#4 IUWBB vs #1 South Carolina - Friday, 03.29.24 @ 5:00 on ESPN

[RoadRage]

1 minute ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Felt that way in a few games this year. Even the Oklahoma game to an extent. This will be that exponentially. But if we can hit shots, you just never know. But this is an all timer type team in South Carolina.


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With a major chip on their shoulder!

[IUHoosierJoe]

I expect South Carolina to win this game, but I offer this:  In 2019-20, South Carolina finished the season ranked #1 (that was the year the tournament was cancelled) with a record of 32-1.  The one loss was a 71-57 pounding Indiana gave them on their home floor a couple weeks into the season.  Here's hoping they can repeat that performance.  

[WeCocky]

13 hours ago, IUHoosierJoe said:

I expect South Carolina to win this game, but I offer this:  In 2019-20, South Carolina finished the season ranked #1 (that was the year the tournament was cancelled) with a record of 32-1.  The one loss was a 71-57 pounding Indiana gave them on their home floor a couple weeks into the season.  Here's hoping they can repeat that performance.  

Hi all, gamecock fan here.  I’ve been loosely following your team throughout the season, and I’m looking forward to Friday night’s matchup.  I think it will be a great battle between 2 teams who don’t back down, despite the competition.  Although none of the players from that 2020 team are still on our roster, many of us “fams” see this as a bit of a revenge game.  Point of clarification, though.  That game was actually played on Thanksgiving Day in the Virgin Islands, not on our home court.  
 

I find this matchup intriguing for sure.  Like our game against Iowa in last year’s final four, I believe one key to the game will be how tight the refs will call the game.  I believe a moderate level of physical play will serve as an advantage for us, as it appears you all flourish with finesse and when you’re getting good looks from 3.  Hopefully, our guards will be successful in running you all off the 3-point line, but even then, Holmes will be a handful down low.  I think one key to our success will be utilizing our size and athleticism at the 4.  We also need to be able to hit some outside shots to open up passing lanes in the paint.   Here’s looking forward to a great contest between 2 top tier teams!

[Stuhoo]

19 minutes ago, WeCocky said:

Hi all, gamecock fan here.  I’ve been loosely following your team throughout the season, and I’m looking forward to Friday night’s matchup.  I think it will be a great battle between 2 teams who don’t back down, despite the competition.  Although none of the players from that 2020 team are still on our roster, many of us “fams” see this as a bit of a revenge game.  Point of clarification, though.  That game was actually played on Thanksgiving Day in the Virgin Islands, not on our home court.  
 

I find this matchup intriguing for sure.  Like our game against Iowa in last year’s final four, I believe one key to the game will be how tight the refs will call the game.  I believe a moderate level of physical play will serve as an advantage for us, as it appears you all flourish with finesse and when you’re getting good looks from 3.  Hopefully, our guards will be successful in running you all off the 3-point line, but even then, Holmes will be a handful down low.  I think one key to our success will be utilizing our size and athleticism at the 4.  We also need to be able to hit some outside shots to open up passing lanes in the paint.   Here’s looking forward to a great contest between 2 top tier teams!

Nice post—appreciate your visit.

IU will need to minimize turnovers, prevent second chance points, and get looks from three. Go ahead; double Holmes… I dare ya!

[GIJoe]

3 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Nice post—appreciate your visit.

IU will need to minimize turnovers, prevent second chance points, and get looks from three. Go ahead; double Holmes… I dare ya!

Another SC fan here dropping in to say hello. I can’t ever remember SC double teaming any player in Coach Staley’s tenure. She never employs that tactic, not even against Clark (that was prob a mistake in hindsight)

You might not know of a freshman named Fulwiley, but she is fun to watch and usually puts on a show with a few highlight reel plays each game. She gets about 18 minutes a game but sometimes plays a little more. She is electric. She was the SEC tourney MVP averaging 18 minutes…..watch for her.
 

GL to both teams, I have watched every IU game this year for personal reasons, love the members of that team. 

Edited March 27, 2024 by GIJoe

[Stuhoo]

6 minutes ago, GIJoe said:

Another SC fan here dropping in to say hello. I can’t ever remember SC double teaming any player in Coach Staley’s tenure. She never employs that tactic, not even against Clark (that was prob a mistake in hindsight)

Curious whether the 6’7” gal is quick enough to single cover Holmes with no guard digs. Holmes can be turnover prone with guard digs but really good without them. Oklahoma didn’t double or dig and Holmes went for 29. But Oklahoma controlled the three point line well.

[Todd41]

16 minutes ago, GIJoe said:

Another SC fan here dropping in to say hello. I can’t ever remember SC double teaming any player in Coach Staley’s tenure. She never employs that tactic, not even against Clark (that was prob a mistake in hindsight)

You might not know of a freshman named Fulwiley, but she is fun to watch and usually puts on a show with a few highlight reel plays each game. She gets about 18 minutes a game but sometimes play a little more. She is electric. 
 

GL to both teams, I have watched every IU game this year for personal reasons, love the members of that team. 

I have seen quite a few SC games this year and Fulwiley is a talent for sure.  

[WeCocky]

I would think Kamilla is definitely quick enough to guard Holmes 1-on-1, as she is very agile for her size.  As GIJoe stated, Dawn does not like to double-team anyone, and our defense is usually proficient at help rotation.  If for some reason Kamilla does have a hard time guarding Holmes, I believe Ashlyn Watkins would be next up for that task.  It would not surprise me if Dawn throws different looks at Holmes throughout the game to hopefully keep her uncomfortable and to keep her from finding her groove.  Dawn has employed that tactic in the past to some level of success.  
 

I also agree with GIJoe, in that I believe MiLaysia may be a big x-factor in this game.  She can sometimes be careless with the ball, but there’s no doubt she’s also a potential one-woman highlight reel.  The energy level goes way up when she checks into the game.  She feeds off the crowd, and the crowd feeds off her, as well.  

[Stuhoo]

31 minutes ago, GIJoe said:

GL to both teams, I have watched every IU game this year for personal reasons, love the members of that team. 

^^Hey—you edited to add this^^

so… what do think. Having seen this IU team a lot, can they hang? Any chance Scalia gets ten looks from distance?

[GIJoe]

5 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

^^Hey—you edited to add this^^

so… what do think. Having seen this IU team a lot, can they hang? Any chance Scalia gets ten looks from distance?

I added that because one of the players on the IU roster is very close to a family member. So I have watched all of the IU games the past two seasons.  Scalia will be covered by Raven Johnson mostly, who is a blanket defender, she will need to get screens to get some open looks. Raven will be on her tight the whole time and Raven is fast/athletic.

 

IU can hang, but to be perfectly honest, it will be hard work for the 5-7 IU players that see significant minutes. SC will roll with 8-9 players that play 10 minutes or more. They just wear teams down. Hoosiers have a chance, but can't afford an off night shooting like against Oklahoma. I think IU would need to shoot above 45% overall and 40% from three to be in it late. They are capable of that obviously, they lead the nation in three point shooting %. Btw, SC is second in the nation in 3 pt shooting, so Chloe and Sarah need to be locked in defensively on the perimeter as well, especially against PaoPao, who shoots 47% from three. I don’t know that IU has anyone who can guard Fulwiley effectively when she enters, so far nobody can stop her except herself. She would be a 35 minute per game player on most teams, she has per minute stats like Hidalgo and Watkins from her freshman class. She can still be erratic though, esp on her threes.

Edited March 27, 2024 by GIJoe

[GIJoe]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Curious whether the 6’7” gal is quick enough to single cover Holmes with no guard digs. Holmes can be turnover prone with guard digs but really good without them. Oklahoma didn’t double or dig and Holmes went for 29. But Oklahoma controlled the three point line well.

Cardoso, the SC 6'7" center is an athlete. She often gets downcourt as fast as the guards and forwards when in transition.  Pili of Utah was able to exploit her under the rim with her post moves and footwork, so Mack should see some success with her post moves as well. Kenzie is one of the best at keeping her body between the defender and her shooting hand. Mack will have a good game as usual. Watkins and Cardoso average almost 6 blocks a game combined however, so Mack has to be aware.

 Parrish and Scalia will need help getting open looks, will need to hit contested shots imo.  Garzon can create her own shot and get it off against anyone, she has the length and skills. Chloe is bigger than PaoPao and should have success getting looks from range. It's the third and fourth quarters that can be back breakers against SC since they use so many players and keep sending in fresh subs, most of whom are elite HS AA's. SC will try to own the boards, that is one of their missions each game and they are good at it, so IU has to work extra hard boxing out. 

 

No team is unbeatable, IU can hang with great effort but i worry they will tire late from all the energy expended..  Hoping for a great game, I hated it when I saw these teams in the same bracket.

 

Edited March 27, 2024 by GIJoe

[HoosierHoopster]

One point above rings particularly true to me — IU will have to box out.

As hard as we played against Okla, the team was flat terrible boxing out, gave Okla multiple additional shot attempts they never should’ve had. I hope that’s post game video clip #1 for the team prep, that’s critical.

We’re of course the big underdog in this game. The test against Okla though could be a boon. We’ll need 100% focus

[GIJoe]

58 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

One point above rings particularly true to me — IU will have to box out.

As hard as we played against Okla, the team was flat terrible boxing out, gave Okla multiple additional shot attempts they never should’ve had. I hope that’s post game video clip #1 for the team prep, that’s critical.

We’re of course the big underdog in this game. The test against Okla though could be a boon. We’ll need 100% focus

Yep, and SC thrives on the second chance put backs, big part of their game.

[GIJoe]

Best of luck to both teams, no injuries.

Edited March 29, 2024 by GIJoe

[mickey one]

South Carolina is what UConn was 5+ years ago: get the best players in the country, bring in waves of talent and don't care if some of them don't pan out and transfer, and overwhelm the "mere mortal" opposition. It's "state of the art". They do it better than anyone else right now. I suppose they could have a bad game and lose, but it seems pretty unlikely. With that said, if anyone gets to slip by them, I hope it's IU.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Appreciate you SC guys coming on board for a few days.  Let's all hope for a quality game and no one suffers any injury on either team.  And let's all pray the refs are competent.

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Appreciate you SC guys coming on board for a few days.  Let's all hope for a quality game and no one suffers any injury on either team.  And let's all pray the refs are competent.

And that IU wins by 30.     ;)

[IUCrazy2]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

And that IU wins by 30.

I'll take IU by 1.  Just find a way.

[LamarCheeks]

Jules -- apparently auditioning for ESPN (LOL) -- interviews the gals. 

Fun video ... 

https://x.com/IndianaWBB/status/1773507795326808064?s=20

[mamasa]

I absolutely love it when educated passionate (and polite!!) fans of other teams visit us- gives a whole new insight into their teams!