Who wins this weekend? #6 Notre Dame at #3 U$C, #1 SCAR at #5 fUCLA | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Who wins this weekend? #6 Notre Dame at #3 U$C, #1 SCAR at #5 fUCLA

Who wins? #6 Notre Dame at #3 U$C, #1 SCAR at #5 fUCLA

  • Total voters
    101
  • Poll closed .
They’re all still pulling themselves together and playing raggedy games. ND is the furthest along in that process and looks the most promising. It will be fascinating to see how Koval does against Marshall. She has a very ‘compact’ game and good low post moves. And she’s a ‘big’ 6’5” kid. I doubt she gets in foul trouble. But the real key is Hidalgo Miles and Citron, and I suspect they will run USC’s guards off the court. Juju will score, as will Kiki, but it won’t be enough.

UCLA is potentially taller at every position than SC, and teams with that much height usually seem to lose to quicker more athletic squads. I have no evidence for this feeling other than to point to Oregon in the Prince years. Also, UCLA is verging on becoming a portal patchwork team. And as ragged as SC has sometimes seemed, I am confident they will rise to this occasion, and the key to this one will probably be some kid from Minnesota.
 
I am MILDLY surprised by how little attention this two games are receiving from the LA media. Indeed, I don’t see ANY ( though my search has not been in depth.)

Sure, LAbis one of the world’s biggest media markets and there are many stories to report. However, California’s liberal reputation and feminist tradition would seem to indicate that editors,?producers and writers would pay some attention to local womens sports.

I guess a portion of the blame can still be attributed to the failure of the PAC leadership to promote the region’s collegiate sports.
 
visitingcock said:
I am MILDLY surprised by how little attention this two games are receiving from the LA media. Indeed, I don’t see ANY ( though my search has not been in depth.)

Sure, LAbis one of the world’s biggest media markets and there are many stories to report. However, California’s liberal reputation and feminist tradition would seem to indicate that editors,?producers and writers would pay some attention to local womens sports.

I guess a portion of the blame can still be attributed to the failure of the PAC leadership to promote the region’s collegiate sports.
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The LA Times sports section only covers what the ADs ask them to, and right now that’s football. There’s too much money involved for it to go any other way. Independent reporting is not what happens in the sports section. And the TV news tends to take its cue from print media.
 
visitingcock said:
I am MILDLY surprised by how little attention this two games are receiving from the LA media. Indeed, I don’t see ANY ( though my search has not been in depth.)

Sure, LAbis one of the world’s biggest media markets and there are many stories to report. However, California’s liberal reputation and feminist tradition would seem to indicate that editors,?producers and writers would pay some attention to local womens sports.

I guess a portion of the blame can still be attributed to the failure of the PAC leadership to promote the region’s collegiate sports.
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Actually, I'm surprised neither game is getting much hype on a national level. I'm not seeing much online or on TV, unless I missed it during a half time segment somewhere. You'd think the buzz around Watkins would prompt the media to talk about it. Head scratcher.
 
visitingcock said:
I am MILDLY surprised by how little attention this two games are receiving from the LA media. Indeed, I don’t see ANY ( though my search has not been in depth.)

Sure, LAbis one of the world’s biggest media markets and there are many stories to report. However, California’s liberal reputation and feminist tradition would seem to indicate that editors,?producers and writers would pay some attention to local womens sports.

I guess a portion of the blame can still be attributed to the failure of the PAC leadership to promote the region’s collegiate sports.
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LA has always been a pro sports town first and foremost. When the Rams left and they had no NFL team, U$C became the hometown team, and it coincided with one of their most successful eras.

Now, there's two NFL teams (one won the Superbowl a few years ago), two baseball teams (one just won the World Series), two pro basketball teams (and one has the LeBron show), and two hockey teams to boot. Plus U$C football. There's just not a ton of sports fan bandwidth left over, especially for a town whose main jam is an entertainment industry that doesn't naturally care as much about sports anyway.

The one thing the Sparks have going for them is NONE of those sports but baseball are going during their season, so there's a hungry audience. I'm afraid WCBB just has a very hard time competing against all these other options.
 
Bone Dog said:
They’re all still pulling themselves together and playing raggedy games. ND is the furthest along in that process and looks the most promising. It will be fascinating to see how Koval does against Marshall. She has a very ‘compact’ game and good low post moves. And she’s a ‘big’ 6’5” kid. I doubt she gets in foul trouble. But the real key is Hidalgo Miles and Citron, and I suspect they will run USC’s guards off the court. Juju will score, as will Kiki, but it won’t be enough.

UCLA is potentially taller at every position than SC, and teams with that much height usually seem to lose to quicker more athletic squads. I have no evidence for this feeling other than to point to Oregon in the Prince years. Also, UCLA is verging on becoming a portal patchwork team. And as ragged as SC has sometimes seemed, I am confident they will rise to this occasion, and the key to this one will probably be some kid from Minnesota.
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TheFarmFan said:
LA has always been a pro sports town first and foremost. When the Rams left and they had no NFL team, U$C became the hometown team, and it coincided with one of their most successful eras.

Now, there's two NFL teams (one won the Superbowl a few years ago), two baseball teams (one just won the World Series), two pro basketball teams (and one has the LeBron show), and two hockey teams to boot. Plus U$C football. There's just not a ton of sports fan bandwidth left over, especially for a town whose main jam is an entertainment industry that doesn't naturally care as much about sports anyway.

The one thing the Sparks have going for them is NONE of those sports but baseball are going during their season, so there's a hungry audience. I'm afraid WCBB just has a very hard time competing against all these other options.
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The Hollywood celebs helped boost NBA visibility. I hope that a few of them and sports celebs like Magic will help boost wbb and its potential celebs like hometown gal Juju and wnba potential celebs like Brink.

Too bad Caitlin’s not doing color commentary. :(

Yeah, LA is not Hartford, Columbia, South Bend or Knoxville. :rolleyes:
 
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visitingcock said:
The Hollywood celebs helped boost NBA visibility. I hope that a few of them and sports celebs like Magic will help boost wbb and its potential celebs like hometown gal Juju and wnba potential celebs like Brink.

Too bad Caitlin’s not doing color commentary. :(

Yeah, LA is not Hartford, Columbia, South Bend or Knoxville. :rolleyes:
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Magic hasn't been doing much on that front even though he's a part owner of the Sparks from what I can tell. Considering how he dipped out on the Lakers, I'm skeptical sadly.
 
Bone Dog said:
The LA Times sports section only covers what the ADs ask them to, and right now that’s football. There’s too much money involved for it to go any other way. Independent reporting is not what happens in the sports section. And the TV news tends to take its cue from print media.
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The biggest college football game in L.A., in any year, is being played on Saturday night between USC and UCLA. That's, understandably, drawing most of the "college" oxygen in the room. Frankly, I'm going to a UCLA MBB game tonight, the football game on Saturday, and the WBB game at Pauley on Sunday... and I am exhausted. I have another MBB game on Tuesday. For all y'all who don't live here, that's what's going on.
 
cancontent said:
Magic hasn't been doing much on that front even though he's a part owner of the Sparks from what I can tell. Considering how he dipped out on the Lakers, I'm skeptical sadly.
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he was active on social media last year re Wbb, but I don't know about game attendance. He needs to get a "Jack Nicholson seat" for this game
 
visitingcock said:
he was active on social media last year re Wbb, but I don't know about game attendance. He needs to get a "Jack Nicholson seat" for this game
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Being active on social media and in attendance at games is one thing. He's been part of the ownership group since 2014 and it seems like he's absent for most of it.

He didn't seem concerned when Fisher basically ran the team into the ground. Don't recall him being concerned when Parker and Gray left. I see him post more about the Dodgers and Washington Commanders than he does about the Sparks. And if he's made any posts about the recent hire if Harding, I've missed it.

This article from Essentially Sports in September indicates that fans are just as skeptical as I am.

www.essentiallysports.com

Billionaire Magic Johnson Under Fire Again for Poor Ownership as LA Sparks Take a Drastic Step

Magic Johnson faces skepticism from fans after the Sparks’ dismal season and his promises for change amid uncertainty.
www.essentiallysports.com
 
So, to me, this is a mismatch in the battle of wits. Ivey will own Gottlieb even with the deficiency in the front courts and Dawn will run circles around Cori.

I actually think the talent is better for both California schools but both lack cohesive offensive plans and schemes.

ND 78 SoCal 70
SC 77 UCLA 65
 
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I think UCLA will win. I also think ND will beat USC because of JUJU not including her teammates enough.
 
I'm gonna go with home teams just because . . .
 
Dillon77 said:
I'm very bullish about this year's Notre Dame....when Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen are able to play. Right now, that's 2/3 of the Irish frontcourt rotation and, yes, the only ones with more than 4 games of collegiate experience. The freshman with four games -- Kate Koval -- will be playing next to either a very tall guard (Cass Prosper) or an undersized forward (Liatu King). That could be an issue with a talented USC front line (Iriafen, Marshall) and a bunch of tallish guards and wings, led by Ms. Watkins.

Even though it's been against "meh" competition, I think Koval offers a rebounding and defensive presence. If she can stay out of foul trouble, she takes up enough space in the right ways to allow King, Miles and Citron to rebound. And the USC guards are going to be stunned at just how much directed energy will come at them from Hidalgo and Miles. My hope: ND in a tight one. If USC wins in a competitive game, I've got the hope that adding Westbeld will put ND over the top later in the season.

UCLA, if they're going to make a mark, should win this game. Yet, I'm still picking South Carolina. Why? Because they get. it. done.
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43 straight so far, hope it holds…
 
This game is more important for usc. Notre dame can get better. They still have big pieces they will get back.

I just think the Notre dame backcourt will control the game. I am picking the Irish.
 
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jdote33 said:
I'm so high on Notre Dame and not as high on USC. Sonia Citron is as good of a matchup there is for Juju. I think Hidalgo could terrorize TVO in terms of putting pressure on the ball. I do like USC's size and athleticism at the 4 or 5. So I think ND will win and I don't think it will be particularly close. Like they'll win by +6.

I think South Carolina will beat UCLA. I think SC has so much big game experience and UCLA is still kinda in the process of figuring things out. For example,I think Cori Close will start Kiki, even though Elina has been big time all season. I remember probably in 2023 there was a regular season game that was really good between the two schools. And UCLA lost. I think it may have been the game Kiki got a technical late. After the game Charisma Osbourne was super emotional. It was interesting to see how much that game meant to them. So it's undoubtedly a bigger game for UCLA than it is for SC. I do think SC has to lose eventually and it will probably be on the road. I just think it won't be this particular game.
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I was so confident in the Notre Dame part. I really wish I would've placed a small bet. Usc is so disjointed and isolation heavy. And Hannah Hidalgo really may be a top 2 player in the country. I thought tvo played well.
 
triaddukefan said:
This was a arse kicking.... My goodness
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At some point in the last few weeks, I went on the record saying that I wasn't drinking the U$C Kool-Aid.

People were wringing their hands about the U$C front-court size, them bringing in Kiki and EVO. The only thing surprising about today's result is that Notre Dame did it without some of their bigs. They'll be really good when Westbeld, Karlen come back. Is there any news on Watson?
 
Not sure what to make of ND-USC. Lots of talent on the court. But the two teams combined for 41 turnovers. Both teams tried to play really fast, too fast, which led to a bunch of turnovers and forced shots. In the end, ND demonstrated more poise than USC. It’s still early. Plenty of time to clean things up.
 
jdote33 said:
I was so confident in the Notre Dame part. I really wish I would've placed a small bet. Usc is so disjointed and isolation heavy. And Hannah Hidalgo really may be a top 2 player in the country. I thought tvo played well.
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No one will beat ND this year, that was a whuppin. And, I believe ND has more good players on the bench who will be back soon.
 
Bigboote said:
At some point in the last few weeks, I went on the record saying that I wasn't drinking the U$C Kool-Aid.

People were wringing their hands about the U$C front-court size, them bringing in Kiki and EVO. The only thing surprising about today's result is that Notre Dame did it without some of their bigs. They'll be really good when Westbeld, Karlen come back. Is there any news on Watson?
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I believe Watson is out for the year
 
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IMHO, the difference between All-American IrieAHfen and don't-quite-know-what-that-was Irieh-FEN is the difference between being coached by Tara and being coached by Gottlieb...

Refreshing Kermit The Frog GIF
 
oldude said:
Not sure what to make of ND-USC. Lots of talent on the court. But the two teams combined for 41 turnovers. Both teams tried to play really fast, too fast, which led to a bunch of turnovers and forced shots. In the end, ND demonstrated more poise than USC. It’s still early. Plenty of time to clean things up.
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Lots of street ball, lots of iso ball, but also lots of talent. Not so much coaching, but very entertaining.
 
Vowelguy said:
After last year I had ND #2, then backed off with injuries and other things. Now I’ve got them back there after being in control pretty much all game.
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After this, can't wait for tomorrow - USC vs UCLA. But right now, I've got ND #1
 
I really didn’t understand why Juju won NFOY last year over Hidalgo who was more efficient, just as good a rebounder, a much better passer, and led the nation in steals. Juju’s team had greater success so maybe that’s why but regardless I’ve always thought Hannah Hidalgo was better than Juju and nothing I saw tonight changed that opinion.

If Miles’ three-point shot (currently >50%) stays anywhere near 40%, she’s locked in as the #2 pick in this draft IMO.
 
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