Opening Day takeaways – is South Carolina even better and is there a new favorite in the ACC?

South Carolina Get it NCAA title ringand Gamecocks and 16 other top teams got their feet wet 2022-23 women’s basketball season kicks off on Monday.

Only one team in the top 25 lost: number 21 CreightonCinderella of the 2022 NCAA Women’s Championship, beat 23rd place South Dakota State.

From freshmen getting a taste of the game in college for the first time and introducing themselves to new fans and five-year supers making their final pass, it’s been a hectic day. . Expect surprises and upheavals to happen soon, because we’re just getting started.

ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Charlie Creme and MA Voepel take a look at some of the biggest highlights – and what they mean for the rest of the season – on opening day.

Gamecocks even better?

Defending South Carolina national champion lost a starter, Destanni Henderson, from last season but returns to national player of the year Aliyah Boston. As good as the Gamecocks were last season with 35-2, can they be an improved team this season?

Sure, one 101-31 opening win over East Tennessee State not like a test. But it does show Gamecocks veterans will have plenty of boost. Treat a freshman like Ashlyn Watkins, a 6-foot-3 forward who had 11 points, 8 rebounds and two saves on her college debut. Her performance was part of the 47 points South Carolina got off the bench.

Coach Dawn Staley then spoke about how she feels every individual is better back. Considering the Gamecocks had no glaring weakness last year, if there is a big question this season is exactly how the task of defending points will be carried out with Henderson. Monday’s game indicates it could be a chore shared, at least for a while, with redshirt freshmen Raven Johnson lead with four assists. So the opponents might not want to hear that, but yes, this could be an even tougher South Carolina team to beat. – MA Voepel

New favorite in ACC?

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Cayla King marks the match with the climbers of Mount St. Mary’s

Number 13 Virginia Technology there are some lofty expectations this season built mainly around Elizabeth Kitley, Ashley Owusu and Taylor Soul. Hokies dominate Mount St. Mary’s 101-45but the story is it was Cayla King – not Kitley, Owusu or Soule – who led the way. King, a 6-0 senior, made 9 3-pointers and scored 33 points, both career highs. That kind of long shot can translate into any game, against any opponent.

One game might not be a large enough sample size, but King’s outburst could be an important sign: If Virginia Tech really has a legitimate fourth-scorer in King to play with Owusu and point guard Georgia Amoore conversely, Hokies may have to be considered as favorite in ACC. – Charlie Creme

Monday’s most important win?

Defense was the most overlooked aspect of Creighton’s Elite Eight run in last year’s NCAA. Organized by Bluejays Iowa and State of Iowatwo of the top scoring teams in the country, under 70 last March, and put the Handicap into South Dakota State on Monday Win 78-69, the only game of the opening day for pit ranked teams. The nation’s most accurate 3-pointers a season ago, South Dakota State made just 5 of 21 games from the deep against the crowded Bluejays. Children Lauren Jensen dominated the period with Creighton’s seven points in a decisive 9-0 win at the end of the fourth half. She scored 16 in the last 10 minutes and finished with 30.

The win will be worth the entire seeding team in Tuesday’s Bracketology and give Creighton a lane win that the committee will love during the March deliberations. With games against South Dakota and Nebraska next, the Bluejays now have a chance in the starter category that could take them into the top 15 in the leaderboard. – Creme

Van Lith, Louisville quick start

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Hailey Van Lith practice diving with Cincinnati Bearcats

Louisville Cardinals 87-68 wins Cincinnati sometimes a little too close for comfort – the Bearcats pulled within eight in the third despite much trailing to 23 – but lower Hailey Van Lith had a great achievement that many expected of her as an upperclassman. Her 28 points – the second-highest mark of her career – led the Cardinals, and she did it quite effectively in the 12-to-20 (60%) shooter. Van Lith hit that clip only twice last year as a sophomore, and hasn’t tried that many shots ever (15, 16).

If the budding star can sustain that effect, plus extra-arc sinks (she went 2-7 on Monday), and the Florida State Seminoles move Morgan Jones (14 points and 13 trips to free throw line vs Cincinnati) continues to find her groove, Jeff Walz’s team can make the graduation of the three starting to become a matter that is quickly forgotten. – Philippou

Two Tales of Terps

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Diamond Miller stretches through the paint for the upgrade tank

Bad people: Maryland senior guard Diamond Miller – who looked really good early on – went into the dressing room in Terps’ second quarter 88-51 victory over George Mason with one thing obvious knee injury and no return according to Washington Post reporter Kareem Copeland.

Good: Princeton transfer Abby Meyers can dribble even as she adjusts to a new team, taking on the role of 17th Player’s first goal after Miller’s injury by finishing with a team-high 19 (and starting the game). play in 5 to 5 from 3 shooting mode). Meyers’ shooting prowess was much-needed for Maryland after the loss of Katie Benzan, Owusu, and Chloe Bibby.

If the rest of them continue to settle, Maryland could surprise some in the Big Ten despite a series of departures behind Miller (assuming she’s fine) and Meyers. – Philippou

Soares what Cyclones was missing?

Ashley Jones Ashley Jones made it up (28 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) Iowa State 87-54 victory over Cleveland State, scored 24 points in the first 18 minutes. But what may be integral to the Cyclones’ long-term growth is the way NAIA players play twice a year. Stephanie Soares fare. The 6-6 score gave a start on Monday and made her presence known early with three blocks in the first two minutes of the game, even though she played only six minutes into the first half. due to an error. She finished the game with a double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds), plus four blocks and four steals in 21 minutes.

If Soares can stay out of bad trouble, keep her condition on track, and continue to make an impact on higher quality posts, she will provide an inside presence in both. for the State of Iowa that it hasn’t had in recent years, something that could help the program reach heights not seen in more than a decade. – Philippou