The Weekly Roundup: February 8
A look at how UConn and South Carolina match up before their big game tonight
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Happy Monday! Let’s dive in to the last week in basketball.
The Best Upset
Washington State upsets UCLA (66-63) - Since entering the AP Poll for the first time in program history, the Cougars have endured a rough stretch of losses, including a two-point overtime loss against UCLA in mid-January. A little more than two weeks later, Washington State earned its first win over a national top-five team. Freshman star Charlisse Leger-Walker (who’s averaging 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.6 steals a night) dropped 28 points, including a go-ahead three to put the Cougars up 64-63 with 40 seconds left in the game. Altogether, Leger-Walker scored 13 of Washington State’s 15 total points in the final quarter.
Jacqueline’s Top 25
South Carolina (15-1)
Stanford (17-2)
Louisville (18-1)
UConn (13-1)
NC State (12-2)
Baylor (14-2)
Texas A&M (18-1)
UCLA (11-3)
Maryland (13-2)
Ohio State (12-2)
Oregon (12-3)
Arizona (11-2)
Michigan (10-1)
South Florida (10-1)
Tennessee (12-3)
Arkansas (14-7)
Indiana (11-4)
Northwestern (11-3)
West Virginia (15-2)
Gonzaga (16-2)
Kentucky (13-5)
Georgia (14-4)
Mississippi State (8-5)
DePaul (10-4)
Rutgers (6-3)
By The Numbers
UConn and South Carolina face off in Storrs at 7 p.m. tonight on Fox Sports 1. The Huskies and the Gamecocks sit 1-2 atop the Her Hoop Stats Ratings Leadersboard, and each have one loss to ranked opponents this season. They have similar numbers in offense, defense, and pace, but because of the pandemic, UConn has only played two ranked teams thus far. South Carolina has torn through a more difficult schedule, and has already played 10 teams who rank in the top 35 in HHS Ratings.
Both teams pack a powerful offensive punch, but while the Huskies thrive on efficient scoring, the Gamecocks have made a living on the offensive glass. South Carolina has rebounded an average of 45.3% of their own misses (ranked fourth in the nation), and averaged 17.0 offensive boards and 18.0 second-chance points in seven games against ranked teams this season.
Aliyah Boston leads the Gamecocks on the boards, grabbing 11.2 per game, with 3.8 coming on the offensive end. Boston has been even better in SEC play, averaging 15 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4 blocks, leading Dawn Staley’s squad to a 10-0 start against conference opponents.
UConn and South Carolina also hold their opponents to similar outcomes on the defensive side of the ball. While Olivia Nelson-Ododa leads the Huskies in rebounds and blocks, junior Evina Westbrook and freshman Paige Bueckers lead the team in defensive win shares on the season with 1.9 each. Combined, the duo average a little more than four steals a game.
Bueckers has also been significantly better since returning from an ankle injury sustained against Tennessee. In the last four games, which includes the team’s loss against Arkansas, she has averaged almost 28 points a game, and has made at least three treys in each showing. She’s shooting 62.9% from the floor and 80.4% from three during that four-game span. She’ll match up with Zia Cooke, who’s averaging 16.2 points a game on 41.8% shooting.
For a deeper dive into tonight’s marquee matchup (or any matchup!), check out our Lobo’s Look for the game.
What We’re Working On
Megan Gauer and Calvin Wetzel are going live on Twitter tonight to preview Oregon-Arizona and UConn-South Carolina. Join them at 6 p.m. EST!
Everything you need to keep up with WNBA free agency. Trackers are updated as we confirm new contracts: 2021 free agency tracker (we’ve already confirmed 34 signings), salary cap team sheets, and WNBA CBA FAQs.
Calvin Wetzel has a nice look at statistical trends across Division I women’s basketball this year.
Jenn Hatfield has the latest story in our “Where Are They Now?” series, this one about Margaret Nowlin, a captain on Notre Dame’s first-ever NCAA tournament team in 1992.
Christy Winters-Scott and Gabe Ibrahim caught up on the latest movement in WNBA free agency and discussed what this offseason could mean for the WNBA moving forward in the latest episode of Courtside.
Calvin joined Megan Gauer on last week’s episode of Unplugged to talk Big Ten hoops, Paige Bueckers, wins above bubble, and more!
Other Recommended Reading
There are a lot of WNBA articles here, but it was hard to narrow this week’s list to just a few. It’s also fantastic to see some bigger mainstream publications cover the WNBA during the offseason!
Inside Stanford Women’s Basketball nine-week road trip: Six states, 12 flights and DIY haircuts (Mechelle Voepel for ESPN)
Aerial Powers on her new WNBA team and changing esports culture: 'You just want to be known as good, not as good for a girl' (Bryan Kalbrosky for USA Today)
‘This Kid’s Special’: Candace Parker Owned L.A. From Day 1 (Matt Ellentuck for The New York Times)
Yes, Trans People Belong in Sports: The scrutiny of women’s bodies is the real threat to women’s sports—not the presence of trans women and girls. (Layshia Clarendon for Marie Claire)
Q&A: A’ja Wilson on Her MVP Follow-up and What Her Legacy Will Be (Logan Murdock for The Ringer)
Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner feels amazing, ready to roll after addressing mental health (Mechelle Voepel for ESPN)
After Cousin's 2013 Shooting Death, Ex-WNBA Star Devereaux Peters Says Advocacy Is 'Empowering' (Elaine Aradillas for People)
Before You Go
The Chelsea Gray mini-doc by Uninterrupted is a must-watch if you haven’t seen it yet. It provides an interesting perspective on free agency from a player’s point of view, and it was filmed during the 2020 offseason before she signed a one-year deal to return to LA in the Wubble.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?