For the 2022/2023 women's basketball season Charlie Creme, in his Way Too Early Top 25, once again anoints the Gamecocks as the number one team in the nation - and Stanford #2.
Charlie - you're going to have to come out west for this showdown.
In November, we'll welcome the Gamecocks to a jamb-packed Maples Pavilion and show Charlie and the rest of the country who the real #1 is. If you'll allow me, I'd like to make some predictions about what I see as the biggest pre-season game of the year.
A front court to beat the Gamecocks:
Center Ashten Prechtel 6'-5" Senior
Power Forward Lauren Betts 6'-7" Freshman
Small Forward Cameron Brink 6'-4" Junior
The projected front court for the Gamecocks:
Center Aliyah Boston 6'-5" Senior
Power Forward Kamilla Cordoso 6'-7" Junior
Small Forward Laeticia Amihere 6'-4" Senior
Ashten has dealt effectively with Aliyah Boston on defense because she refuses to get shoved back under the basket, but establishes a defensive position away from the basket and is strong enough to hold her ground. She blocks some of Aliyah's shots, bothers others, and generally makes it tough for their star to score.
Lauren Betts has had experience in big games playing for the USA U17 team and in the summer of 2021 in Hungary on the U19 team, when she had just finished her junior year of high school. At 17 she was the youngest player in the tournament. In the championship game she guarded the Australian post player who was 20, and Lauren turned out to be a key factor in the USA team winning the gold medal. She'll be able to effectively check Cardoso.
Between now and our battle with the Gamecocks in November, Cameron Brink is going to become a face-the-basket driver/slasher with a right and left hook at close range, a deadly pull-up mid-range jump shot, and a consistent three-point shot. Her first step will be so looong and so quick that defenders will have no other choice than to foul her - and next season she'll shoot foul shots in the mid-80% range. In other words, Cam is going to become the most dangerous offensive player in Division 1 next season - and she'll realize she has to play defense without fouling to stay on the floor and score.
Our guards will be two of the best:
Point Guard Haley Jones 6'-1" Senior
Shooting Guard Hannah Jump 6'-0" Senior
The Gamecock's backcourt:
Point Guard Zia Cooke 5'-9" Senior
Shooting Guard Brea Beal 6'-1" Senior
It's going to be a night of fierce back cuts and great passing to open shooters. Hannah, Haley, Ashten, and Cameron will hit a total of thirteen threes. Hannah will get switching help off of screens and hold Cooke to under 20 points. Haley will be at her passing/shooting best.
Our backup players will be:
Center Kiki Iriafen 6'-3" Sophomore
Power Forward Fran Belibi 6'-1" Senior
Small Forward Brooke Demetre 6'-3" Sophomore
Point Guard Jzaniya Harriel 5'-10" R/S Freshman
Talana Lepolo 5'-6" Freshman
Indya Nivar 5'-9" Freshman
Shooting Guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu 5'-11" Senior
Elena Bosgana 6'-2" Sophomore
Stavi Papadaki 5'-11" Freshman
Lauren Green 5'-8" Freshman
It's going to be a titanic battle and a great victory for the Cardinal.
I can't wait!
LET'S GO STANFORD!!
I'm with you 100% regarding the front line of Betts, Prechtel & Brink, but I doubt if Tara would ever consider having those three play @ the same time. More likely, Brink, Prechtel and Haley @ the wing.
ReplyDeleteYour starting line-up does not solve our point guard problem and even though Destiny Henderson won't be back to disrupt Stanford's offense, Zia Cook and others will. Stanford needs quickness and athleticism on the perimeter. Without it, we will be in the same position as last season.
As of today, we have not recruited anyone, especially a proven guard, through the portal. I don't know about Tara's plans regarding the portal and the availability of players, but I do know we will have two talented freshmen guards and one redshirt freshman guard who I hope will be 100% healthy.
Let's open the competition and have one of those freshmen become Stanford's next point guard.