Hopefully the Strong family will be sitting behind the SC bench Sunday afternoon and we put on a good show for them
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2024-2025 WBB Team (2022-present)
- Thread starter TN-Gamecock
- Start date
Hopefully the Strong family will be sitting behind the SC bench Sunday afternoon and we put on a good show for them
Good points. If it was up to me, I would start with Bree on Bueckers and Watson on Edwards. No question. Notre Dame started with their 4, who is bigger and slower than Chloe, on KK Arnold. Her best wing defender on PB. I thought that was a clever move by Niele Ivy. Sure, it's a mismatch, but it's also bait to get UCONN to run plays for Arnold instead of PB and AE. I doubt Geno will try to run the offense through Arnold, so we might as well put our best two defenders on PB and AE.
There is also the flip side to think about: when Watkins and Feagin are in the game together, who will Bueckers guard? Both are mismatches.
Real cat and mouse game with matchups.
Last year Raven matchuped with Muhl and decisively thumped her. Raven had 7 assists and ZERO turnovers. Muhl 4 assists, 3 turnovers and fouled out because she could not stay in front of her. Lou Lopez Senechal also fouled out for the same reason.
Even though they will play 4 guards we will be quicker and faster at every position with the possible exception of Bransford. We will also not being giving up any height. Look for Raven and Fulwiley to makes Muhl’s day hellish. I think Bree gets Paige with relief from Fulwiley.
In their 4 losses and the close game vs UNC they lost the rebounding battle AND shot under 50%. UConn has a path to victory but they will have to shoot 55% from the field and be very close in rebounds. I just don’t think that’s feasible for them.
A lineup I think you will see a lot of is Watkins, Raven, Bree, Fulwiley and whoever else DS feels is needed. That is 4 excellent defenders and plenty of scoring. It is also a group that will be able to switch on every pick.
I also think you will see UConn run their back door sets early to combat our pressure. The only UConn player to play in the CLA? NONE OF THEM! UConn got totally bum fuzzled by the Texas crowd and on ball pressure. The game was over by halftime. I think the crowd can have a real influence on the game.
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I'll just say that I love Khadijah Sessions as a part of our staff. Such a great hire 
* Yeah, I like that switching lineup. It'll be fun to watch Joyce Edwards and Watkins at the 4 and 5 over the next few seasons. They'll be able switch every pick and still have the capability of controlling the boards. We'll still have a traditional big on the roster in Tac, but more defensively flexible bigs are required in this day and age to defend the 3 point line.
* Arnold is UCONN's only quick defender. They had all kinds of problems defending Hidalgo in the pick n' roll. I imagine we'll run that play for Fulwiley quite a bit.
(Who's Bransford?)
Probably confused Notre Dame's KK Bransford with KK Arnold.
I had to double-check the roster; maybe some I forgot. lolGot my KK’s mixed up! Bransford is at ND, Arnold at UCONN
She was shown in the TV broadcast.
Shade is the one to watch imo from 3, she stalks the perimeter and needs to be watched. Arnold is the more active player on both sides of the court, but Shade is the one that puts up a ton of threes, have to stick on her, she has a nice stroke. The three is going to be a big part of UConn’s upset hopes. Paige will get her shots, but SC has to limit the others from behind the arc. Shade is the first after Paige to be wary of from there.
The Picks
UCONN Gamecocks
Too much D, too much speed, too much size, too much depth. If KC were in town I would predict a beat down. We win but I am clueless on margin
Vanderbilt@ UGA
Vandy gets out of their slump at the dawgs expense
AUBURN@ Mizzou
Mizzou is dreadful and appears to again be without Haley Frank.
UF @ Miss st
Miss St is better and just tougher.
LSU @ Bama
I want to pick Bama because they are playing well and I hate LSU. But the Barbies have made the change at PG and played better
A&M@UK
A&M rights the ship against a bad UK squad
Ark @ UT
all the metrics and stats say UT, but having picked them that means that Ark will win. I am
1-9 in picking Ark this season
UCONN Gamecocks
Too much D, too much speed, too much size, too much depth. If KC were in town I would predict a beat down. We win but I am clueless on margin
Vanderbilt
@ UGAVandy gets out of their slump at the dawgs expense
AUBURN
@ MizzouMizzou is dreadful and appears to again be without Haley Frank.
UF @ Miss st
Miss St is better and just tougher.
LSU
@ BamaI want to pick Bama because they are playing well and I hate LSU. But the Barbies have made the change at PG and played better
A&M
@UKA&M rights the ship against a bad UK squad
Ark @ UT
all the metrics and stats say UT, but having picked them that means that Ark will win. I am
1-9 in picking Ark this season
Sitting next to Tessa and a woman that may have been her mom
Bree has improved every year. Dawn getting Bree where she needs to be.
Great to have a parent's trust. Super testament to our coach and program.
And Bree’s younger sister is #2 in the 2026 class (?)……
What humor? It was women supporting women. Did you watch the video?Please let this young lady live this down. Sorry, but really don’t see the humor!!
Her sister’s name is Brooklyn. The one that’s ranked that high is Saniyah.
Vacock, I get where you are coming and understand you posting this. However, I felt that the lady could had promoted this with a little less humor with the young lady hair piece falling out!
I believe you are correct. Kamilla has had two good games, double double in the loss to Serbia.
Curious -- Why does Kamilla go by the name Kamilla Soares when she plays for Brazil, and Kamilla Cardoso when she suits up for the Gamecocks?
Soares is her mother’s last name. I believe she plays under that name for Brazil & internationally as a way to honor her.
If the starting lineup is Raven, Paopao, Bree, Chloe and Watkins, I feel good about them defensively. That unit can also space the floor. But which player is going beat her defender and score in the half-court? Without Cardoso, I think are best 2 options are Fulwiley and Feagin. (They are the players most likely to draw fouls as well. That will be important. ). They're on the bench, though. We'll see. However even if we do start slow, I think we will wear them down with our depth.
Someone on the UConn board posted that Sarah Strong is at the game w/ her parents
10 points 12 rebounds 5 assists 2 steals . Gamecocks win.
troll on .
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A double-double for Raven. Bree can’t buy a basket, but she’s done a job on Bueckers.
Gamecocks win 83-65. A resounding statement win for the Gamecocks.
From 2013-2014 through 2018-19, Connecticut was 24-3 versus Top 10 ranked opponents. 24-3! The 3 losses were @Standford in overtime, @Baylor, and @ Louisville.
Since then, Connecticut is now 5-10 versus such ranked opponents, with their loss today.
From 2013-14 through 2018-19, South Carolina was 12-14 versus Top 10 opponents. Since, we are now 15-3 win our win today. The worm has definitely turned......
From 2013-2014 through 2018-19, Connecticut was 24-3 versus Top 10 ranked opponents. 24-3! The 3 losses were @Standford in overtime, @Baylor, and @ Louisville.
Since then, Connecticut is now 5-10 versus such ranked opponents, with their loss today.
From 2013-14 through 2018-19, South Carolina was 12-14 versus Top 10 opponents. Since, we are now 15-3 win our win today. The worm has definitely turned......
Most importantly +22 when she was in the game. Not to take anything away from Paopao and Watkins, both were outstanding, but Raven was our MVP. Her 12 rebounds, 10 on the defensive end, were huge. Chloe, Paopao & Bree just don't rebound particularly well so we needed to find rebounding elsewhere, especially with Cardoso out. Raven also played great defense and controlled the pace of the game expertly.
She's come a long way developmentally in a year, and she is a delightful person as well.
She is, isn't she? Nice to see someone play with a smile on her face.