GO GAMECOCKS
- Thread starter motorb54
- Start date
I'm expecting a UConn win (if they're able to play the game tonight at all) and I don't expect it to be close. USCe has likely never encountered anything close to what will confront them tonight. A UConn team that is likely very bored with its conference schedule, finally gets to show its stuff on the big stage once again. They won't blow the opportunity.
They have been # 1 all season, and some would still disrespect this program by predicting a 20 pt loss. I don't think so.
Don't count South Carolina short. They are legit. Unlike UConn, SC goes twelve quality players deep.
Plus SC has a coach who has the experience to know how to get her team ready to play UConn. I really don't think they will be like a deer in the headlights. As a player she has been in plenty of big games and understands the mentality needed to be successful in such a contest. Its up to her team to execute the game plan.
I make no predictions other than a good game.
Go Dawn go South Carolina
Don't count South Carolina short. They are legit. Unlike UConn, SC goes twelve quality players deep.
Plus SC has a coach who has the experience to know how to get her team ready to play UConn. I really don't think they will be like a deer in the headlights. As a player she has been in plenty of big games and understands the mentality needed to be successful in such a contest. Its up to her team to execute the game plan.
I make no predictions other than a good game.
Go Dawn go South Carolina
Agree, redshoes. I also think SC is better than a lot of Uconner's are giving them credit for. They have excellent players and an excellent coach. Personally, I think UConn will win. But by 20 points? I for one am not predicting that at all. Could happen, but I'm not going there, not when playing the #1 team in the country. For the sake of WCBB, I hope it's a close game and lives up to all the hype (which frankly, I'm pretty sick of at this point). A win/loss by either team will mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Could have seeding implications, but so what. To win a National championship you have to win 6 games against the best competition in the country....Favorable seeds and brackets may provide an easier road to the Final 4, but eventually we all have to face and beat the same roadblocks we were thrilled to avoid. Eventually, you have to play the best of the best.
While I'm trying hard to convince myself this is just another OOC game, I'm finding increasingly hard to do that.
While I'm trying hard to convince myself this is just another OOC game, I'm finding increasingly hard to do that.
This is a good test for both teams, and by that I mean tonight they are seeing top quality competition. Unless something stupid happens, number one seeds are in the books.
I expect SC to come out all hyped up and probably do well while surveys the situation, see who is shooting well, etc.
At about the five minute first half point...BAM! UConn will hit them with one of those runs and more than ten points will separate the teams. SC will be treading upon unfamiliar ground: an undefeated record at this point in the season and they may have trouble handling this kind of pressure. UCONN can lose and remain at #2, are playing for pride, and they have been here before.
The home crowd will help, a fifteen+ point UConn win would not surprise me at all.
I expect SC to come out all hyped up and probably do well while surveys the situation, see who is shooting well, etc.
At about the five minute first half point...BAM! UConn will hit them with one of those runs and more than ten points will separate the teams. SC will be treading upon unfamiliar ground: an undefeated record at this point in the season and they may have trouble handling this kind of pressure. UCONN can lose and remain at #2, are playing for pride, and they have been here before.
The home crowd will help, a fifteen+ point UConn win would not surprise me at all.
Good conversation everyone
Question..... After playing so many conference cup cakes, does Geno really know how some of his players will respond under pressure? SC has 3 quality 6'4s and a 6'5 that can play post, shoot from the outside and match up with Stewie skill wise. The pressure of the event .will be there.
I'm anxious to see the match up of the two starting point guards and the game within the game.
This post was edited on 2/9 4:41 PM by redshoes
Question..... After playing so many conference cup cakes, does Geno really know how some of his players will respond under pressure? SC has 3 quality 6'4s and a 6'5 that can play post, shoot from the outside and match up with Stewie skill wise. The pressure of the event .will be there.
I'm anxious to see the match up of the two starting point guards and the game within the game.
This post was edited on 2/9 4:41 PM by redshoes
Fair point, redshoes. I would HOPE that those UConn players that have played in a National Championship game will react well to the pressure. That said, they didn't react too well at Stanford in the 2nd game of the season. I'd be surprised if something like that happened again. So, I'm not concerned about Stewart, KML, Jefferson and Tuck. I think they'll be fine. Stokes should be fine, too. Don't know how Chong and Williams will react to the spot light, and I doubt Ekmark even sees the floor. I'm not really concerned about Kia Nurse. She plays beyond her years in terms of composure and has played in big games as a member of the Canadian National team.
I agree about SC's quality bigs, but I don't agree that they can shoot from the outside. From what I've seen, they don't really take a lot of 3's because they only have one consistently good 3 point shooter. In fact they rank #179 in 3 point shots taken with 5 per game....and rank #59 in 3 point FG % at 34.8. Not bad, but I don't think it's anything UConn will be overyly concerned about. On the other hand, SC does have to be concerned about UConn's outside shooting. They rank 10th in 3 point FG's taken, and are 2nd in the country in 3 point FG shooting percentage. SC's 3 point defense is very good, but I'm not sure they've played a team yet where every player on the court can hit the 3 (KML 50.4%, Nurse 46.6%, Jefferson 48.8%, Chong 42.4%.....Stewie's outside shot has been off this year at 33.3%, but if she gets hot....)
I think SC is too big for UConn to be consistently effective close to the basket. This will be SC's inside game vs. UConn's outside game....whoever defends the best probably wins. The two best defensive teams squaring off. Would not surprise me to see this game played in the 60's. With all 5 of UConn's starters averaging double figures in scoring, I'm not sure SC can totally shut them down unless they all have an abysmal night shooting. It could happen, and SC's defense can make that happen. Geno is a master at taking out a teams best scorer and putting the onus on winning on the the rest of the team. Staley is a crafty coach, as well, so I'm sure she too will have a good game plan.
I guess all the questions will be answered around 10:00PM tonight. This should be a fun game.
I agree about SC's quality bigs, but I don't agree that they can shoot from the outside. From what I've seen, they don't really take a lot of 3's because they only have one consistently good 3 point shooter. In fact they rank #179 in 3 point shots taken with 5 per game....and rank #59 in 3 point FG % at 34.8. Not bad, but I don't think it's anything UConn will be overyly concerned about. On the other hand, SC does have to be concerned about UConn's outside shooting. They rank 10th in 3 point FG's taken, and are 2nd in the country in 3 point FG shooting percentage. SC's 3 point defense is very good, but I'm not sure they've played a team yet where every player on the court can hit the 3 (KML 50.4%, Nurse 46.6%, Jefferson 48.8%, Chong 42.4%.....Stewie's outside shot has been off this year at 33.3%, but if she gets hot....)
I think SC is too big for UConn to be consistently effective close to the basket. This will be SC's inside game vs. UConn's outside game....whoever defends the best probably wins. The two best defensive teams squaring off. Would not surprise me to see this game played in the 60's. With all 5 of UConn's starters averaging double figures in scoring, I'm not sure SC can totally shut them down unless they all have an abysmal night shooting. It could happen, and SC's defense can make that happen. Geno is a master at taking out a teams best scorer and putting the onus on winning on the the rest of the team. Staley is a crafty coach, as well, so I'm sure she too will have a good game plan.
I guess all the questions will be answered around 10:00PM tonight. This should be a fun game.
RUCONN what does your quote mean?
"there was a time where id be pumped up for this one....in all honesty, may not even watch. Cant believe I used to root for UConn (as my handle suggests) and despise Geno for the way he treated afriend of mine. Essentially "petrino-ed" her.
What does the above mean??
"there was a time where id be pumped up for this one....in all honesty, may not even watch. Cant believe I used to root for UConn (as my handle suggests) and despise Geno for the way he treated afriend of mine. Essentially "petrino-ed" her.
What does the above mean??
Not to mention the others in the studio. I gave up and watched Rachel Maddow -- she's equally predictable, but I agree with her biases....
I think the "Petrino-ed" mention was in reference to the once and now again football coach at Louisville (with stops in Arkansas and WKU in between) and his marital infidelities and other character defects. I have no idea how that might apply to Geno and wouldn't hazard a guess.
So - a 25 point win for the Huskies. I'm not at all surprised. Love em or hate em, you gotta admire just how good they are and how they take care of business. I would love to know what Geno does to keep his team "up" for all opponents, no matter how bad. Other teams play down to the level of lesser competition but UConn's women don't do that. And, of course, USCe is not exactly lesser competition but bore the brunt of the fact that UConn really hasn't played anyone of consequence since beginning its conference schedule.
So - a 25 point win for the Huskies. I'm not at all surprised. Love em or hate em, you gotta admire just how good they are and how they take care of business. I would love to know what Geno does to keep his team "up" for all opponents, no matter how bad. Other teams play down to the level of lesser competition but UConn's women don't do that. And, of course, USCe is not exactly lesser competition but bore the brunt of the fact that UConn really hasn't played anyone of consequence since beginning its conference schedule.
OK, they have the best three point shooter in the land, the quickest guard, and the tallest forward who can shoot deep, make great inside moves, handle the ball in the paint, rebound, block shots, maintain a clear head. Speaking of heads, clearly a three-headed monster.
The defense is superb, the turnovers are limited.
What was impressing me (this is something that has been missing from Rutgers game for several years) was how easily they got the ball inside, creating one-on-one situations near the basket, one after another, involving everyone, with not one travel. Aside from Lewis' threes, and breakaway layups (and some half court layups,) the number of uncontested bunnies was amazing.
Yes, these are the best athletes coming out of high school, but still: HOW DOES HE DO IT???
The defense is superb, the turnovers are limited.
What was impressing me (this is something that has been missing from Rutgers game for several years) was how easily they got the ball inside, creating one-on-one situations near the basket, one after another, involving everyone, with not one travel. Aside from Lewis' threes, and breakaway layups (and some half court layups,) the number of uncontested bunnies was amazing.
Yes, these are the best athletes coming out of high school, but still: HOW DOES HE DO IT???
This is one of the things that makes women's basketball tough to watch its UConn and then everyone else this game wasn't even close and was boring to watch unless u are a UConn fan.
The only surprise is that some fans actually believed South Carolina could give UConn a close game.I'm sure most of the viewpoint is based on animosity toward UConn.I look at the situation differently.Geno and the players show that they have been and still are a level better than any other womens progam by destroying opponents which gives them a decided advantage before the game even starts.I give South Carolina full credit for staying with UConn for 8 minutes and then it was tap city.
To defeat UConn the opponent must overcome the best womens coach and the best players which is a near impossible task .They will be the heavy favorite for their third straight national championship.The lack of competition at the highest level of womens basketball is a contributing factor in lack of interest from some sports fans.
To defeat UConn the opponent must overcome the best womens coach and the best players which is a near impossible task .They will be the heavy favorite for their third straight national championship.The lack of competition at the highest level of womens basketball is a contributing factor in lack of interest from some sports fans.
Its definitely hurting interest and a dominant UConn is just bad for the game. We can hope that schools stop scheduling them and they suffer because of the terrible conference they are in. It really is the only solution because its going to kill the growth of womens hoops to have a team rolling over every single team including #2
love him or hate him, he is the best womens hoops coach of all time and yes better than Pat Summitt
"I think the "petrinoed" reference is a comparison to
Bobby Petrino's habit of getting players to verbally commit to his
program and then just before signing day, informing that player that
they no longer have a spot for him."
Petrino does that kind of thing but does Geno do it? I've not heard of him being accused of that but then, I don't follow recruiting all that much in any of the sports.
Perhaps the poster who used the word "petrino-ed" might care to explain what he/she meant by it?
I do agree with other posters above who have stated that having the one dominant team is bad for the sport and diminishes interest throughout the country. I think that was the case with men's bball back in the days of John Wooden in the 60s and 70s, when UCLA won something like 7 or 8 titles in a row and won the overwhelming majority of its games by huge margins using its patented "zone press." The men's side of things could become that way again if UK is able to continuing operating what is essentially an NBA farm team with players who aren't really students and will depart the university without even completing the semester after winning the so-called NCAA championship. I know that I follow the national scene in men's basketball a lot less because of them.
Bobby Petrino's habit of getting players to verbally commit to his
program and then just before signing day, informing that player that
they no longer have a spot for him."
Petrino does that kind of thing but does Geno do it? I've not heard of him being accused of that but then, I don't follow recruiting all that much in any of the sports.
Perhaps the poster who used the word "petrino-ed" might care to explain what he/she meant by it?
I do agree with other posters above who have stated that having the one dominant team is bad for the sport and diminishes interest throughout the country. I think that was the case with men's bball back in the days of John Wooden in the 60s and 70s, when UCLA won something like 7 or 8 titles in a row and won the overwhelming majority of its games by huge margins using its patented "zone press." The men's side of things could become that way again if UK is able to continuing operating what is essentially an NBA farm team with players who aren't really students and will depart the university without even completing the semester after winning the so-called NCAA championship. I know that I follow the national scene in men's basketball a lot less because of them.
The reason they get so many 1-on-1 opportunities in the post is because they have so many 3-pt threats. IT's hard to double team because then you leave a 3-pt shooter wide open. UConn is incredibly balanced on offense and that makes them very hard to defend (they same could be said, to a much lesser degree, about Iowa and Maryland)