In the first game of the Final Four, South Carolina will take on the Louisville Cardinals. Both teams play good defense, but the Gamecocks are on another level, giving up just 50.5 points per game and holding opponents to 32% shooting from the field and 26% from beyond the arc. But Louisville is up there to giving up just 55.5 points per game.
South Carolina
South Carolina has the Naismith Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston. A two-way star, Boston is averaging 16.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Also, the Gamecocks got the Coach of the Year, Dawn Staley. She had this to say about facing the head coach for Louisville, Jeff Walz.
“Jeff and I, we coached together for the UA team, ’19 — a few years ago. I like how he’s wired. He’s a super competitor, great basketball mind, great motivator. I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing Louisville because there are only four teams standing, and we’re very, very lucky to be matched up with each other. So I’m looking forward to an exciting semifinals. May the best team win that plays tomorrow night.”
The Gamecocks will play outstanding defense and get the ball inside to Boston. Destanni Henderson will play well on the perimeter, along with Zia Cooke. In addition, Victaria Saxton and Laeticia Amihere could be counted to knock down some baskets in a close game.
Louisville
Louisville will need to get the three-ball going if they want a chance to win. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc so far this season. Haley Van Lith leads the Cardinals in scoring with 14.5 points per game, and she is shooting 36% from three-point land. Kianna Smith is shooting 37% from three and averaging 11.9 points per game. Against South Carolina, you have to move the ball and have player movement. The Cardinals must try to play up-tempo, so South Carolina can not set their defense. Playing up-tempo starts with getting stops on the defensive end of the court.
Louisville must try to contain Boston, which is easier said than done. Coach Walz had this to say about defending Boston.
“I watched her the other night on film when she had 28 and 22. That’s not easy to do. We know we’re going to have to make sure we’re focused on her and know where she is at all times, but she’s also got pretty good teammates she’s playing with. So we’ll have a plan for tomorrow night, and then if plan A doesn’t work, we’ll go to plan B, and then plan C if needed, and there is no plan D. We’ve got three, so we’ll see how A, B and C work.”
This game could be a low-scoring game with both teams strong on defense, but expect South Carolina to come out on top because of too much Boston.
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