C
ChrisWellbaum
Guest
WBB: Boston Powers Win at Duke
- Aliyah Boston was phenomenal, again. Boston is averaging 21.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and just 0.5 turnovers over her last four games. She's the best player in the country and I'm not even sure there's an argument for anybody else. Her stretch in the fourth quarter was as dominant as a player can be.
- Dawn Staley said after the game she thought there was some fatigue, mental and physical, following the Maryland game. I thought the same thing. A lot of shots hitting the front rim, and just not getting the ball in the right place. "I thought mentally after that first quarter we probably thought it was smooth sailing and took our foot off the gas and we learned a lesson," Staley said.
- Teams use a zone to slow Boston, but it really hurts Zia Cooke too. She's not a good set shooter. She thrives off driving and rhythm shots, and she doesn't get enough of those against the zone.
- Shayeann Day-Wilson was really impressive at times for Duke, hitting some fearless shots. Other times she looked like a freshman, committing five turnovers and taking some ill-advised shots (a couple that she hit). In the moment, her heat-check three down seven didn't feel like a bad shot, but it ended up killing the Duke rally.
- There's a lot South Carolina could have done better (starting with 8-17 free throws). A lot will be helped by Destanni Henderson's return, some won't. But don't lose sight of the fact that that was a road win over a top-15 opponent. It's not supposed to be easy.
- Edit: I watched the TV broadcast when I got home, and I wanted to add a few things:
Cooke took decent shots. She wasn't just chucking it... Boston should have had more than four blocks, she got cheated out of a few... Boston's fourth quarter might have been even more impressive on TV... Lost in the offensive issues, South Carolina's defense shut down a good offense. There might be a playbook for slowing down the Gamecock offense (lots of zone and hope Cooke is cold), but still nobody has figured out the Gamecock defense.
- Aliyah Boston was phenomenal, again. Boston is averaging 21.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and just 0.5 turnovers over her last four games. She's the best player in the country and I'm not even sure there's an argument for anybody else. Her stretch in the fourth quarter was as dominant as a player can be.
- Dawn Staley said after the game she thought there was some fatigue, mental and physical, following the Maryland game. I thought the same thing. A lot of shots hitting the front rim, and just not getting the ball in the right place. "I thought mentally after that first quarter we probably thought it was smooth sailing and took our foot off the gas and we learned a lesson," Staley said.
- Teams use a zone to slow Boston, but it really hurts Zia Cooke too. She's not a good set shooter. She thrives off driving and rhythm shots, and she doesn't get enough of those against the zone.
- Shayeann Day-Wilson was really impressive at times for Duke, hitting some fearless shots. Other times she looked like a freshman, committing five turnovers and taking some ill-advised shots (a couple that she hit). In the moment, her heat-check three down seven didn't feel like a bad shot, but it ended up killing the Duke rally.
- There's a lot South Carolina could have done better (starting with 8-17 free throws). A lot will be helped by Destanni Henderson's return, some won't. But don't lose sight of the fact that that was a road win over a top-15 opponent. It's not supposed to be easy.
- Edit: I watched the TV broadcast when I got home, and I wanted to add a few things:
Cooke took decent shots. She wasn't just chucking it... Boston should have had more than four blocks, she got cheated out of a few... Boston's fourth quarter might have been even more impressive on TV... Lost in the offensive issues, South Carolina's defense shut down a good offense. There might be a playbook for slowing down the Gamecock offense (lots of zone and hope Cooke is cold), but still nobody has figured out the Gamecock defense.
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