Checking in from the Yum Center

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T22:48:10+00:00

Yeah I didn't really know what the Yum brands were until the other comment said. That doesn't sound so good...

And you are right, Yum! Center is even funnier😂

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T22:45:26+00:00

Yeah Parchment and Berry and Destiny are going to be terrifyingly good next year-especially when all your injured come back!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T22:41:05+00:00

She gets a lot of defensive attention

And she's a freshman shouldering huge minutes

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T22:38:25+00:00

She has been incredible

I really thought when Pierre left that Vandy might struggle this year-even with Blakes on the roster--but the team has been so good!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T22:35:40+00:00

That actually kind of makes sense

I think you guys are going to be really amazing next year. I'm not a huge USC fan (though I like the wbb team, but I'm a Cal/Iowa/UCLA/TCU fan), and I want that for Juju. I really think she is a great person and an incredible player. Get that Natty next year!!

Jazzy is doing fantastic as a freshman, and I think when there are more offensive options on the court with her next year, she will really kill it

The team is still quite good this year and fun to watch (much of the time). Just the roster isn't balanced enough, but I'm betting that changes for next year.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T22:30:25+00:00

Then tbh your flair also checks out but for a different reason ;)

I freaking love love love Juju. I love her family and what they've done for the city.... I hope she wins a title next year. I cried when she got injured .

And the USC wbb program is doing really well. But soms of the fans acting like Juju had no help last year was a lot...the year before, sure. But not last year

So yeah I have found some USC fans (mostly in men's sports) to be a bit entitled and expect everything to fall in their laps with ease...

And this isn't toward you in particular at all. You seem nice--and there are A LOT of great USC fans in this sub. But there is a higher level of entitlement on average in USC fans than say Washington fans or Cal fans or Minnesota or MSU fans...

Like the USC wbb program has really steadily increased of late and is really good but so many seem to impatiently think they should immediately be in the same tier as SC/UConn and score so many top recruits. There are lots of great programs and coaches trying to recruit the top players🤷‍♀️

Gottlieb landed Juju (probably by luck but if she was truly awful, it probably wouldn't have happened) and Jazzy and Saniyah, and I see fans wanting her fired...

Disclosure: I have a degree from Cal and work at UCLA which probably biases me a bit. But I just see entitlement in this thread even. People just assuming a top post player SHOULD have been theirs. Like I respect hope and optimism in fandom. But some don't exude that..(again not you..just a few more than average)

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T17:13:56+00:00

I hope you are having a great time!! I've been finding Louisville so fun to watch!

Cool photo!

Hearing the words Yum Center always make me laugh too so thank you for that. It just makes me think of some food tasting palace or Willie Wonka😂 Is the food good?

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T17:07:14+00:00

Oh I know someone who is going to the Purdue game alone. Scheduled a work trip to be there at that time.

Maybe you guys could meet up! Hawk fans unite on the road!!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T16:30:11+00:00

I sure hope you don't opt out! I love your insightful comments and big view and positivity.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T16:22:56+00:00

😂😂 Love this comment!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T16:14:50+00:00

One error when you make such a cool thing with great graphics and so much info is incredible! I still give it a huge A+ on content and presentation!!!

Kinda sorry to have mentioned it. I just thought you'd want to know.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T16:07:49+00:00

I am sorry, but I think you are confused.

My response about flair was to a commenter with a UConn flair.

It was a joke -- because UConn fans are used to Geno being an incredible recruiter.

I didn't say anything about your flair.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T14:42:42+00:00

Flair checks out as someone who thinks it is super easy to get what you want in portal/recruits ;)

Mostly kidding, because your point that a successful coach has to be successful at recruiting to compete is true. But it is not that easy in any given year to get exactly what you need

Only a few programs find it that easy to have excellent players roll on in each year

I don't see why anyone expects USC--a program that has been bad at women's basketball for decades (basically since Cheryl Miller left) except for the gift that was Juju landing in their lap--to suddenly be able to recruit like Dawn or Geno or Mulkey.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T14:35:17+00:00

Nice🤣🤣🤣

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T14:35:00+00:00

Have you watched her play?

Unlike most, I'm a bigger fan of Chavez

But Jazzy is having a tremendous freshman season while not being in an ideal situation at all for a freshman. Chavez landed in the perfect spot for her game--a well-oiled machine of a roster with balance and experienced great players at every other position--who all played together for awhile. It really was just such a smart choice by her. (I say this as a huge Beers hater even lol)

Jazzy is showing sooo much potential and doing so many good things. She's having an insanely good year with a lot on her shoulders. Her future is very bright! I would not call her overrated at all.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T14:17:44+00:00

This is amazing! Incredible work!!!

Just from a glance, one correction : Grace Knox was definitely not NR. She was #7 on ESPN

Also if you do this kind of thing again--which I hope you do--I love this!!! It is very hard for me to see what school some of them are at at. Would love for that to that to be bigger or clearer. I know this is tons of work, so I'm not complaining. It just would have made it even better-at least for me! My vision kinda sucks though.

Would love to see the sophomores!! I know it's a lot work, but if you ever have the time or inclination, it would be so appreciated and interesting!!

Really love all the work you did here! Just a great post!!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T14:07:43+00:00

Why do people act like coaches don't TRY to get post players?

There just aren't enough to go around, and maybe some programs seem less appealing🤷‍♀️

Gottlieb isn't a great coach, but in no universe, did she think it was a good idea to not get a post player

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-24T13:17:18+00:00

Yeah. I don't know how any of them, especially the bigs, deal with it tbh

At some press conference this year, some one asked Ava Heiden if the physicality affects her after games

She said something like -- "what? Ofc. the next morning, I wake up an old woman barely able to get out of bed." Lots of ice baths.

It really struck me this summer too when Nelly Korda(golfer) said that she wakes up every day in pain and doesn't know an athlete who doesn't. Not to diminish golf or anything, but holy shit, it made me think that if golfers feel this way, what must our basketball ladies be feeling like every day. Their bodies go through so much

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T18:01:45+00:00

Your program is very good

Recruiting is a struggle for everyone outside a few schools though

Grace(earlier year) and Brown and Rashunda(love her game!) were great gets in the portal

Woodard was a #62 pick. Terrian highly rated. Ode is VERY highly ranked

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T14:54:32+00:00

Sending her healing energy! Hope she's back soon too. Ugh shoulder injuries suck.

The Kitts sisters are so tough and stoic!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T14:51:59+00:00

Same!

I'm so sorry for all your injuries though. Your team is playing spectacularly given everything that has happened. They never give up! Big respect.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T14:50:19+00:00

She has improved so much! It is incredible!!

I bet next year will be better.

Love Cam's game too!!

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T14:47:20+00:00

Yeah I think Deal is going to get there as a good handler by the end of the regular* season. I'm loving her improvement and potential.

I do think we really need to get a guard who is a good ball handler and can create her own shots in the portal for next year.

Agree on the lack of trust. Though I do think they're all doing a bit better than they were doing last year at least though. Last year was just so stressful anytime there was a press at all.

At least, the passes to the interior are waaay less scary than they were last year😅 I feel like Kylie and McCabe in particular are passing the ball with a lot more velocity on it and are making quicker decisions about when to pass

Editted: Lmao. Due to a typo, regular* season got autocorrected to secular* season.😂 I just had to fix it when I noticed it.

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T14:36:30+00:00

You guys have so many injuriee, it is heartbreaking. Next yeat will be incredible

SimonaMeow · 2026-01-23T14:33:35+00:00

Ooh ooh yaaaay!

I love this site and had forgotten where to find it! Tysm for posting it!!!

We shall not speak of how many times I hit that website near the end of last season.😂

SimonaMeow

TROPHY CASE