Week 9 - Dec 29 to Jan 4

[Gamecockfan77]

Big win for Stanford today.

 

[Bone Dog]

My guess is that Blakes is probably the best free throw shooter on Vandy and the only one who’s not scared to take them in that moment.

There’s no doubt that getting the ball to Blakes was the idea on Vandy — and a darn good one too. But on so many occasions they almost stumbled into foolish turnovers. And in that final one, they actually did, though the refs missed it.

To my eye, these didn’t even look like practiced plays. They looked like Blakes waiting for the ball while her teammates stood around — no screens, no movement. Just stagnant.

 

[GoChips20]

Mikaylah Williams is puzzling to me because when I watch her she’s got the shot, physique, and smarts to take over any game, but it doesn’t happen, and I don’t feel like she’s passive

 

[Bone Dog]

Mikaylah Williams is puzzling to me because when I watch her she’s got the shot, physique, and smarts to take over any game, but it doesn’t happen, and I don’t feel like she’s passive

I’m less impressed by Mikaylah than some are. You’re right that she’s got the talent to be great. But she doesn’t seem to have the focus and drive for it. I watched the 3v3 tournament last summer where she played with Sarah Strong, and the contrast between them was stark. I think she needs a star next to her, like Reese or Morrow, in order to really shine. We’ll see if Flau’jae can be that star for her.

 

[bballnut90]

Mikaylah Williams is puzzling to me because when I watch her she’s got the shot, physique, and smarts to take over any game, but it doesn’t happen, and I don’t feel like she’s passive

I think it will happen, just didn't today because LSU was incapable of not turning the ball over. They're basically figuring out their roles now (rather than 2 months ago) since their entire non-con was quad 4 teams. Williams is the best playmaker on the team and will likely step into that role rather than Flaujae or Fulwiley IMO. Fulwiley had a great comeback game today after a no show vs Kentucky. No idea what happened to Flaujae but that was easily the worst showing of her career today.

Blakes/Galvan didn't have great games until the 4th but showed confidence to step up and make things happen when it mattered which is invaluable. Vandy has a couple of easy games before a random matchup with Michigan and then they face a brutal stretch (South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, Kentucky, OU and Texas). I think they'll rise to 6 or 7 tomorrow which has to be the highest ranking they've had in probably 20+ years.

 

[bballnut90]

Duke is quickly gaining ground after their awful start. They've looked far more cohesive the last several games and Lawson appears to have the ship back on course.

I feel similarly about NC State. They've been playing much better since the Rhode Island loss (nearly beat #8 OU and throttled Stanford who just beat #16 UNC today).

Both have a lot of work to do but could play themselves back into hosting contention with strong performances in ACC play.

 

[Stagnant]

Woah, Texas only won by 3? Wow. Somehow I wasn’t paying attention and missed that result.

 

[TheFarmFan]

If you told me Crooks would have 22 pts at the half and Baylor's Scott was riding the bench with zero points and 0-8 from the field I'd not have picked Baylor to be up by 2 at the half. Big scoring boost from Bear's Deng off the bench with 10 pts. Lot-o-turnovers by ISU.

I think you channeled @nwhoopfan here:

Taliah Scott hit the winning shot with 2.9 seconds left and scored all 21 of her points in the second half, leading No. 22 Baylor past No. 10 and previously unbeaten Iowa State 72-70 on Sunday.

Unfortunately for your home team it was the reverse jinx that keeps me from ever commentating mid-game to save my life (and my team).

 

[Bigboote]

Totally unrelated to anything that's been mentioned, but one of the announcers yesterday during the Iowa State game said "They have to start setting more picks for Audi Crooks. I was thinking, "How do you set a pick for someone who isn't moving?" Then it occured to me that five minutes earlier, the same announcer said that one great thing about Crooks's game is that she just sets up a few feet from the basket and can't be moved. 🙃

 

[Tngamecock]

Yeah. Please re-read as you apparently missed the point.

triaddukefan said:
Yep. Where would the $EC be without the ACC. Little Carolina would have at least one maybe two less national titles.
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Can u splain it to me? How would South Carolina have two less titles without the ACC? I am assuming you are calling South Carolina little Carolina. But then as a Duke fan, I would hope you were calling North Carolina little Carolina. I’ve been around a long time, even when South Carolina was in the ACC.

 

[HuskylnSC]

That’s Vanderbilt for ya. Do they still have the elevated court?

yes and the just remodeled the gym and kept the weirdness

 

[triaddukefan]

triaddukefan said:
Yep. Where would the $EC be without the ACC. Little Carolina would have at least one maybe two less national titles.
————————

Can u splain it to me? How would South Carolina have two less titles without the ACC? I am assuming you are calling South Carolina little Carolina. But then as a Duke fan, I would hope you were calling North Carolina little Carolina. I’ve been around a long time, even when South Carolina was in the ACC.

Without the transfers of Davis and Gray from ACC Schools... No title in 2017. Without the transfer of Cardoso from a ACC school.... Not sure if a title is won in 2024.

 

[BRS24]

Let's move onto week 10.