SEC Standings ...

#1
C

clkou

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
805
Likes
486
#1
I just noticed this but we gave Georgia their 3rd SEC loss and have a chance our next two games to give Kentucky then Mississippi State their 3rd losses too (assuming they don't lose to Vandy again at home before then), which, if successful, would put 3 games separating 1st and 2nd in the SEC from 3rd place.

Not that they need any more incentive to play well, but this is a good opportunity to put some distance between ourselves and the pack.
 
#2
#2
clkou said:
I just noticed this but we gave Georgia their 3rd SEC loss and have a chance our next two games to give Kentucky then Mississippi State their 3rd losses too (assuming they don't lose to Vandy again at home before then), which, if successful, would put 3 games separating 1st and 2nd in the SEC from 3rd place.

Not that they need any more incentive to play well, but this is a good opportunity to put some distance between ourselves and the pack.
Click to expand...

Georgia, Kentucky, and Miss. St. are irrelevant. This league is clearly a two team race. South Carolina would go from slight favorite to huge favorite if the Lady Vols lose to Kentucky... especially with them getting Tennessee at home this season.
 
#3
#3
How the season is playing out with SC and UT at the top highlight my frustration with the SEC method of scheduling. When you have two teams at this level there is an interest in them being one of the others three home and home opponents. Unless the paradigm changes in the next 5 years UT-SC should be a mandatory home and home series. If for no other reason but TV interest.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#4
#4
It changes a lot and one can never predict exactly how it will go. As I recall last year TAM was in the mix. And, if the Lady Vols don't take care of business, there are other teams who will vie for 1st or 2nd place. I don't buy that it's a locked down two team race. It may be and it probably should be, but that's why you play the game and when you have a team to put some distance, it's wise to take advantage.
 
#6
#6
A little review of the (seemingly) inevitable show-down between the Lady Vols of Tennessee, and the South Carolina Gamecocks:

Last season USC went 14-2 in the SEC and out-scored their conference foes by 11.1 ppg. This season thus far they are 8-0 and winning by 23.7 ppg.

By comparison, UT went 13-3 in-conference last season, and out-scored SEC opponents by 11.2 ppg. This season, they are currently 8-0 like USC but are only out-scoring their SEC combatants by 11.0 ppg.

In '13-'14, USC overall averaged 71.2 ppg while holding all opponents to 60.1 ppg. The scored at a 47.1% clip holding opponents to 35.0% shooting. They averaged 40.8 rebounds per gm holding opponents to 32.6 rpg. This season thus far, USC is scoring 79.1 ppg holding opponents to 50.2 ppg, and are scoring at an average of 49.2% while holding opponents to only 33.2 FG %. They are averaging 43.1 rpg holding opponents to 33.1 rpg.

In '13-'14, UT averaged 77.9 ppg holding their opponents to 62.9 ppg. They scored at a 45.7 FG % compared to 36.6 FG % from their opponents. They pulled down 45.6 rpg versus their opponents collecting 34.2 rpg. This season UT is averaging 72.6 ppg vs 54.3 ppg from the other side. UT is scoring at a 42.2 FG% compared to 36.7 FG % by the opponents. They are averaging 43.0 rpg compared to only 34.5 rpg by their challengers.

So looking at the stats and averages - if they can tell us anything - USC is scoring more and at a more efficient rate, while holding their opponents to lower scores and lower scoring averages this season compared to last season. They are also rebounding more per game while their opponents are rebounding less. Of course we're only part-way through the season and the Gamecocks still have several tough conference games ahead. But by all accounts and analysis, USC is playing a tougher schedule this season than last, as well...

By comparison, Tennessee thus far is scoring less per gm than last year, while their opponents are scoring less as well. The games this season may be more of the gritty, defensive, grind-it-out games while last season was more wide open and up-tempo, especially with Simmons running the show. The Lady Vols are scoring at a lower %, while their opponents are scoring at a higher % (the difference is really negligible, IMO). They are rebounding less per gm while their opponents are rebounding more (again negligible).

I haven't studied UT's overall schedule strength for 14-15. I know they always have one of the toughest SOSs of wcbb, if not THE toughest. But I can't say either way if UT's SOS is tougher this season than last, or weaker. But the averages all seem to lead definitively towards USC's favor. And last but not least, the game this season will be played in Columbia, SC....
 
Last edited:
#7
#7
LurkerExposed said:
A little review of the (seemingly) inevitable show-down between the Lady Vols of Tennessee, and the South Carolina Gamecocks:

Last season USC went 14-2 in the SEC and out-scored their conference foes by 11.1 ppg. This season thus far they are 8-0 and winning by 23.7 ppg.

By comparison, UT went 13-3 in-conference last season, and out-scored SEC opponents by 11.2 ppg. This season, they are currently 8-0 like USC but are only out-scoring their SEC combatants by 11.0 ppg.

In '13-'14, USC overall averaged 71.2 ppg while holding all opponents to 60.1 ppg. The scored at a 47.1% clip holding opponents to 35.0% shooting. They averaged 40.8 rebounds per gm holding opponents to 32.6 rpg. This season thus far, USC is scoring 79.1 ppg holding opponents to 50.2 ppg, and are scoring at an average of 49.2% while holding opponents to only 33.2 FG %. They are averaging 43.1 rpg holding opponents to 33.1 rpg.

In '13-'14, UT averaged 77.9 ppg holding their opponents to 62.9 ppg. They scored at a 45.7 FG % compared to 36.6 FG % from their opponents. They pulled down 45.6 rpg versus their opponents collecting 34.2 rpg. This season UT is averaging 72.6 ppg vs 54.3 ppg from the other side. UT is scoring at a 42.2 FG% compared to 36.7 FG % by the opponents. They are averaging 43.0 rpg compared to only 34.5 rpg by their challengers.

So looking at the stats and averages - if they can tell us anything - USC is scoring more and at a more efficient rate, while holding their opponents to lower scores and lower scoring averages this season compared to last season. They are also rebounding more per game while their opponents are rebounding less. Of course we're only part-way through the season and the Gamecocks still have several tough conference games ahead. But by all accounts and analysis, USC is playing a tougher schedule this season than last, as well...

By comparison, Tennessee thus far is scoring less per gm than last year, while their opponents are scoring less as well. The games this season may be more of the gritty, defensive, grind-it-out games while last season was more wide open and up-tempo, especially with Simmons running the show. The Lady Vols are scoring at a lower %, while their opponents are scoring at a higher % (the difference is really negligible, IMO). They are rebounding less per gm while their opponents are rebounding more (again negligible).

I haven't studied UT's overall schedule strength for 14-15. I know they always have one of the toughest SOSs of wcbb, if not THE toughest. But I can't say either way if UT's SOS is tougher this season than last, or weaker. But the averages all seem to lead definitively towards USC's favor. And last but not least, the game this season will be played in Columbia, SC....
Click to expand...

I'm not surprised that South Carolina has better stats. South Carolina is a better team and has the better players (save Izzy). Going into this matchup, Tennessee is not favored to win based on rankings (preseason or current) or personnel. If Tennessee wins, and they are by no means written off, then it would be considered an upset.

The toughest part will be guarding Wilson, and South Carolina's abundance of tall, sturdy players that they can dump on Izzy. If the frontcourt plays like they did against Kentucky, and Ariel/Andraya can hit open shots, then I think they can pull this one off.
 
#9
#9
volfanIND said:
According to SC schedule for this year .... the only top 25 programs they have faced so far:
Syracuse, Duke, KY, TXAM
University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site
SY - 67-63
Duke - 51-50
KY - 68-60
TXAM - 79-61

Against top 25 programs, their stats change a little bit. Still I agree, they look really good.
Click to expand...

Yep, but then you consider that last season, USC's OOC schedule included a decent but un-ranked SoCal team on the road, and then-14th ranked UNC at a neutral site. And really, that was about it. USC went 1-1 against SoCal and UNC....

So thus far this season USC played SoCal again to open the season, but in Columbia. They played ranked Syracuse at a neutral site and top-10 ranked (at the time) Duke on their floor. Already, that OOC schedule is tougher than last years. The rest of the OOC schedule save one is pretty much the usual suspects from season to season. Against those above 3 opponents, USC has gone 3-0.

But that saved one - UConn on their floor - if that one doesn't seal this OOC schedule as substantially better than last years, I don't know what will....
 
#10
#10
LurkerExposed said:
Yep, but then you consider that last season, USC's OOC schedule included a decent but un-ranked SoCal team on the road, and then-14th ranked UNC at a neutral site. And really, that was about it. USC went 1-1 against SoCal and UNC....

So thus far this season USC played SoCal again to open the season, but in Columbia. They played ranked Syracuse at a neutral site and top-10 ranked (at the time) Duke on their floor. Already, that OOC schedule is tougher than last years. The rest of the OOC schedule save one is pretty much the usual suspects from season to season. Against those above 3 opponents, USC has gone 3-0.

But that saved one - UConn on their floor - if that one doesn't seal this OOC schedule as substantially better than last years, I don't know what will....
Click to expand...

Yes, that game will cement your ooc schedule.
BTW. How do you think that game will turn out ?
I'm curious how a USC fan see's it.
 
#11
#11
volnationnj said:
Yes, that game will cement your ooc schedule.
BTW. How do you think that game will turn out ?
I'm curious how a USC fan see's it.
Click to expand...

I don't have the best of hopes for the game. UConn doesn't play the toughest level of competition in the AAC, but that doesn't stop them from regularly beating top teams by 20+ when they do go out of conference. IMO USC is still be bit too undisciplined when they get the ball into the paint. They have great size and talent in the post but miss too many bunnies when they do get the ball inside. UConn is well coached and disciplined to play fundamentally sound, and usually make their shots when they get in close range.

Also USC is a bit too careless with the ball IMO, turning the ball over way too much. UConn is a great defensive team and always plays to force turnovers, get steals, step into passing lanes and intercepting the ball. Cuevas is a great talent and has already shown a fearless nature of driving into heavy traffic under the basket and yet still finding ways to score.

She's also fearless at passing the ball with no-look passes and ropes into the bigs, but IMO she's a bit like what Bret Farve was - too confident in his ability to throw a ball into ANY typie of coverage that he too often forced them and got picked. Bianca sometimes unleashes toxic passes that her teammates duck for cover from, that even 6-4 post players can't jump up and corral, and that leave her coaches going "wtf!?". But once she gets a better grip on the reigns of her own talent, and learns the nuances of the college game better, she's destined to be one of the top PGs in the game IMO. She's already moving up to getting 20+ minutes per game, but this means there's a lot of grey hair ahead for Coach Staley...

USC came into SEC play in the top 10 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, but have played slightly south of 1:1 since taking on league opponents. Still lead the league in that area overall, but they can't afford to give away balls for free in Storrs...

Improve on turnovers, personal fouls, and finishing at the basket, and USC has a chance. I've been wanting to see steady improvement in those areas as the season progressed, but haven't seen enough to suit me. USC has enough talent, depth, and experience to make it to the FF with where they're at right now, but as we all know there's FF-caliber teams and then there's UConn. I think they're still a level below UConn at this point.

But I'm still going to watch that game when it comes...
 
#12
#12
Tiffany Mitchell is the clear favorite for POY in the SEC at this point, and the best player in the conference. And Wilson, the clear FOY, might be right behind her as the second best player. On paper, Tennessee looks overmatched at almost every position, but games aren't played on paper....
 
#13
#13
Hey, 5 years ago I would have never thought we would be having this conversation...a tribute to Dawn. If Pat were still your coach we may have been having a conversation but the favorites may have been reversed....a tribute to Pat. We are happy to be the favorite and the stronger program but we also know what really played a part in that. We all miss Pat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top