No.....I'm a UT fan, but this is just off.
2015:
PG-Reynolds vs Session....draw at best for UT. Reynolds has potential to be a really good guard, but she wasn't strong offensively. Solid player though. Sessions also wasn't strong offensively but was outstanding as a defender. I'd say slight edge USC.
SG-Carter vs Mitchell....BIG edge to USC. Tiffany Mitchell is a 2x SEC POY and legit 1st Team All-American. She is an efficient scorer and can beat you off the dribble or score from the outside. She also distributes the ball and plays solid D. Carter is outstanding defensively but has struggled offensively as a role player for UT. Huge edge USC.
SF-Diamond vs Dozier...big edge to Tennessee. Diamond is one of the most dynamic players in the nation and should contend for SEC POY from day 1. Dozier is a streaky shooter who can be a big weapon, but isn't in the same playing field as Diamond.
PF-Graves vs Wilson...edge USC. Graves has shown moments of being a great player at Tennessee, but A'ja's upside and skill set right now surpasses Graves.
C-Russell vs Coates...edge USC, but this could change. Coates has been rock solid her first 2 years at South Carolina. Big physical post who finishes well inside, draws fouls, and is an exceptional rebounder. I would look for Russell to surpass Coates provided she is healthy and lives up to her billing as the top recruit from the loaded 2013 class, but, from what we've seen so far, you can't rank her ahead of Coates.
Benches:
Cooper, Middleton, Jones, Nared, Moore vs. White, Imovbioh, Cuevas, Roy, Colley.....edge USC.
Imovbioh could very well start alongside Coates and push Wilson to the 3, giving USC a devastatingly big lineup. Imovbioh was outstanding at Virginia and should slide in nicely to the post rotation. Cuevas is streaky, we'll see how she's improved. Roy is a great 'glue' player. Smart player, good but not great shooter, you don't lose anything with her on the court. Colley is an incoming freshman who is on the Canadian National Team. Kia Nurse and Natalie Achonwa were both National Team members in college and went on to find success collegiately. I don't know how good Colley is, but I wouldn't count her out as being an outstanding player.
Tennessee's bench is solid and better than last year's. Nared and Jones will be big weapons, how well Cooper adjusts to the college game should be a key point, and Middleton needs to have a better sophomore campaign. The only way I see Tennessee being a better team than USC this year is if Diamond has a POY caliber season (which could happen), and if Russell lives up to her billing, stays healthy, and can consistently put up 15/10. South Carolina has so much depth in the post and one of the best guards on the perimeter, along with a slew of heady guards which will make them very difficult to contend with.
Looking at 2017, this is where it should be more interesting--especially if Mavunga picks UT:
2016
PG-Reynolds/Cooper vs Cuevas/Colley....Lots of unknowns, but my guess is slight edge Tennessee if Cooper is as good as advertised and we see improvement from Reynolds. Cuevas is streaky but I don't see her as someone who will do well adjusting to a more organized offense which is why I think Colley will beat her out.
SG-Carter vs Davis...edge USC. Davis could be lethal with good players around her
SF-Diamond vs Gray...edge Tennessee, although Gray is very very good.
PF-Steph vs Wilson...even, or slight edge USC. Both are fantastic players, but I think Wilson will improve more by 2016-17 than Mavunga will. Right now I'd say edge Mavunga. Landing Mavunga elevates Tennesee from legit Final Four threat to title threat.
C-Russell vs Coates....I'd say slight edge UT by 2016-17 IF Russell stays healthy and develops as a center.
Bench: I wont break it down too much, but probably slight edge Tennessee unless USC lands some top 2016 recruits. Come 2016-17, both teams will be STACKED.
