2024-25 DWBB Season
- Thread starter Phredd3
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Phredd3
Member
Yes, and it is worth noting that, although none of the newcomers played at CTC, and Riley and Ella were still sidelined today, Jenessa and Toby were at full speed. That suggests to me that they were held out yesterday because they don't quite yet understand the complexities of our defense. Both appear more than willing to take coaching, but both were well out of position on occasion, and Toby probably received the most individual attention/correction of anyone on the team. Both are undeniably talented. Toby is both quick and fast, with tremendous leaping ability, but still only an unreliable shot from outside the layup line. Jenessa is the opposite. Slow to first move, and slow foot speed, with very little vertical, but her timing is good on defense and her shooting stroke is sweet and true. I'm very excited to see how their development progresses.
The team calling card is still defense, but the shooting seems improved, based on today's limited sample size in non-game conditions. It is really nice to see Vanessa back, with her solid decision-making and occasional dagger from outside. Both Jordan and Louann look ready to contribute, although neither are starters. Jordan gives us some needed height, which we're woefully short of, since neither Toby nor Jenessa are ready quite yet. Louann, on the other hand, is vertically challenged, but brings good passing and a surprisingly sneaky drive on offense, but because of her lack of height can be a liability on defense. She makes up for that to some extent with hustle, and she understands the schemes much better than she did last year.
Everyone else looked the way you'd expect and the team seems to be gelling well at this early juncture.
I'm excited to get the season under way!
The team calling card is still defense, but the shooting seems improved, based on today's limited sample size in non-game conditions. It is really nice to see Vanessa back, with her solid decision-making and occasional dagger from outside. Both Jordan and Louann look ready to contribute, although neither are starters. Jordan gives us some needed height, which we're woefully short of, since neither Toby nor Jenessa are ready quite yet. Louann, on the other hand, is vertically challenged, but brings good passing and a surprisingly sneaky drive on offense, but because of her lack of height can be a liability on defense. She makes up for that to some extent with hustle, and she understands the schemes much better than she did last year.
Everyone else looked the way you'd expect and the team seems to be gelling well at this early juncture.
I'm excited to get the season under way!
Thanks, much appreciated!
The Chronicle started putting up individual player assessments yesterday, looks like it will be a daily occurrence.
www.dukechronicle.com
Women's Basketball - The Chronicle
The Chronicle is Duke University's independent student news organization where you can find campus news, Blue Devil sports coverage, features, opinion and breaking news.
www.dukechronicle.com
Phredd3
Member
I don't how they put these together, but between these and their film room pieces, it isn't clear that the writers have actually been following the team very closely. The film room piece on Ari didn't even mention her injury. They don't mention how Toby looked in practice, and seem to be projecting for her based on internet reputation more than skilled observation. Same for Louann. Couple that with a full-page popup ad on every single page, and I don't think I'll be reading these from here on out.
Yeah, I know, but aren't we kinda starved for info at this point in the year? Even bad info?
Today's submission has 6-2 wing Riley Nelson competing with pure point guard Vanessa de Jesus for playing time.
wandalee
Member
ESPN preseason poll has us at #11! We’ll see!
www.espn.com
Women's Way-Too-Early Top 25: South Carolina stays No. 1, Maryland makes it in
With just over a month left until the season begins, where the best teams fall in behind the Gamecocks -- including the Terrapins.
We are considered #1 South Carolina's most important game of the first 2 months. Maryland is considered ours, and we are also theirs.
www.espn.com
AP NCAA women's basketball poll reaction: Biggest early-season game for every Top 25 team
The AP preseason women's basketball Top 25 poll is out. Here are the biggest games ahead for every team in the rankings.
Transcript of Kara, Reigan, and Ashlon interview at ACC Tipoff last week. Some good stuff.
brevity
Member
First things first. South Carolina has a preseason charity exhibition at Memphis tonight at 9:30pm ET. If you subscribe to ESPN+, you can watch it at this streaming link.
Transcript of Kara, Reigan, and Ashlon interview at ACC Tipoff last week. Some good stuff.
I covered this in the dedicated MBB/WBB ACC Tip-Off thread, but I guess I can cross-post the content.
The above transcript was from this team press conference that was streamed on ACCNX but is now on YouTube:
Interview segments with players and coaches aired all day on the ACC Network. GoDuke put up both the Richardson/Jackson segment and the Lawson segment:
Finally, it took a few days, but the ACC finally released its preseason poll and honors.
Notre Dame Picked as Conference Favorite, Hidalgo Named Preseason Player of the Year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Coming off a conference title and a trip to the Sweet 16, Notre Dame was voted first in the annual Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish, voted on by the league’s 18 coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel.
theacc.com
Preseason Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo, So., G, Notre Dame
Preseason All-ACC Team (First-place votes – 79 voters)
Hannah Hidalgo So., G, Notre Dame 921 (62 first-place votes)
Ta'Niya Latson, Jr., G, Florida State 734 (9 first-place votes)
Saniya Rivers, Sr., G, NC State 527 (2 first-place votes)
Aziaha James, Sr., G, NC State 473 (1 first-place vote)
Olivia Miles, Jr., G, Notre Dame 457 (4 first-place votes)
Sonia Citron, Jr., G, Notre Dame 331
Makayla Timpson, Sr., F, Florida State 315
Alyssa Ustby, Gr., G/F, North Carolina 308
Reigan Richardson, Sr., G, Duke 202
Kymora Johnson, So., G, Virginia 193 (1 first-place vote)
Newcomer Watch List
Toby Fournier, Fr., F, Duke 222
Imari Berry, Fr., G, Louisville 180
Kate Koval, Fr., F, Notre Dame 177
Zamareya Jones, Fr., G, NC State 116
Liza Karlen, Gr., F, Notre Dame 109
Predicted Order of Finish (79 voters)
1. Notre Dame (70), 1726
2. NC State (8), 1617
3. Duke, 1446
4. Louisville, 1370
5. Florida State, 1335
6. North Carolina, 1279
7. Stanford (1), 1214
8. Miami, 883
9. Virginia, 877
10. Georgia Tech, 855
11. Syracuse, 801
12. Virginia Tech, 786
13. Clemson, 553
14. California, 546
15. Boston College, 533
16. SMU, 274
17. Wake Forest, 259
18. Pitt, 233
brevity
Member
South Carolina 106, Memphis 63 (recap, PDF box score, full replay, postgame)
"[Newcomer Joyce] Edwards finished with a team-high 19 points and 12 boards, while junior Chloe Kitts added her own double-double after ending the night with 15 points and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds.
Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley was the Gamecocks’ fourth scorer to end in double-digits, dishing out two assists along the way. Bree Hall and Raven Johnson each handed out a team-high four assists, with Johnson additionally grabbing seven boards.
South Carolina ended the night shooting 53% (41-for-78) from the field, and sinking in three threes, one of which coming from a new face in Maryam Dauda. The Gamecocks were efficient at the free throw line, finishing 21-for-25 (84.0%), and out-rebounded the Tigers 58-25."
Weird to find a full replay (see below) but no highlights. Here's a clip of Fulwiley getting injured late in the third quarter, but that's not the kind of video you want to embed.
Duke-South Carolina gets another mention as one of the top non-conference games to watch.
www.espn.com
BTW, Maryland is #18 (@11/10), SDState is #34 (@11/17), KState is #13 (in Nevada 11/25 with possible subsequent matchup with #10 Oklahoma). Quite the road schedule.
Elite Eight rematches, player of the year showdowns, rivalries renewed: Top women's games of 2024-25
Games in November and December can make a résumé. From the best backcourt battles to All-American meetings, these games will shape the season.
BTW, Maryland is #18 (@11/10), SDState is #34 (@11/17), KState is #13 (in Nevada 11/25 with possible subsequent matchup with #10 Oklahoma). Quite the road schedule.
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Highlights transcript of interviews with Kara, Reigan, and Oluchi.
And here's 26 minutes with Kara.
And here's 26 minutes with Kara.
CameronBornAndBred
Well-known member
ESPN ranks the conferences in WBB. The ACC is third after the SEC and Big 10.
www.espn.com
How will conference realignment impact women's college basketball in 2024-25?
The Pac-12 had become the best conference in women's college basketball. Which league takes over that title in 2024-25?
brevity
Member
Duke WBB hosts Radford on Monday 11/4 at 11am ET on ACCNX (streaming link, listen, live stats).
The Blue Devils open the 2024-2025 season against the Highlanders. There can be only one DBR member to write this preview, but @Highlander has not logged in since April, so I guess it's up to me.
The Big South Conference has been releasing a video preview for each of their men's and women's basketball teams in alphabetical order, and they got around to the letter R this morning. Mark Bryant of the Big South Network spoke with Radford head coach Mike McGuire about this year's team:
"Ellie Taylor was one that really started to take off in conference play, maybe the last six weeks of the season. I think she was a big reason why we were able to get to the tournament championship game. She started to play well on both ends of the floor, and, you know, she's a passionate kid and she loves to compete, so we just appreciate what she does. Joi Williams, as a freshman last year, played some point for us. She also played off the ball. She just has a lot of energy as well -- she loves the game, loves to compete, and she's prepared well this offseason. So those two have done a good job, and we're excited to to add our newcomers..."
Coach McGuire, now in his 12th season at the job, also said that his roster of 16 players includes 9 newcomers: 6 transfers and 3 freshmen. One of those transfers is Adriana Shipp-Davis, a grad student who spent the last 4 years at Longwood, also in the Big South. When the preseason all-conference teams were announced, Shipp-Davis was named to the first team, while Williams made the second team. Radford was picked to finish second in the league's preseason poll.
Duke is the first of four ACC teams the Highlanders will face this season; they'll also play Virginia, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. Having written a few game previews for both the Duke men and women, I'm used to seeing mid-major opponents with returning starters who have a lot of experience playing together. Radford is not one of them. They've lost 6 from last season's 9-player rotation, including the top 3 scorers. They're also undersized and guard-heavy, and their returners did not shoot threes particularly well. The roster features only one wing (Shipp-Davis) and 4 frontcourt players, the tallest being a 6-2 freshman.
The Blue Devils open the 2024-2025 season against the Highlanders. There can be only one DBR member to write this preview, but @Highlander has not logged in since April, so I guess it's up to me.
The Big South Conference has been releasing a video preview for each of their men's and women's basketball teams in alphabetical order, and they got around to the letter R this morning. Mark Bryant of the Big South Network spoke with Radford head coach Mike McGuire about this year's team:
"Ellie Taylor was one that really started to take off in conference play, maybe the last six weeks of the season. I think she was a big reason why we were able to get to the tournament championship game. She started to play well on both ends of the floor, and, you know, she's a passionate kid and she loves to compete, so we just appreciate what she does. Joi Williams, as a freshman last year, played some point for us. She also played off the ball. She just has a lot of energy as well -- she loves the game, loves to compete, and she's prepared well this offseason. So those two have done a good job, and we're excited to to add our newcomers..."
Coach McGuire, now in his 12th season at the job, also said that his roster of 16 players includes 9 newcomers: 6 transfers and 3 freshmen. One of those transfers is Adriana Shipp-Davis, a grad student who spent the last 4 years at Longwood, also in the Big South. When the preseason all-conference teams were announced, Shipp-Davis was named to the first team, while Williams made the second team. Radford was picked to finish second in the league's preseason poll.
Duke is the first of four ACC teams the Highlanders will face this season; they'll also play Virginia, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. Having written a few game previews for both the Duke men and women, I'm used to seeing mid-major opponents with returning starters who have a lot of experience playing together. Radford is not one of them. They've lost 6 from last season's 9-player rotation, including the top 3 scorers. They're also undersized and guard-heavy, and their returners did not shoot threes particularly well. The roster features only one wing (Shipp-Davis) and 4 frontcourt players, the tallest being a 6-2 freshman.
Phredd3
Member
Maybe one of the few team all year where we won't be outsized on the interior.
BTW, this game, like last year, is an unticketed event. Be forewarned, however, that there will be several thousand screaming elementary kids there, as local schools are invited. Those students will occupy a lot of the seats below the rail, at least if they run things like they did last year.
espn does best & worst case scenarios for the top-25. I don't want to quote our entire section, so best is Elite Eight, worst is poor shooting and turnovers continue. I'd pretty much agree with that.
www.espn.com
Title contenders, Final Four front-runners and where they'll fall short: Predicting the Top 25's ceiling and floor
How far can the best teams go this season? Where might they fall short? We predict the best and worst case for ESPN's preseason Top 25.