To complete our 2021 preseason, we play the No#9 team and then the No#1 team in the nation. On Saturday the 18th we run onto the Pat Summit Court in the Thompson Bolling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee, which will be packed with some of the nation's loudest fans swathed in that garish orange.
All is great on Rocky Top this week. The Lady Vols are back in the Top Ten for the first time in three years. They're 8 and 0 and they've beaten both USF and Texas, which are the two blemishes on the Cardinal's record at this point.
Jordan Horston is leading the way with 16.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Against Texas she took over the offense in the 4th quarter and played one on two or three and got them into overtime. She's long and quick and effective. She's been crucial to their success this preseason and is a 6'-2" Junior Guard joined in the starting lineup by:
Tess Darby 6'-1" Soph. Guard
Alexis Dye 6'-0" Grad. Forward
Tamari Key 6'-6" Junior Center
Jordan Walker 5'-8" Grad. Guard
I probably don't need to elaborate on the importance - to the whole state of Tennessee - that Kelly Harper has brought their team back to the upper echelons of women's basketball. She's a rare person and a rare coach who has performed this remarkable turnaround with the fierce glare of Pat Summit's legend and amazing record of success overshadowing the program.
I would be worried about our chances in this battle - faced with one of the most intimidating home field advantages in women's basketball - if we didn't have our own coaching legend with an equally amazing record of success sitting at the end of our bench.
We need to play our "A" game from start to finish, hit a dozen three's, and play our most stifling defense of the season.
Then on Tuesday the 21st we roll into the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina to play the Gamecocks. Our preseason schedule was obviously designed to build our preparedness incrementally for this major collision.
In a previous blog I made reference to the emotional hangover still lingering in Columbia, South Carolina after our last second one point win in last season's Final Four showdown in San Antonio. You can imagine what their home field advantage will be like - 12,000 fans screaming at the top of their lungs for two hours in Colonial Life Arena - hanging on every up and down of the action.
For the 2021/2022 season the Gamecocks are ranked #1 in the land - and we're #2. This pre-Christmas matchup in their building is being thought of by many as a preview of another Final Four blockbuster. Destiny Henderson has been in street clothes lately with an undisclosed injury. Destiny Littleton (that's right they've got several) is getting more playing time and is quite effective. Not as fast or quick as Destiny One, but has a good handle and can shoot. Cardoso hasn't been getting the kind of minutes I expected. Against Duke they played Boston, Sexton, and Amphere (all 6'-4" or so).
South Carolina returns their starting five, plus a 6'-7" sophomore transfer from Syracuse, Kamilla Cardoso. Dawn Staley feels confident that this stout talented Brazilian is the piece that was missing last year. This year she's planning to win a second national championship in April in Minneapolis.
In addition, the Gamecocks have once again added the #1 recruiting class in the nation by signing three of the top five recruits. So, more size and more depth. Sounds like a great recipe for NCAA Tournament success. Especially since we lost our floor leader, Kiana Williams, who Tara referred to as our "Key."
Doesn't sound good, does it?
Well, I'm sorry Dawn, because we're going to beat you in Columbia and in Minneapolis. I may be mistaken, but I foresee Kiana getting replaced by Lacie Hull at point guard. I foresee Ashton Prechtel holding down Aliyah Boston to 10 or 12 and Cameron Brink thoroughly frustrating Kamilla Cardoso without fouling. Zia Cooke is going to get stifled by a stiff dose of Lexie Hull with help from everyone around the screens. Brea Beal will again be snuffed by Haley Jones, and Destanni Littleton by Lacie Hull.
We'll get off to a strong start this time and hit our usual fifteen threes. The score will probably be close for two quarters, then in the second half we'll pull away as the fact of our greater team cohesiveness, preparation, intelligence, strength, and chemistry takes over.
COME ON CARDINAL - LET'S ROLL!!!
