Sunday, January 24, 2016

DoggyDaddy's Dailies 1/25/16

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Similar to "which came first, the chicken or the egg", the question in the No. 2 South Carolina at No. 10 Mississippi State is which came first, the bad offense or the good defense. It's probably some of both, but I can tell you that both of these teams are offensively challenged.

The scores at the end of each quarters were:

8-7 Mississippi State,  
22-20 South Carolina
34-30 South Carolina
57-51 South Carolina

South Carolina had 14 first half turnovers and 21 for the game. They shot much better in the second half to raise their percentage for the game to 43.2%. On threes, Tina Roy was 3-4 and the rest of the team was 1-9. They only had 9 assists for the game.

Mississippi State took care of the ball better and had only 13 TO's. But their shooting was horrendous They shot 27.1% from the field and 3-13 on threes. They also had only 9 assists for the game.

The vaunted South Carolina front line of Wilson, Coates were 5-14 from the field and scored only 12 points total. Their backups, White and Imovbioh, played little and were scoreless. In nine minutes Imovbioh grabbed 7 rebounds but also committed 4 fouls.

Tiffany Mitchell had 21 points to lead South Carolina hitting several late free throws and going 8-9 for the game. . But she was 6-15 from the field, 1-7 on threes with 7 turnovers and only two assists.

MSU's star Victoria Vivians scored 19 points but took 25 shots to get there. She was 2-9 on threes.

It's hard not to trash these teams for their offensive ineptitude. These are supposed to be the two best teams in the SEC.

The announcers (Peck is just bad) called is an amazing first half. I just call it awful basketball.

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It  wouldn't be fair unless I posted the opinion of a South Carolina fan on their Sunday matchup with Mississippi State. My comments are in blue.

The game versus Miss State was a very physical game that I thought should have been officiated more tightly, but for some reason was allowed to be played as it was. The Bulldog players were allowed to ride and physically bump Gamecock ball handlers as they drove to the basket or moved to make layups, when the thought process was once upon a time that that kind of physical impedance would not be allowed anymore. 
Ahhhh....whinning about the refs. I watched the game and while it was physical at times, he fails to mention the fouls that the South Carolina players didn't get called for.    

 As it was, USC still overall completed near it's season average in total field goals as well as 3-pt field goals. The big difference was they just didn't shoot as many times: taking 16 fewer shot attempts in this game than they averaged coming into the game, due to the heavy physicality. 

Well, USC shot 43% this game and average 46.6%. They shot 30% in this game and usually shoot 32.5% on threes. But as I mentioned, Roy was 3-4 with 2 very lucky threes. The rest of the team was 1-9. They didn't take as many shots because they had 21 turnovers. Funny how he failed to mention that.

Miss. State meanwhile took 15 more shots than USC which was actually above their season average, but completed only 27% of their shot attempts including 23% from behind the arc which was well below their average. The only thing besides their physical play that kept them in this game was their free throw shooting which they connected on 16 of their 17 tries. 

In other words, Mississippi State can't shoot. This guy is a genius!

If they turned around and played this exact same game tomorrow with a difference officiating crew, 3 Bulldogs would have fouled out of the game.... 

Yeah, and if my Aunt had balls she'd be my Uncle.

This is the game-plan of Miss. State and their coach Vic Shaefer. It's similar to how Dawn Staley coached USC in the earlier years before they had post depth: play ferocious 5-man in-your-pocket defense, and inhibit the opponent's scoring or even moving about with the ball, thus helping your own team have a chance to out-score them. 

Lol.....he thinks Dawn doesn't coach that way anymore?

Thus we see a ton of their games with scores in the 40s and 50s. They lost by 6 to #6 Texas 53-47, and lost to UGA 47-43. That's how they play against opponents they feel have more offensive talent: they try to smother them defensively.

Yes, there are a lot of scores in the 40s and 50s but not because of the reasons he lists. Most just bad shooting in the SEC games. 

It's not a "pretty" wide-open offensive game like the ones in the AAC between UConn and whoever, because USC doesn't have opponents like that in the SEC where they could play nothing but their reserves and still win by 20+ every game. UConn just beat a SMU team that shot 25% NOT because they chose to bring the game down to a certain level, but because they just are unable to compete. Which explains 70% of the teams in the AAC game in and out.

Pretty wide open offensive games......the thing that SEC fans can only dream of. South Carolina can't beat teams in the SEC by 20 with their bench because their bench sucks. And UConn would beat 90% of the teams in the SEC by the same 40+ they beat the AAC teams.

But no one hardly says about UConn games "ugly" those games are: in a 1-0 MLB game, both teams have a solid chance to compete for the win. In the USC-MSU game, both teams were in the game down to the final minutes. 

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'd rather watch one team play really good basketball than watch two teams play crappy basketball in a close game. But that's just me.

But a AAC game where one opponent is already losing by 40+ before halftime, and really REALLY knows it has nothing else to play for except to see if it can make a basket or two - now, THAT'S what I call ugly basketball, and I think I'm among the vast majority....

I have to remind this moron that the team that UConn beat by a 90-37 margin lost to Mississippi State by a 72-70 score. Case Closed.

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It's difficult to watch a South Carolina game without wondering how they matchup with UConn for the February 8th game.

Certainly home court will help the Gamecocks. But after watching them for a few games, I just see some holes that they can't fill by gametime.

1. While Coates and Wilson are very good players, they disappear at times. But their backups, White and Imovbioh have not been playing much in the tougher games and when they do, they have been ineffective.

2. Weak at the point guard position. Sessions is the same player she was last year. Occasionally she can drive to the basket, and while she a little better from the outside she only averages a little over one attempt per game. Her assists/TO ratio is 1. Not good enough for a point guard. Her backup is Cuevas. She has shown NO improvement in her second season. She still plays out of control and her shooting is off the charts bad.

3. Tiffany Mitchell. She had a short period where she played better but for the most part, she is playing a lot worse in her senior year. Her FG% went from 50% last season to 41% this year. Her three point shooting 41% to 33%. Her rebounding went from 3.1 per game  to 2.9. Her assist went from 2.9 per game to 2.5. Her turnover grew from 2.2 per game to 2.7. It's just clear she is not the same player this season.

4. They miss Welsh. She was last years clear emotional leader. Sessions tries but it's not nearly the same. 

Looking forward to writing the Pre Game report for this one.

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They talk about the weak sisters in the AAC but how about that powerhouse Virginia Tech? They played against No. 3 Notre Dame Sunday and the final was 80-41. They finally broke the 20 point barrier with three minutes left in the third quarter. Notre Dame stopped playing defense (similar to UConn's late game with Central Florida) and VT score 23 points in the last 13 minutes.

A Notre Dame writer described the VT offense as somewhere between an air ball and a shot clock violation. 

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From David in Naples

 Breanna Stewart is playing the best basketball of her Gold Medal and National Championship studded career. How good is Stewie? Consider:

1. Against SMU, Stewie played only 26 minutes and left the game at the end of the 3rd period, just sort of a statistical quadruple double. She had 15 points, 12 rebounds, 9 blocked shots, 7 assists and 3 steals. One blocked shot and 3 assists would have been fairly easy to get with an entire 4th period to play. The last college quadruple double was 23 years ago.
2. Stewie has scored 328 points on a team with wall to wall superstars. She has 101 more points than the next closest player, Moriah Jefferson. (227)
3. Despite leading the Huskies in scoring, Stewart is 2nd on the team with 69 assists, 16 more than Kia Nurse or Morgan Tuck.
4. Stewie is the team leader in scoring, rebounds, blocked shots, field goals made, free throws made and 3 pt shooting percentage.
5. In 18 games this season, Stewie has 7 double-doubles despite averaging only 28 minutes per game. She has 32 in her career. MoJeff has 1 career double-double.
6. Breanna has made more free throws (54) than any of her team mates have attempted. (Tuck w/ 41). Her 54-66 comes out to 82% accuracy.
7. Stewie is making 63% of her shots from inside the 3 pt arc, 45% from 3 range and 82% from the charity stripe.

The 3 time MVP in the National Championship game has raised her game to an even higher level of play. :D
 
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I love Meghan Culmo. I consider her a friend. She has been the celebrity speaker at my golf outing.
 
But, seriously, Meg. You have to have your facts right.
 
After Chongs first three pointer from the left corner, she exclaimed "Great shot by Chong, the same corner she hit the big three against South Florida". That's great except it was the right corner. I think she knew that but had the comment ready in case Chong hit a corner three.
 
Then a little while later, after a Stewart block she said "great block by the 6'5" senior".  Did Stewart grow an inch? I'm pretty sure she has been 6'4" her entire career.
 
Meg.....tsk....tsk.
 
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So, I had an issue with a comment made by a Tennessee fan on a message board. She said that "On a good day, SMU is a mid-major, and this wasn't a good day".
 
Now, I admit, I am sensitive to criticism about the AAC teams. I want them to be looked at on par with other conferences. 
 
So, I responded with the teams in the power five that SMU played well against or beat including a 7 point loss to top ten team Arizona State and a two point loss to SEC powerhouse and top ten team Mississippi state.
 
Of course that was scoffed at by this Tennessee fan, saying "Kansas and Arizona are both the doormats of their conferences. And you yourself have said that Mississippi State is overrated (with which I concur). So I rest my case."
 
Wow, pure genius here. Ignoring the Arizona State game I mentioned and using the fact that I have said that Mississippi State is not a top ten team. But it doesn't support the original dumb comment.
 
Then a Notre Dame fan know for trashing UConn and the AAC felt the need to jump in. Check out this one - "Wait. You left out some little details like the 8-10 record and the losses to North Texas, New Mexico and Tulsa. Laughing Laughing Laughing".
 
So, what does that that have to do with SMU on a good day?
 
My reply was this "She said "SMU is a mid-major on a good day. This was not a good day."  No, on a good day, SMU plays like they do in the games I mentioned. A good day and losing close to Mississippi State.  On a bad day, it's games like you mentioned. Yes, on a bad day they play like a mid-major. So do many other teams in the Power-5 conferences." 
 
I'm so sick of the AAC bashing and I will have their backs whenever I can. 
           
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So, without further ado!!!  

      
Ladies and Gents, DD looks at the news........

 
 
Blowouts Cost UConn Starters Playing Time, And Shot At Milestones Hartford Courant
 
UConn's Breanna Stewart Almost Dunks Ball vs SMU UConn Blog
 
Auriemma weighs in on future of his boss Jim Fuller
 
Milestone abound for UConn seniors Jefferson and Stewart Jim Fuller
 
Stewart's impressive game almost featured her first Dunk Jim Fuller 
 
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Upsets in Red

 
 
 
Thanks to Johnny C for sending me many of these numbers!!! 
 
  Johnny C is on the DL with a shoulder injury. I'll do my best to get you the info!!

Tiffany Mitchell South Carolina 21 points
Sidney Cook Virginia Tech 21 points
Kelsey Mitchell Ohio State 22 points
Kahleah Copper Rutgers 18 points 13 rebounds
Ruth Hamblin Oregon State 20 points
Adrienne Motley Miami (FL) 20 points
 Kitija Laksa South Florida 29 points
Courtney Williams South Florida 20 points
Bria Holmes West Virginia 24 points 8 assists
Teana Muldrow West Virginia 21 points
Jessica Morton West Virginia 26 points
Elisa Penna Wake Forest 22 points
Mariella Fasoula Boston College
Jessica Shepard Nebraska 35 points 20 rebounds (11 offensive)
Hallie Thome Michigane 24 points
Aaliyah Whiteside Georgia Tech 31 points
Nelly Perry Clemson 22 points
Brittney Martin Oklahomah State 24 points 17 rebounds
 Roddricka Patton Oklahoma State 13 assists
Megan Deines Kansas State 20 points
Ally Disterhoft Iowa 21 points
April Wilson Purdue 24 points
April Wilson North Carolina 10 points 12 rebounds
Stephanie Watts North Carolina  13 points 10 rebounds
Azura Stevens Duke 26 points 14 rebounds
Tra'Cee Tanner Auburn 21 points
Jillian Alleyne Oregon 26 points 12 rebounds
Emily Potter Utah 22 10
Amanda Cahill Indiana 20 11
Tyra Buss Indiana 21 points 10 rebounds
Nia Coffey Northwestern 29 points 11 rebounds
Ashley Deary Northwestern 28 points 10 assists
 
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3 comments:

  1. ptgrd69@gmail.comJanuary 25, 2016 at 8:18 AM

    As Linkster has stated (equivalently) if you can't brag about your team you're left to brag about you conference

    Enough said on that matter in my opinion. A 10 time NC owes an apology to whom? Yeah right and it's fans don't eithrr

    ReplyDelete
  2. IntpseekerJanuary 25, 2016 at 11:16 AM

    Hey DD! Can you add

    http://www.cockytalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45

    to your fansites?

    ReplyDelete

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