Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2023-24

[AntiochVol81]

Both these teams are going to boat-race Tennessee. It's like they're playing a completely different sport...

And UCONN

 

[LurkerExposed]

It will certainly be interesting:

In the 2021 NCAAT Final Four, Boston was all alone. She was 5-14 in 33 minutes for 11 pts and 16 rebounds. Saxton was a no-show for the game, despite playing in it for 29 minutes. 0 points on only 1 attempt. and only 1 single rebound. Amihere had 6 pts and 6 rebounds in 17 minutes, Beal had 5 pts and 7 rebounds in 39 minutes. For Stanford, Prechtel had 9 pts and 8 rebounds in 24 minutes, and Brink had 6 pts, 6 blocks, and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. Belibi was a non-factor with 0 pts and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes. What they brought to the table, were their fouls and presence in the paint to crowd Boston and where her down.

The NCAAT game was mostly between the non-posts: Stanford's Jones (24 pts), Lexie Hull (18 pts), and Williams (8 pts), against the Gamecocks' Cooke (25 pts), and Henderson (18 pts). Amihere and Saxton had averaged around 5-6 ppg and 5-6 rpg during the season, but only combined for 6 pts and 7 rebounds vs Stanford, and it wasn't enough. As it was, South Carolina lost by 1 point in that game, and had the ball in their hands with a fair opportunity to win when the game clock ended. But they needed at least one back-up 5 to help Boston, and didn't have it that season.

In the 2021-22 regular-season game, Stanford returned everyone except Williams. Hull (17 pts) and Jones (11 pts) were lesser representatives of themselves, but Belibi (12 pts, 4 reb), Brink (3 pts, 4 reb, 2 blk), and Prechtel (3 pts, 9 reb, 5 blk) gave a better showing collectively, and Jump - who didn't play in the NCAAT game - added 9 pts and 3 reb of her own.

For South Carolina, Henderson (17 pts) equaled her efforts from the NCAAT game, but Cooke (4 pts) struggled. But Boston (18 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk, 4 stl) was a fitter, fresher version of herself, and she got better help from Saxton (7 pts, 10 reb, 2 blk) and regular support from Beal, Amihere, and newcomer Cardoso (combined 13 pts, 8 reb, 3 blks). Boston had better more productive help in the post.

It was STILL a tightly contested game - a 4-pt. win for the Gamecocks, who out-scored the Cardinal by 3 pts in the final period to get there. But the BIGGEST difference between both games, were the turnovers: in the NCAAT game, Henderson and Cooke combined for 8 of the team's 11 turnovers to only 6 team steals , while in the 2nd game, the Gamecocks only had 7 team turnovers, but stole 13 Cardinal balls to go with the 10 shots they blocked, while forcing Stanford into 20 turnovers themselves (they only had 12 in the NCAAT game).

In the NCAAT game, the Gamecocks scored 10 points off those turnovers, compared to Stanford scoring 11 pts off theirs. That 1 point advantage for the Trees stands out like a festering sore thumb, in that game. In the 2nd game, South Carolina scored 26 pts off Stanford turnovers, compared to only 6 pts that Stanford was able to score off of the Gamecocks. Huge difference, with all else being close to similar.

This season, both teams have added size to their team depth. Stanford has a new rising star in Betts, but both Prechtel - who has never been a huge inside presence - and Belibi are barely averaging 10 mpg thus far this season. South Carolina meanwhile have added youngster size in Feagin and Watkins: right now, the Gamecocks' leading scorers #2 through #8 are Boston (13.0 ppg), Cardoso (10.3 ppg), Watkins (10.0 ppg), Feagin (8.0 ppg), Beal (6.7 ppg), Amihere (6.3 ppg), and Saxton (6.0 ppg) - all post players and major rebounders. They all represent the top 7 rebounders on the team, too. Boston has some help now. But the deciding factor may again be in which team plays the toughest perimeter defense, and forces the turnovers. Also playing on the road at Stanford will be a very tough test to pass for the Gamecocks.....

Stanford had a solid plan against the Gamecock starters: collapse on Boston, and force perimeter guards to step up. As a result Boston got into foul trouble, and Cooke was a no-show in the 1st half, which was when Stanford made their hay.

Cooke scored all 13 of her pts after halftime, plus some clutch FTs in OT to seal the win. Boston scored 12 of her 14 pts and 10 of her 13 rebounds after halftime. The Gamecock bench out-scored Stanford's bench 34-9. USC out-scored Stanford 45-36 after halftime....

In the 1st half, Stanford shot 54%, to South Carolina's 34%. It was a very efficient half of offense for the Cardinal, and they had the Gamecocks scrambling to catch-up the whole time.

After halftime, South Carolina held Stanford to 12-38 (31.6%) shooting, while shooting 16-38 (42.1%) themselves. They held Haley Jones to 1-13 shooting after halftime, with only 3 pts....

Overall, South Carolina forced Stanford into 22 turnovers, compared to just 11 from the Gamecocks. They out-scored Stanford on points off of turnovers 18 to 9. In last season's win over Stanford, the Gamecocks forced them into 20 TOs to just 7 for themselves, and out-scored Stanford 26-6 off of TOs....

 

[Rooster1]

Stanford had a solid plan against the Gamecock starters: collapse on Boston, and force perimeter guards to step up. As a result Boston got into foul trouble, and Cooke was a no-show in the 1st half, which was when Stanford made their hay.

Cooke scored all 13 of her pts after halftime, plus some clutch FTs in OT to seal the win. Boston scored 12 of her 14 pts and 10 of her 13 rebounds after halftime. The Gamecock bench out-scored Stanford's bench 34-9. USC out-scored Stanford 45-36 after halftime....

In the 1st half, Stanford shot 54%, to South Carolina's 34%. It was a very efficient half of offense for the Cardinal, and they had the Gamecocks scrambling to catch-up the whole time.

After halftime, South Carolina held Stanford to 12-38 (31.6%) shooting, while shooting 16-38 (42.1%) themselves. They held Haley Jones to 1-13 shooting after halftime, with only 3 pts....

Overall, South Carolina forced Stanford into 22 turnovers, compared to just 11 from the Gamecocks. They out-scored Stanford on points off of turnovers 18 to 9. In last season's win over Stanford, the Gamecocks forced them into 20 TOs to just 7 for themselves, and out-scored Stanford 26-6 off of TOs....

Thx Lurk! That was a tough environment to pull off a comeback like that, it took everything to will themselves to victory.

 

[JustaChicken]

Gosh organized offense is fun to watch! Who knew?

Kudos to the ever classy Tara for showing Flea Market Barbie how its done. She has a Brittney Griner shirt on. Didn't say a word, didn't stir up controversy, just showed she cares. Thank you Tara.

edited to add: I see Dawn has the shirt also. Good on both of them

Flea market barbie? Lol

 

[glv98]

Flea market barbie? Lol

When Lil Kim's shopping for game outfits no flea market is safe!!

 

[JustaChicken]

 

[Blueconn]

The crowing is so annoying…but for how long will her style of play prevail ? She’s best at recruiting big players…which is interesting because she was a high-rpm guard back in the day. You’d think SC would have smooth backcourt players year after year.

 

[Blueconn]

Has Dawn copyrighted Big-time yet ?

 

[Poultrygeist]

The gamecock bench could make the playoffs and maybe even a deep run. They accounted for 34 points against the number two team in the country.

 

[djtee]

The gamecock bench could make the playoffs and maybe even a deep run. They accounted for 34 points against the number two team in the country.

34 points agree that is impressive

 

[glv98]

The crowing is so annoying…but for how long will her style of play prevail ?

The crowing is annoying, in fact I find Dawn in general incredibly annoying. But man has she earned this crowing. When the worst we can say is "Yeah but it won't last forever . . ." then she's in good shape.

I'm going to wager that Dawn will be much more likely to update her style to remain elite than the current LVs are. She doesn't have the chains of the past holding her back like we do, and I think she's talented enough to coach a new style.

 

[Rooster1]

The gamecock bench could make the playoffs and maybe even a deep run. They accounted for 34 points against the number two team in the country.

Their second string team is almost as good as the first string, very close. This could be next year's starting 5 for SC if Amihere comes back. Otherwise Watkins(*) slides into that spot.

Second String Unit:
C Cardoso 6'7"
F Amihere 6'4"
F Feagin 6'3"
PG Johnson 5'10"
SG Hall 6'1"

*Watkins 6'3" PF

Add Fulwiley, Kitts and Tessa Johnson to next year's crop as well. Those three likely play a bunch their freshman year next season as they will be needed for key backup roles once Cooke, Fletcher, Saxton, Boston and Thompson all graduate.

 

[Darth_Vol]

The crowing is so annoying…but for how long will her style of play prevail ? She’s best at recruiting big players…which is interesting because she was a high-rpm guard back in the day. You’d think SC would have smooth backcourt players year after year.

The winning, championships, being force-fed nonstop media coverage that goes along with an over-the-top coach? What's that like? It does sound annoying...

 

[LadyVol1908]

The winning, championships, being force-fed nonstop media coverage that goes along with an over-the-top coach? What's that like? It does sound annoying...

Golden reply! I’m sure Blue couldn’t imagine.

 

[Amb3096]

Their second string team is almost as good as the first string, very close.

C Cardoso 6'7"
F Amihere 6'4"
F Feagin 6'3"
PG Johnson 5'10"
SG Hall 6'1"

Also, PF Watkins 6'3", SG Cooper 6'0",

Amihere and Hall came up huge for you guys. Watching the game, you could see how many options Dawn had to choose from, and they were all solid players. Must be nice to be able to bring someone like Amihere off the bench who could be a huge difference maker on both ends of the court.

 

[Rooster1]

The crowing is so annoying…but for how long will her style of play prevail ? She’s best at recruiting big players…which is interesting because she was a high-rpm guard back in the day. You’d think SC would have smooth backcourt players year after year.

Recent recruits like R. Johnson, Fulwiley, Hall, Kitts, Cooper, Jah and Tessa Johnson show she has a good recruiting handle on guards and wings. She can beat teams many ways, but as long as Boston, Cardoso, Feagin, Amihere, Watkins and Saxton are around it is smart to play offense through the frontline.

 

[Amb3096]

Recent recruits like R. Johnson, Fulwiley, Hall, Kitts, Cooper, Jah and Tessa Johnson show she has a good recruiting handle on guards and wings. She can beat teams many ways, but as long as Boston, Cardoso, Feagin, Amihere, Watkins and Saxton are around it is smart to play offense through the frontline.

You still don't have any guards that are at Azzi Fudd's level this year, and it makes it harder for that frontline. When Boston graduates, I think that will become more noticeable.

 

[Majors]

Can you imagine that some "prominent" members here actually wanted to hire a bad coach like Walz? Losing by 12 to an unranked team. We really dodged a bullet there.

Always enjoy the look at the others fall to make our own teams failures accepted. This didn’t age well after playing UCLA.

 

[Rooster1]

Always enjoy the look at the others fall to make our own teams failures accepted. This didn’t age well after playing UCLA.

Creek was being sarcastic..

 

[Majors]

Creek was being sarcastic..

at posters

 

[Rooster1]

You still don't have any guards that are at Azzi Fudd's level this year, and it makes it harder for that frontline. When Boston graduates, I think that will become more noticeable.

Fudd has a hard time even getting her shot off against SC. She does not create her own shot as well as Paige does. Fudd is best catching the ball off of a screen and squaring up for a knockdown shot. She doesn't get many of those type looks against the SC defense.

Between Raven Johnson, Fletcher and Cooke, SC is not hurting at guard. They are simply working out the roles for each of those players. Hall plays some SG also and she is really coming on at that spot and wing.

 

[Amb3096]

Always enjoy the look at the others fall to make our own teams failures accepted. This didn’t age well after playing UCLA.

It never ages well. Pointing out another team is also doing poorly is kind of sad...especially when said team made the FF last year (and beat Tennessee in the process).

 

[Amb3096]

Fudd has a hard time even getting her shot off against SC. She does not create her own shot as well as Paige does. Fudd is best catching the ball off of a screen and squaring up for a knockdown shot. She doesn't get many of those type looks against the SC defense.

Between Raven Johnson, Fletcher and Cooke, SC is not hurting at guard. They are simply working out the roles for each of those players. Hall plays some SG also and she is really coming on at that spot and wing.

Yeah, I thought that yesterday until I saw them play NC State yesterday. She was doing way more than catch and shoot, and didn't need much time to get the ball out of her hands towards the hoop. And NC State has no shortage of tough perimeter defenders. I still think SC is a better team and she won't score 30 points as effortlessly as she has in some of her other games. But she is at a different level than she was last year.

You have good guards, but you don't have guards that can make teams pay for ignoring them and doubling down on the interior. Fletcher and Johnson in particular seem to be very, very shaky from the beyond the arc.

 

[Majors]

It never ages well. Pointing out another team is also doing poorly is kind of sad...especially when said team made the FF last year (and beat Tennessee in the process).

Equity in winning big goes a long ways when you do lose.

 

[Amb3096]

Equity in winning big goes a long ways when you do lose.

Yeah, which is why I'm sure that Texas fans are gonna be more patient with Vic. He's gotten them results in just 2 years. Kyra probably has earned herself 2 solid years of goodwill after last season's SECT win.