I’ve been watching ESPN all morning and they’ve been talking about how Sabrina Ionescu and Oregon dominated yesterday. They showed highlights of their wins and continued to praise her. They even bought up the #internationalwomensday angle. Much later in the show, they showed a whopping 2 highlights from the Gamecocks game. One was the scuffle in the second quarter, and the other was a fast break layup. That was it. I believe Ionescu is a great player but SC have been getting quality wins in dominant fashion. What’s going on with this? I can only speculate but in an attempt to not sound ignorant, I want to know if I’m missing something. I don’t know if I’m looking too much into this. Dawn Staley could easily just let her players watch ESPN all morning instead of practicing to get motivated for the tournament. Thoughts?
Dawn should use Sportscenter coverage to motivate team
- Thread starter sand4893
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Dawn should use Sportscenter coverage to motivate team
No criticism intended but, I'm just one of those silly, die-hard fans who sincerely believes that Dawn Staley needs no suggestions nor advice, whatsoever, when it comes to coaching, recruiting or anything else basketball related. In fact, I'd love to sit in on one of her lectures on 'Zen and the Art of Winning Basketball.'
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She has alluded to the lack of respect our ladies have gotten from the sports media - she's aware. And I'll guarantee you if she thinks that is something that it will take to motivate this team, she's all over it. Go CDS - Go COCKS!
Her teams always get disrespected and pretty much left out of conversations. This team is no different with that.
Hell, look how long it took for them to receive the AP #1 ranking. The only team to have kept it for 8 consecutive weeks. All the previous teams earned it and lost it just as quickly as they got it. I guarantee the same people have been voting for Oregon and Baylor to be the top team throughout all those weeks as well. The number in parenthesis next to their name pretty much stays the same every week.
But, its all good. The team just have to stay in character and keep doing what they have been doing- win.
Hell, look how long it took for them to receive the AP #1 ranking. The only team to have kept it for 8 consecutive weeks. All the previous teams earned it and lost it just as quickly as they got it. I guarantee the same people have been voting for Oregon and Baylor to be the top team throughout all those weeks as well. The number in parenthesis next to their name pretty much stays the same every week.
But, its all good. The team just have to stay in character and keep doing what they have been doing- win.
You aren't wrong, but Dawn doesn't need to use ESPN to motivate her team
Look at ESPN womens page and it is article and highlight crazy for Oregon. I believe they are good but it is like they want them to win. If we both make championship game, get ready because ESPN will be all over Oregon winning and announcers pulling for them.
I do feel SEC network has been more favorable this year for our team since that one lady that used to be on the show left and is now at Georgia Tech. She ALWAYS talked in ways as though she was pulling for whoever we played. At least Stephnie Sorenson is better to listen to. Andy landers is who he is. Not my favorite and I think he tries to hard to be the funny, retired coach but I think he falls flat alot.
Anyway, I guarantee you that the bracket reveal will be 3 times the Oregon coverage to Carolina, even thought we are nations overall #1 seed and that cant be taken at this point.
I do feel SEC network has been more favorable this year for our team since that one lady that used to be on the show left and is now at Georgia Tech. She ALWAYS talked in ways as though she was pulling for whoever we played. At least Stephnie Sorenson is better to listen to. Andy landers is who he is. Not my favorite and I think he tries to hard to be the funny, retired coach but I think he falls flat alot.
Anyway, I guarantee you that the bracket reveal will be 3 times the Oregon coverage to Carolina, even thought we are nations overall #1 seed and that cant be taken at this point.
This is typical of ESPN. They pick a player or a team and focus on them like no other players or teams exist.
The journalists have less work if they don’t research all the teams. It is laziness.
I wouldn't worry too much about ESPN, they're always looking for an angle for a story just like the rest of the media.
What I like is Destanni Henderson's answer to the post-game question Saturday, how dangerous are the Gamecocks, we're very dangerous!
What I like is Destanni Henderson's answer to the post-game question Saturday, how dangerous are the Gamecocks, we're very dangerous!
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I personally don't think this is purposely done. Unfortunately women's basketball is generally usually reduced down to one player and maybe 1-2 teams. That player this season is Ionescu, a unique and a one of kind player on the stat line. Mix in that plus the Kobe angle, then it make sense why the media is covering them. But I like it that way, it will just be that more dramatic when we win.
We are the Number One Team in the country and whining.
Assuming we meet Oregon in the NCG, it just gives the game (and our program) that much more exposure. Oh BTW, I don't think these gals will need any motivation when we meet them.
Assuming we meet Oregon in the NCG, it just gives the game (and our program) that much more exposure. Oh BTW, I don't think these gals will need any motivation when we meet them.
I don't get too concerned with ESPN views. I look forward to the opportunity to play Oregon as I believe our defense can slow them down and our offense can score on anyone! Who cares what any ot the talking heads think!
No one is going to beat us so doesn't matter
This is the same thing we laugh at Dabo for. So I am glad she doesn’t whine about lack of praise. Let the play on the court garner attention.
I think they are picking a vendor. Oregon is all about Nike.
As a daily follower of ESPN WBB let me say a few things.
They are the only outlet that seriously covers WBB
Immediately after our game they had about 8-10 video highlights of our game and post game. The fact that Oregon has so many is more probably about it being the last game of the day in a news cycle
Yes ESPN loves Oregon! Guess what? They love the Gamecocks also! Charlie Creme was not at the PAC 12 tourney, he was at the SEC singing our praises. He had us as the top seed even before we were ranked #1. Mechelle Voepel and Graham Hays love us. ESPN announcers Peck, Antonelli, Mowins, and Catchings absolutely gush over us and Dawn when they announce games.
Quit being insecure whiny little b’s when somebody other than us gets praised for being a great team
They are the only outlet that seriously covers WBB
Immediately after our game they had about 8-10 video highlights of our game and post game. The fact that Oregon has so many is more probably about it being the last game of the day in a news cycle
Yes ESPN loves Oregon! Guess what? They love the Gamecocks also! Charlie Creme was not at the PAC 12 tourney, he was at the SEC singing our praises. He had us as the top seed even before we were ranked #1. Mechelle Voepel and Graham Hays love us. ESPN announcers Peck, Antonelli, Mowins, and Catchings absolutely gush over us and Dawn when they announce games.
Quit being insecure whiny little b’s when somebody other than us gets praised for being a great team
Going unnoticed worked out well for us when we won our last national title. Everyone was raving over MSST because they knocked off UCONN. It was as though beating UCONN automatically guaranteed a win over South Carolina. We were content to remain in the shadows until time to claim the crown. The one recurring thing I have heard from the SEC coaches who has played us this year is that we are scary good. Arkansas's coach said we were the best team that he had every had to prepare for. Texas A&M basically said the same. They have said watching film doesn't do us justice. We are fast, have a deep bench and a lockdown defense.
If both teams take care of business, there is a good possibility that we will meet Oregon in the finals. Settle who's the best on the court.
If both teams take care of business, there is a good possibility that we will meet Oregon in the finals. Settle who's the best on the court.
Great observation — and I completely agree with you. The same thing happened in a half page article in the Wall Street Journal a couple days ago. The article was about the surge in attendance at women’s basketball games, but it focused exclusively on Ionescui and the Oregon program. It briefly mentioned South Carolina’s attendance leading program, but no specifics.
I'll put our dominance this way: We blew out a top ten team yesterday without hitting a single three. We only had 1 starter play in the 4th quarter.
Seems like over analyzing in my opinion. In ESPN terms, women’s basketball is like the 10th most important sport for their coverage (being generous). So why wouldn’t they gravitate towards an all-time great player like Ionescu? She’s broken several all-time records, and yet still less than 5% of sports fans even know who she is (or the fact that the Gamecocks are #1)...
Women's basketball is easily the 3rd most covered college sport on ESPN behind football and men's basketball.
However, you are right that stars tend to drive coverage. How many people can name a player from UVA men's team last year? Not many. But everyone has heard of Zion.
It really is disrespect, sick of hearing how great Ionescu is and I am sure Dawn and the team are as well, nobody plays hero ball on our team we don't rely on one player and staying in zone defense the whole game like Oregon. We could have scored 100 points in 10+ games this season but we backed off and put in the subs.
yes you are overreacting, just like a bunch of others on here do....no, the world doesn't hate us, no, there isn't a conspiracy against us....anything else you need to understand?
"Disrespect" is the most overused and misused word in the modern Anglo American language.
We ARE number 1.
