2023 Americup ... USA Gamethread(s)

[Volfaninfl2]

Jackson, Spear Earn Silver At FIBA AmeriCup - University of Tennessee Athletics

Jackson’s Late Buckets Lift USA Past Canada, 67-63 - University of Tennessee Athletics

Great pics of Rickea and Jewel.

 

[glv98]

How many days til the season starts?

 

[Dak1219]

I am actually very high on Phelia from Michigan, its astounding to me she missed as much as she did.

Definitely some eye opening numbers. Most these players are much better than what the stats show. Idk what happened between NCAAA and up to this point, maybe some haven't been in the gym much but there is no way Reese, Kelly, Osborne, Phelia and company are that bad... maybe they aren't as good as the hype but I refuse to believe they are all that incompetent.

Reese in particular was playing against competition that were as strong or stronger and bigger at her position. Against college competition, she is a very strong player, but once she were to go to the next level she is too small for the position she plays and doesn't have the skill set to move from there at this point. She has a long way to go before she would go high on a draft board and actually make a team in the "W". Rickea on the other hand proved to everyone she belonged with that level of competition and can compete at that level. This tournament should have raised both her WNBA and International Draft Stock for next year.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Was any reason given why Clark was not on this team. Not sure this coach would have played her over Kelly but she could have made the difference.

 

[Knoxvol14]

Does that mean Rickea is much better than her stats show? Because if so, I gotta go lay down a second.

Ya'll said it all, those old ladies of Brazil ain't playin a bit. And the USA guards ain't playin for sh*t. Deja Kelly obviously knows where the bodies are buried. She was actively awful. Raven should have had her minutes. Etheridge was so far over her head she could barely peak over. From selection (and KJH was on this committee) right thru this team was off.

No one could have predicted the complete public shaming of Angel Reese and I'm ashamed to say I once would have enjoyed it. Not any more. It's embarrassing exactly bc of the scrutiny she invited tho. But not the end of the world, much as I'd like her to play at this level all season, I'll bet she uses it as motivation and we'll be sick of hearing the story by March Madness. Sure could of used a hand from her tonight tho.

Truthfully I barely care about the game, except how much Rickea deserved to wear that gold home. But holy cow, her first half was Holdsclaw ya'll. Holdsclaw offensive ability with a much better body. I might cry again! Already capable of hitting this level, and against this competition? She is so damn fun to watch when she finds this gear. Let it Be Dear Lord Let it Be!

Did she get MVP? By crackies deserved it. And oh yes, thank you basketball gods she did not get hurt in spite of that first game uber-scare!

Kellie was not on this committee fyi. She wad on the u19 selection committee. I'm sure some like Clark had other engagements which would be why they weren't invited.

 

[geew1992]

how did Reese ever get POY

When was she POY?

 

[Ladyvolfan45]

When was she POY?

She was never one but all conference performer in SEC and Big 10 (and deservedly so)

She rubbed me the wrong way all last year but I was happy to see she was a great teammate this tournament and one of the bigger cheerleaders despite her struggles.

I certainly don’t think Reese is as bad as her play was this tournament but she is clearly out of shape, and she looked like she hasn’t shot a ball in months. I mean half her free throws were going off the side of rim and not even close. I suspect she will regain form when she gets back training consistently again and use this tournament as motivation.

Her prospects as a wnba player are very grim if she doesn’t develop a mid range jumper and/or better post moves in the next two years (COVID year). I think she can be a outstanding rebounder at the next level and defend well but with no offense, it’s not gonna cut it. WNBA teams will bring in someone more polished all around. That development is 100% on her and the work she puts in. She clearly has not put in any type of work with basketball since April 2nd. WNBA scouts are taking notes.

But if she can’t improve that part of her game under Brenda or Kim, maybe it was never meant to be…

 

[DarkPhoenix]

She was never one but all conference performer in SEC and Big 10 (and deservedly so)

She rubbed me the wrong way all last year but I was happy to see she was a great teammate this tournament and one of the bigger cheerleaders despite her struggles.

I certainly don’t think Reese is as bad as her play was this tournament but she is clearly out of shape, and she looked like she hasn’t shot a ball in months. I mean half her free throws were going off the side of rim and not even close. I suspect she will regain form when she gets back training consistently again and use this tournament as motivation.

Her prospects as a wnba player are very grim if she doesn’t develop a mid range jumper and/or better post moves in the next two years (COVID year). I think she can be a outstanding rebounder at the next level and defend well but with no offense, it’s not gonna cut it. WNBA teams will bring in someone more polished all around. That development is 100% on her and the work she puts in. She clearly has not put in any type of work with basketball since April 2nd. WNBA scouts are taking notes.

But if she can’t improve that part of her game under Brenda or Kim, maybe it was never meant to be…

The thing is when she puts up big numbers and takes the team far in the NCAA tournament, nobody will remember this. Nobody is really going to put stick into what happened this week. Most of the players struggled but in their college teams they will thrive. Now Rickea is a special player and can always show out no matter where she plays.

 

[lvocd]

The timing of the Americup is terrible for the U.S. because it is always played during the WNBA season. If it weren't, the U.S. would have easily dominated the competition because it likely would have had way more of its best players on the roster.

I think the up-and-comers did a pretty good job considering most of the opponents they faced had the advantage of being together as teams for longer -- some of them for years. Our young women were learning each other as they went.

A silver medal was darn good, considering.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Was any reason given why Clark was not on this team. Not sure this coach would have played her over Kelly but she could have made the difference.

She played on the previous team i believe... i wonder if she turned down the opportunity and i asked the same question

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

The timing of the Americup is terrible for the U.S. because it is always played during the WNBA season. If it weren't, the U.S. would have easily dominated the competition because it likely would have had way more of its best players on the roster.

I think the up-and-comers did a pretty good job considering most of the opponents they faced had the advantage of being together as teams for longer -- some of them for years. Our young women were learning each other as they went.

A silver medal was darn good, considering.

I wouldn't be surprised if the timing was not intentional for the reasons you state.

 

[Volfan2012]

So I wonder who is going to be on the World Championship team when they starts August 25th. The WNBA doesn't end until the 14th of August then you have the playoffs. We might could get a few WNBA players to play not involved in the playoffs, but it again looks like the bulk could be college players.

 

[glv98]

Kellie was not on this committee fyi. She wad on the u19 selection committee. I'm sure some like Clark had other engagements which would be why they weren't invited.

Thanks. I knew she was on one of the selection committees. I absolve her from guilt for picking some of those guards. Yikes. Deja Kelly's Mom has been on Twitter questioning the coaching and the use of her daughter. Are you kidding? Coaching was a problem, but far from the main one for her.

The thing is when she puts up big numbers and takes the team far in the NCAA tournament, nobody will remember this. Nobody is really going to put stick into what happened this week. Most of the players struggled but in their college teams they will thrive. Now Rickea is a special player and can always show out no matter where she plays.

One group noticed: WNBA scouts. It was confirmation of what they already suspected about AR in the very worse way. In hindsight, as out of shape and rusty as she was she should have turned down the invite. As it frequently seems with AR, her advisors let her down on this one. Someone should have broken it to her that she couldn't just show up against these experienced interntional players and do her Angel things. USA basketball didn't help by over-hyping her as "the best player in the NCAA and in this tournament." Ouch, didn't age well HOF. We'll see what AR does with it all, and I do credit her for mostly decent behavior during the debacle.

As far as Rickea showing out no matter where she plays, her challenge is to continue to play at this level against elite competition. She does her thing almost all the time against about 80% of the competition, but struggled more against the UConns, So Car, and in the tourney. It's always what have you done lately so she has to keep replicating this game. Let It Be.

She played on the previous team i believe... i wonder if she turned down the opportunity and i asked the same question

Clark spent her weekend at a golf tourney in Iowa, followed by throngs of adoring fans and according to them, signing thousands of autographs. I'm selfishly glad she didn't play; Rickea couldn't have Rickea-ed as much if she had.

 

[glv98]

So I wonder who is going to be on the World Championship team when they starts August 25th. The WNBA doesn't end until the 14th of August then you have the playoffs. We might could get a few WNBA players to play not involved in the playoffs, but it again looks like the bulk could be college players.

Nope. I'm putting my foot down. They cannot have Rickea for this, not that close to the season. Hard pass.

 

[Volfan2012]

Nope. I'm putting my foot down. They cannot have Rickea for this, not that close to the season. Hard pass.

No she needs to stay safe and secure until Lady vols take the court.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

So I wonder who is going to be on the World Championship team when they starts August 25th. The WNBA doesn't end until the 14th of August then you have the playoffs. We might could get a few WNBA players to play not involved in the playoffs, but it again looks like the bulk could be college players.

I am pretty sure the WNBA takes a pause in the action (or they've done so in the past and play resumes later) ...

@glv98 I think she will be with the LVs. They usually play with the big dogs for these types of championships.

 

[Poultrygeist]

Even though the US lost we were proud of Cardosa who was named AmeriCup MVP ( 21 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals ). Impressed with Jackson as always but Reese was MIA.

 

[Vol67]

These teams are a farce. College coaches should not have any voice in any way. Geno adulterated the process long ago. These teams from the US are a joke because of the bias now built into the system now.

 

[Coach Jumper]

These teams are a farce. College coaches should not have any voice in any way. Geno adulterated the process long ago. These teams from the US are a joke because of the bias now built into the system now.

 

[Knoxvol14]

Thanks. I knew she was on one of the selection committees. I absolve her from guilt for picking some of those guards. Yikes. Deja Kelly's Mom has been on Twitter questioning the coaching and the use of her daughter. Are you kidding? Coaching was a problem, but far from the main one for her.

One group noticed: WNBA scouts. It was confirmation of what they already suspected about AR in the very worse way. In hindsight, as out of shape and rusty as she was she should have turned down the invite. As it frequently seems with AR, her advisors let her down on this one. Someone should have broken it to her that she couldn't just show up against these experienced interntional players and do her Angel things. USA basketball didn't help by over-hyping her as "the best player in the NCAA and in this tournament." Ouch, didn't age well HOF. We'll see what AR does with it all, and I do credit her for mostly decent behavior during the debacle.

As far as Rickea showing out no matter where she plays, her challenge is to continue to play at this level against elite competition. She does her thing almost all the time against about 80% of the competition, but struggled more against the UConns, So Car, and in the tourney. It's always what have you done lately so she has to keep replicating this game. Let It Be.

Clark spent her weekend at a golf tourney in Iowa, followed by throngs of adoring fans and according to them, signing thousands of autographs. I'm selfishly glad she didn't play; Rickea couldn't have Rickea-ed as much if she had.

I saw deja's mom going wild on Twitter too. Nad coaching or not, deja just played poorly.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

The timing of the Americup is terrible for the U.S. because it is always played during the WNBA season. If it weren't, the U.S. would have easily dominated the competition because it likely would have had way more of its best players on the roster.

I think the up-and-comers did a pretty good job considering most of the opponents they faced had the advantage of being together as teams for longer -- some of them for years. Our young women were learning each other as they went.

A silver medal was darn good, considering.

I think the issue was they really didn’t have enough time to together, they needed to learn each other more and be more in sync, if that would have happened they would have won easily.

 

[Volfan2012]

In the end it all added up that the USA needed a lot more consistent guard play. Jewell Spear shot the highest percentage of the guards and that was 34 percent. She had the most threes 10 of 30 33.3 percent. That is a poor percentage which shows you how badly the guard play was in this tourney. Three post players played quite well Jackson, Betts, and Barker and that is where it ends. Kelly has no reason to complain about anything she was the worst player on the team shooting something like 20 percent and didn't ever find a shot she didn't like to take. The severe lack of three point shooting really affected this team and poor passing by the guards. If the guard play had been even close to the post play USA wins the Gold Medal.