good team and I think they'll be in the tournament again. It's not the size of the victory that matters, but the fact that it's a "W". A'ja Wilson is not a "2", but I actually think Dawn is trying to show her that by letting her play a little 2. Sometimes a little psychology helps later on. As the season goes on I think A'ja will play the 3 75% of the time with the rest split between the 2 and the 4. We didn't come out flat tonight, I think the team came out anxious to impress an opening night crowd over 10,000 after a big, last second football win at Florida early in the day.

I think you and your coach are out of you minds if you continue with Wilson as 2guard. Though I've only seen Wilson play sparingly on a video - she doesn't look at all like should handle being a 2guard.

Secondly, if Wilson is the 3, where do Welch and Mitchell play? One plays the 2- Mitchell I suppose. But where does it leave Welch? Are you trying to say Welch is better 4 than Wilson? Or are you going to force Mitchell to play the pg?

 

[easttexastrash]

Wilson has Parker-like skills but she needs to be playing the 4. As much as she wants to be a 3 I just don't think she is ready to play that position.

Coates is a real talent.

What I didn't understand tonight was how S Car tried to run the offense through the players in the corners. I felt like there was way too much passing going on to and from the corner, which seemed to disrupt S Car's offensive rhythm. With all that height and length the high/low game was not used nearly enough.

 

[Orangutan]

It took me about 5 minutes of watching Wilson in the McDonald's game to realize she is not a guard. This just confirmed it for me.

She's a faceup 4 in my opinion but I don't know how that fits into SC's plans. I guess 3 is the best place for her right now.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I think you and your coach are out of you minds if you continue with Wilson as 2guard. Though I've only seen Wilson play sparingly on a video - she doesn't look at all like should handle being a 2guard.

Secondly, if Wilson is the 3, where do Welch and Mitchell play? One plays the 2- Mitchell I suppose. But where does it leave Welch? Are you trying to say Welch is better 4 than Wilson? Or are you going to force Mitchell to play the pg?

I said in my post that Wilson is not a "2" or did you miss that? I said that, IMO, Dawn is letting Wilson play a little 2 as a psychological ploy to show her that she's not a 2 in college ball. Right now, Welch is a better 4 than Wilson. I think Wilson will end up playing mostly 3 this season. Sessions is our PG, though I don't know why she didn't start tonight. I think Cuevas will be the main backup at PG with Mitchell playing mostly 2 and a little PG. Alaina Coates is a beast at the 5. IMO, our best lineup is Sessions at 1, Mitchell at 2, Wilson or maybe Dozier at 3, Welch at 4 and Coates at 5. Tonight, Roy was our best backup at 2. It will be interesting to see the starting lineup against Clemson on Thursday night.

 

[Orangutan]

And let's make note that they played a team from a power conference, not UMass Lowell, like Notre Dame did. Had ND played a better opponent we would have a better comparison of the two teams.

We won't have to wait long. ND Plays Michigan State on Wednesday.

 

[hoophuskee]

Wilson has Parker-like skills but she needs to be playing the 4. As much as she wants to be a 3 I just don't think she is ready to play that position.

Coates is a real talent.

What I didn't understand tonight was how S Car tried to run the offense through the players in the corners. I felt like there was way too much passing going on to and from the corner, which seemed to disrupt S Car's offensive rhythm. With all that height and length the high/low game was not used nearly enough.

You see it and I see it and I'm sure many others do - on this thread as well it has been mentioned. So the quesion is - what the heck is the coach thinking and maybe some of the USC fans thinking? It's not meant to be a slam- but how can it be expected Wilson as a 2? I'd be shocked is she could cut her teeth at that position.

Seccndly- I agree with you about Wilson as a 4. Now I'd like to ask you something -- please don't take offense to this -- you were one of the posters that was admonsihing us husky fans that you seemed to think they are a real threat to UCONN- in addtion to being extremely high on Wilson, am I right? So you think a team that is predominantly going to play a freshman at the 4 and Coates whom you love as a soph at the 5- are going to outplay UCONN in the paint with UCONN having upperclassmen at the 4 and 5 positions? Of which Stewart is a class ahead (i.e. better)?

Or are you trying to say Stewart isn't a class ahead (better- in a higher class) than USC's soph and frosh?

 

[hoophuskee]

I said in my post that Wilson is not a "2" or did you miss that? I said that, IMO, Dawn is letting Wilson play a little 2 as a psychological ploy to show her that she's not a 2 in college ball. Right now, Welch is a better 4 than Wilson. I think Wilson will end up playing mostly 3 this season. Sessions is our PG, though I don't know why she didn't start tonight. I think Cuevas will be the main backup at PG with Mitchell playing mostly 2 and a little PG. Alaina Coates is a beast at the 5. IMO, our best lineup is Sessions at 1, Mitchell at 2, Wilson or maybe Dozier at 3, Welch at 4 and Coates at 5. Tonight, Roy was our best backup at 2. It will be interesting to see the starting lineup against Clemson on Thursday night.

After you said that you explained how Wilson will play 3.75 of the time at the sf. Here is what you said:

I think A'ja will play the 3 75% of the time with the rest split between the 2 and the 4.

That's what I'm saying. I don't understand how you can say she'l split some of her time at the 2.

And so now that Welch is the pf- how much of a height advantage do you have on UCONN? Welch is 6'0. Doesn't the best player in wcbb whom UCONN will be focusing their offense on- now have a decisive height advantage? I mean this is the best player in the game that just doesn't need a guard to feed her in the post. This is a player with 7'2 wingspan.

By the way, who has a better outside shot- Wilson or Welch? And who do you predict will be able to score more easily in the post- Wilson or Welch? And who do you think can become a better offensive rebounder, Wilson or Welch?

You see what you are saying to me- you are saying that Wilson is your best 4 but then you say she'll play the three most of the season yet you go on to say Wilson will play 3.75 of the season at the 3. It doesn't make sense.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

After you said that you explained how Wilson will play 3.75 of the time at the sf. Here is what you said:

I think A'ja will play the 3 75% of the time with the rest split between the 2 and the 4.

That's what I'm saying. I don't understand how you can say she'l split some of her time at the 2.

And so now that Welch is the pf- how much of a height advantage do you have on UCONN? Welch is 6'0. Doesn't the best player in wcbb whom UCONN will be focusing their offense on- now have a decisive height advantage? I mean this is the best player in the game that just doesn't need a guard to feed her in the post. This is a player with 7'2 wingspan.

By the way, who has a better outside shot- Wilson or Welch? And who do you predict will be able to score more easily in the post- Wilson or Welch? And who do you think can become a better offensive rebounder, Wilson or Welch?

You see what you are saying to me- you are saying that Wilson is your best 4 but then you say she'll play the three most of the season yet you go on to say Wilson will play 3.75 of the season at the 3. It doesn't make sense.

If A'ja plays 20 minutes a game and plays the 3 75% of the time that means she may slide over to the 2 or the 4 for a few minutes a game to see how she does. I also stated that Wilson is NOT a 2. I never said Wilson was our best 4, I said she was our likely starter at the 3. Welch is a great athlete and best at the 4, in my opinion. Welch has almost always played the 4. She will also play the 3 a few times. We have a number of versatile players and it will take a few games before a set rotation is in place.

 

[hoophuskee]

If A'ja plays 20 minutes a game and plays the 3 75% of the time that means she may slide over to the 2 or the 4 for a few minutes a game to see how she does. I also stated that Wilson is NOT a 2. I never said Wilson was our best 4, I said she was our likely starter at the 3. Welch is a great athlete and best at the 4, in my opinion. Welch has almost always played the 4. She will also play the 3 a few times. We have a number of versatile players and it will take a few games before a set rotation is in place.

I'm sorry I made a typo - you had said Welch is your best 4. Plus I got your post confused. I thoguth you said Welch was your best 3. Mea culpa. Sorry abou that.

But again--

By the way, who has a better outside shot- Wilson or Welch? And who do you predict will be able to score more easily in the post- Wilson or Welch? And who do you think can become a better offensive rebounder, Wilson or Welch?

And now that you say Welch is your pf-- again I ask--

how much of a height advantage do you have vs. UCONN? Welch is 6'0. Doesn't the best player in wcbb whom UCONN will be focusing their offense on- now have a decisive height advantage? I mean this is the best player in the game that just doesn't need a guard to feed her in the post. This is a player with 7'2 wingspan. You're going to have a 6'0 player gaurd her yet claim you have a big height advanatge? The msot important player on the floor has the most decisive height advantage for most of the game.

 

[hoophuskee]

I got to crash but you are also saying Wilson will play a few minutes at the 2. Why? That was my point. It's crazy. She's no 2.

 

[Wbbfan1]

If that is what Dawn is doing, its a mistake. You have the inmates running the ship. Dawn should make the decision where best to play A'ja based on her currently abilities and tell A'ja why and that's where she played. You don't put players in a position to fail when you know they will. I've read comments attributed to A'ja that she doesn't like contact and that's why she prefers to play on the wing vs front court. She needs to get over that, just like Stewart had to. A'ja best position is the 4, where she can use her mobility and size to best advantage. She'll never be a guard at the next level and if she wants to play at the next level, the time to develop the required skills is in College.

I said in my post that Wilson is not a "2" or did you miss that? I said that, IMO, Dawn is letting Wilson play a little 2 as a psychological ploy to show her that she's not a 2 in college ball. Right now, Welch is a better 4 than Wilson. I think Wilson will end up playing mostly 3 this season. Sessions is our PG, though I don't know why she didn't start tonight. I think Cuevas will be the main backup at PG with Mitchell playing mostly 2 and a little PG. Alaina Coates is a beast at the 5. IMO, our best lineup is Sessions at 1, Mitchell at 2, Wilson or maybe Dozier at 3, Welch at 4 and Coates at 5. Tonight, Roy was our best backup at 2. It will be interesting to see the starting lineup against Clemson on Thursday night.

 

[sawxfan23]

Wilson has Parker-like skills but she needs to be playing the 4. As much as she wants to be a 3 I just don't think she is ready to play that position.

Coates is a real talent.

What I didn't understand tonight was how S Car tried to run the offense through the players in the corners. I felt like there was way too much passing going on to and from the corner, which seemed to disrupt S Car's offensive rhythm. With all that height and length the high/low game was not used nearly enough.

I said all along when UConn was still recruiting Wilson that she is a 4 and doesn't have the ball handling skills, quickness, or jump shot to play the 2 or 3.

 

[pap49cba]

I said all along when UConn was still recruiting Wilson that she is a 4 and doesn't have the ball handling skills, quickness, or jump shot to play the 2 or 3.

Apparently, none of the USC coaches has found the courage to tell her that.

 

[msf22b]

I didn't say it…the AP did

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Dawn Staley wanted a difficult test to start No. 2 South Carolina's season. Southern Cal gave the Gamecocks one they almost couldn't handle.

 

[EricSD]

If that is what Dawn is doing, its a mistake. You have the inmates running the ship. Dawn should make the decision where best to play A'ja based on her currently abilities and tell A'ja why and that's where she played. You don't put players in a position to fail when you know they will. I've read comments attributed to A'ja that she doesn't like contact and that's why she prefers to play on the wing vs front court. She needs to get over that, just like Stewart had to. A'ja best position is the 4, where she can use her mobility and size to best advantage. She'll never be a guard at the next level and if she wants to play at the next level, the time to develop the required skills is in College.

That's actually a good point. For reference, Gabby Williams actually played some 1 in college, but at 6', and strong and athletic, Geno seems to feel her best position is the 4/3 so he's running her thru the "post".

 

[PalPa]

That's actually a good point. For reference, Gabby Williams actually played some 1 in college, but at 6', and strong and athletic, Geno seems to feel her best position is the 4/3 so he's running her thru the "post".

You did mean high school didn't you?