The Gamecocks travel to Nashville, Tenn. to play in their last conference game against the Lady Commodores before they enter the first round of the SEC Tournament. Tip off is set for 1 p.m.

TV: FSN 

Radio: 1320 AM (Columbia) or GamecocksOnline.com

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter, ESPN360.com 

If you need a positive out of Saturday's 76-63 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday, take a look at the maturing play of the team's two freshmen - Lakeem Jackson and Ramon Galloway.

Jackson, a freshman who has started every game this season, scored in double figures (10 points) for the third straight game. The forward is averaging 12 points per game in his last three. Ramon Galloway came within one point shy of his career high, scoring 14 points in 30 minutes of play. It was the first time since the Baylor game on Jan. 2 that both players reached double figures.

"We got terrific play from our young kids tonight," said South Carolina head coach Darrin Horn. "Lakeem Jackson - 10 points, leads us in rebounding, no negatives, had two assists. Keep in mind that a lot of times Lakeem is doing that from the power forward position where he's usually giving up 4 to 5 inches and 20 to 30 pounds." 

Jackson recorded a career high of 36 minutes played while Galloway played 30 minutes (1 minute shy of his career high).

"To see [Lakeem] do that and see Ramon Galloway fight and compete the way he did were real positives," said Horn. "He did some really good things and didn't bring us any negatives. That's what we're looking for as we move down the stretch."

As their 2010 campaign comes to a close, Galloway spoke about the team coming together to finish on a high note.

"We just want to finish strong," he said. "Go out strong for the seniors and then for the freshmen coming in, show them that's how we play here."

"For our guys coming back [next year], it's about continuing to fight," said Horn. "Everything we do is to move forward for the future."

Key Box Score

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
F Lakeem Jackson	5-9	0-0	0-0	7	10	2	0	0	2	36

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
G Ramon Galloway	6-15	2-11	0-0	2	14	1	0	0	2	30

The freshmen pair combined for 24 points - their highest combined total in SEC play this season. Their season-high is 30 points (vs. Furman, Dec. 21).

Key Quote

"It really doesn't matter to me about the points, I just worry about winning. I don't care if I play a minute, I just want to win." - Ramon Galloway

South Carolina will face Mississippi State tonight at 6 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN where Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes have the call. You can also listen live to the Gamecock ISP Sports Network (107.5 FM) where Andy Demetra and Casey Manning have the call.

TV:  ESPN

Radio: Gamecock ISP Sports Network

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter

In 1969, Carlton Haywood found his way to the University of South Carolina.  It was a monumental moment when Haywood made his way to campus, as he was the first African American to enroll at the University of South Carolina on a football scholarship.  Haywood would play on the 1969 freshman team, took a redshirt in 1970 and earned a varsity letter in 1971.  Forty years later, Haywood looks back on the time and remembers when he first became a part of the Gamecock Nation.

How did you find yourself here?

I was recruited by one of the recruiting coordinators by the name of Jackie Powers.  I guess his recruiting territory included Macon, Ga.  Of course I was on a high school team and we were ranked pretty high in the state.  We had a pretty good season.  Jackie got with the coaches and they recommended me highly.  One thing led to another.  I made a recruiting visit to Carolina in the spring of 69. I had never been away from Georgia at all and they flew me up to South Carolina on a private plane and it was a love at first sight kind of thing. Actually, I really wanted to go to Georgia Tech and Georgia and those kinds of places but at that time it was a different era.  Georgia wasn't recruiting black players and Georgia Tech, I actually never went to visit Georgia Tech because I made the trip to South Carolina I was hooked on the facilities and everything else and the way I was treated when I was up there, so I chose South Carolina.

Do you remember the feeling of being offered an athletic scholarship? That had to be a pretty big deal for you personally.

Yeah, it was a big deal.  Coach Dietzel made a big deal out of it.  Coach Dietzel's office was at the Roundhouse at that time.  It made headlines around the city (of Columbia) and state of South Carolina and also in Georgia.  It was a big deal; they made a big deal of it.  I was very impressed.  Obviously my head was bigger than it should have been and it was a great achievement at the time to even get offered a scholarship at South Carolina, so by all means it was a wonderful thrill.

How would you describe coming here, was it a whirlwind?

I recall when I came through the recruiting process that actually had the first black basketball player getting recruited at that time, Casey Manning and Jackie Brown was the first black baseball player but Jackie of course ended up playing on the football team.  Jackie passed away in '94.  They actually presented our entire recruiting trip at the half time of a Gamecock basketball game.  It was quite a thrill; we walked out on center court.  We were very well received by the basketball crowd.  It was a thrill; it was just overwhelming for a kid from Macon, Ga. at the time.

Basketball was playing pretty well at that time.

Oh yeah, we had great teams in those days, back in the day of John Roche and Tom Riker.  They were ranked highly in the country in basketball at that time. Coach McGuire was a great coach and basketball was the preeminent sport.  Football was just coming around.  Coach Dietzel was just trying to get it going.  We were trying to build our program at that time.  I thought it was a great opportunity for me and I wanted to be a part of the scene.  The actual presentation of me, Jackie Brown and Casey Manning at that basketball game was something I can still tell my grandkids about.

You were on the Freshman Team in '69. Was it special to be a part of the program that year as the varsity won an ACC championship?  What was it like to see those guys perform at the football games?

It was a thrill.  I was just glad to be a small part of it at the time.  I went through some injury problems.  I had some hamstring problems and I couldn't participate as much as I wanted to at that time, but it was still just a thrill to be a part of it at that time.

What is one thing that you'll take away from your time at South Carolina?

One thing I'd like to add that stood out to me as part of my learning experience and really helped me develop during my time there was Coach Pride Ratterree. When times got really tough I talked to Coach Ratterree.  I consider him my hero in my development at USC. A couple times I wanted to leave. He gave me great encouragement at the time and I will never forget him. He was my head coach in '69 on the freshman team.

Today's Know a Gamecock features Gamecock softballer Audrey Broyles. A sophomore pitcher from Pembroke Pines, Florida, Broyles is a right-hander who started 30 games for South Carolina in 2009. She finished her debut season with a 10-12 record, a 2.67 ERA and struck out 130 batters in 144 innings of work. She tossed all nine complete games for the Gamecock staff in 2009.



What is a talent or power you would like to have?

I think it would be really cool if I had super sonic speed and be able to just run...as fast as a car.

What is your most treasured possession?

I would have to go with my iPod because I always use it at the gym to get me pumped while I'm working out and just when I need to relax I listen to some nice slow tunes.

Who are your three favorite artists or bands?

I love Carrie Underwood, The All-American Rejects, and Taylor Swift

What is your dream job?

That's a tough question because I have no idea what I want to do, but I think it would be really cool to work somewhere tropical and exotic. I'm in the hotel, restaurant, tourism, management business, so I think just somewhere like paradise, like Hawaii or something like that...managing or something along those lines would be cool.

What is one place you want to visit before you die?

I would love to visit Australia. I think the animals are so unique and different from what we have over here, so it would be cool to see that. It just seems really beautiful.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Mellow Mushroom is awesome. [Editor: What do you get there?] I just get pepperoni pizza; it's amazing.

ESPN.com's SEC blog takes a glance at the non-conference football schedules in 2010 for the league's members. Click here to read.

South Carolina is the only school that will play 3 teams that appeared in a bowl last season. Only LSU's non-conference opponents had a better winning percentage than South Carolina's last season (.640 to .607).

Once the buzzer signaled South Carolina's 65-49 loss to visiting No. 24 Georgia on Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena, head coach Dawn Staley took the microphone and addressed the crowd.

After asking the fans to honor Lauren Falohun one last time, Staley thanked the fans for their support and spoke about sticking with the Gamecocks.

"Please stick with us and times like these will be a distant memory," she said as the crowd applauded.

As Staley and the Gamecocks continue to lay the bricks of building this program, growing pains like the recent losing stretch will hopefully turn into lessons for the players.

"We'll take this and hopefully learn some things from it," said junior guard Valerie Nainima. "Hopefully, this will strengthen our bond as a team. We've just got to stay together, stay strong and keep playing hard."

"To remain disciplined, you've got to continue to do what you," said Staley. "You can't just abandon what you've been doing all season."

Few could argue that South Carolina has shown improvement since last season's 2-12 mark in the SEC. The Gamecocks have been in nearly every game they've played this season and have tripled last year's conference win total.

While losses like like Thursday's still sting, the future remains bright for the Gamecocks. South Carolina returns ten players next year from the 2009-2010 squad, including every regular starter. Perhaps times like this will be distant memories sooner rather than later.


Key Box Score

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
G Ieasia Walker	5-13	1-5	1-2	1	12	1	1	1	2	27

The freshman guard tied her career-high in points with 12 against Georgia tonight. She scored 12 against North Carolina on Dec. 20. Her last double-digit scoring performance came against Mississippi State on Feb. 11.

Key Quote

"We're just struggling to maintain some energy. We're in a rut right now." - Dawn Staley

The Garnet Army necktie worn by Coach Darrin Horn at the men's basketball game against LSU earlier this season is now available for purchase by Gamecock fans.


Fans can purchase the tie online at the South Carolina Athletics Online Store here, at remaining home men's basketball contests and at all Jewelry Warehouse locations.

Coach Horn will once again wear the Garnet Army necktie at this Saturday's home game versus Mississippi State, to be broadcast on ESPN.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Gamecock Guarantee Fund, an aid and support program for South Carolina students. The goal of the program is to make a Carolina degree more attainable and affordable for first generation, low income residents of the state. Those who qualify for the program will not be required to pay any out-of-pocket tuition for all four years of their schooling at the University of South Carolina and will receive a minimum award of $2500 per year. Approximately 200 students are currently benefitting from this program, which is in its second year of existence.

The annual NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium started yesterday and continues through March 2nd. For six days, players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts.

Three Gamecocks will be participating in this year's combine: DL Clifton Geathers, LB Eric Norwood and DB Darian Stewart.

The NFL is providing live streaming coverage of the workouts at the Combine. You can see Geathers and Norwood on Monday and Stewart on Tuesday.

Want to know more about the type of workouts the players go through? Visit this page of the site for a breakdown.

Extensive coverage of the Combine is available through the NFL's Combine homepage available here.

The Gamecocks head to Lexington, Ky. today to face the No. 2 Wildcats for the second game of the series. Tip off is set for 9 p.m. at Rupp Arena. In the first contest, South Carolina handed Kentucky their only loss of the 2009-10 season. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 where Brad Nessler and Dick Vitale will have the call. You can also listen live to Andy Demetra and Casey Manning on the Gamecock ISP Sports Network or GamecocksOnline.com.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Gamecock ISP Sports Network

Web Coverage: Live Audio, Live Stats, Twitter

Gamecock ISP Sports Network Scene Setter:

The Gamecocks host the No. 24 Bulldogs for their final regular-season game at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. South Carolina will honor Lauren Falohun as part of Senior Day prior to tip-off.

Today's Know a Gamecock features women's basketball guard Lauren Falohun. A 5'9 player from Atlanta, Georgia, Falohun will be honored before Thursday's game against Georgia as part of Senior Day activities. Falohun, also known as "Cocoa", is majoring in sport & entertainment management.



What is a talent you would most like to have?

Probably to be the best dancer in the world. I dance all the time. Or to be the best fitness model in the world because every time I'm in the weight room I'm looking at my muscles.

What is your most treasured possession?

My cocoa butter, hence the nickname. I have been using it since 7th grade. It ties into everything with my personality, my hair, just everything.  [Editor: So that's the basis for your nickname?] That and my cocoa chocolate skin.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing my mom.

What do you consider your greatest achievement so far?

Graduating. One more class is all I need. Sometimes you struggle so much and then it's exciting when you get to point where you're at the end. [Editor: What's the next step after school for you?] I hope to be a personal trainer or work in sports performance.

What is your dream job?

Being a top personal trainer and owning the best franchise of sport training facilities.

What's one place you would like to visit?

Virgin Islands are pretty nice. Or maybe Paris, France.

What is one thing you would like to change about yourself?

Maybe that I would have longer hair.
 
What is your idea of the perfect meal?

Macaroni and cheese, greens. I don't really like bread, but if you've got some nice sweet cornbread, I'd have some of that. Some barbeque chicken. More macaroni and cheese. And mashed potatoes.

What is something you think fans would be surprised to know about you?

That I can sing.

What is one thing you'll take away from your time at South Carolina?

Just growing as a person and understanding that if things don't go your way, learning how to adjust and be a better person because of the situation. 

The latest edition of the Friends of the Program podcast is now available on the Gamecock iTunes store. Today's show features three-time SEC Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year winner Wimp Sanderson. Andy also speaks with Johndre Jefferson in Courtsie Confidential. Click here to download.

For those of you in the Columbia area who were unable to watch the men's basketball game against Arkansas on the SEC Network, here's the official statement from Time Warner Cable on what happened:

"Time Warner Cable experienced isolated technical difficulties on channel 165 during the USC vs. Arkansas men's basketball game on Wed., Feb. 17th at 9pm. Customers experiencing difficulties viewing the game were directed to channel 551 to the purchase the event on ESPN Full Court where it was also being aired. All customers that purchased the game on channel 551 will not be charged. Time Warner Cable apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by USC fans."

Making SEC Network games more easily accessible to fans will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming SEC meetings later this spring.

Today's Know a Gamecock features South Carolina shortstop Bobby Haney. A senior from Smithtown, NY, Haney transferred to Carolina from Manatee Community College in Florida. He played in 63 games in 2009, batting .291 with 4 HR and 30 RBI and picking up second team All-SEC honors. Haney also had a .955 fielding percentage, earning him a spot on the SEC's All-Defensive team.



Who is your favorite MLB player?

Derek Jeter. He's a winner. He's calm under pressure and he plays for the Yankees.

Favorite MLB team?

The Yankees.

What is your greatest achievement so far?

Probably playing shortstop at Carolina after great names like Reese Havens, Brian Roberts and Adam Everett.

What is your greatest fear?

The dark.

If you were going to sing karaoke, what song would you pick?

Barry White - Can't get enough of your love

Name three people dead or alive you'd like to meet.

50 Cent, Brad Pitt and Vanessa Minnillo.

What is a talent you'd most like to have?

That I could absolutely fly around the basepaths.

What is your most treasured possession?

My glove - I always keep my glove near me.

Who is your celebrity dream date?

Any girl that Derek Jeter has gone out with.

[Editor's Research Department: This list includes the following (some rumored) - Mariah Carey, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Gabrielle Union and Vanessa Minnillo.]

What is your dream job other than a pro baseball player?

NFL wide receiver

Name one place you'd like to visit.

Italy. My family is from there and I've heard it's gorgeous.

What was your favorite TV show as a kid?

Saved by the Bell

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game habits?

I'll wear the same wristband if i had a good game wearing it. But I'll change it out if it gets too dirty.

ESPN.com's Chris Low breaks down what to watch for in spring football this season in the SEC. Click the links below for each division's breakdown.

What to Watch for in the East

What to Watch for in the West

Low's three points of emphasis for the Gamecocks were:
-Sorting it out on the offensive line
-Getting a clear plan on offense
-Replacing Norwood and Geathers

Click here to read more...

Get to know Men's Basketball's Director of Operations LJ Hepp with this feature from The Darrin Horn Show:

The Darrin Horn Show airs on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on SportSouth. Sunday's episode is replayed the following Tuesday at 5 p.m. on SportSouth.

Ticket applications are being sent early this year in order to offer season ticket holders the option to pay in installments. Season ticket holders are able to split their payments over the next three months.

The deadline for returning all ticket applications and payment is Friday, May 14.

Season ticket holders, both current and new, will again be able to select seats online for the 2010 Gamecock football season. This year it is not required that season ticket holders give up their current seats before viewing other available options.

IMPORTANT DATES
•    February 15    Football ticket applications mailed to donors who paid dues by February 1
•    March 1          Football ticket applications mailed to donors who paid dues February 1 - 15
•    March 15        First season ticket payment due (for donors on three-month payment plan)
•    April 15          Second season ticket payment due (for donors on three-month payment plan)
•    May 14           Remaining balance due from ALL donors for season tickets and parking
•    May 24           Seat selection begins
•    August             Football season tickets and parking mailed
•    September 2    First home football game: Southern Miss vs. South Carolina

Continue reading for more information about the 2010 football season ticket process

Due to the Gamecocks playing on Thursday night at Kentucky, Carolina Calls with Darrin Horn will take place tonight at 7 to 8 p.m. at Wild Wing in the Vista.  You can listen live on 107.5 The Game or on the Gamecock ISP Sports Network.

Taryn Zack and the South Carolina women's diving program will be featured on this week's edition of "SEC Weekly," which airs at 4 p.m. today on ESPNU. Zack finished fourth on both the 1- and 3-meter boards at the SEC Swimming & Diving Championships, which wrapped up Saturday in Athens, Ga.

Monday

All day - Women's Golf will compete in the Central District Invitational hosted in Parrish, Fla. (River Wilderness Golf & CC)

All Day - Men's Golf (Garnet Team) will compete in the Johnny Palmer Invitational hosted in  New London, N.C. (Old North State Club)

7 p.m. - Inside the Roost with Derek Scott and Eric Hyman from Staybridge Suites in Columbia. Monday's guest is men's and women's track & field head coach Curtis Frye.

Tuesday

4 p.m. Softball will host Charlotte at Beckham Field. It's the Harvest Hope Food Drive Day - $1 admission with canned food item.

7 p.m. - Carolina Calls with Coach Horn at Wild Wing Cafe in the Vista. Listen live on the Gamecock ISP Sports Network.

All Day Men's Golf will compete in the Johnny Palmer Invitational Garnet Team hosted in New London, N.C. (Old North State Club)

All Day Women's Golf will compete in the Central District Invitational hosted in Parrish, Fla. (River Wilderness Golf & CC)

Wednesday

2 p.m. Women's Tennis matches up against College of Charleston at home in the Indoor Tennis Facility.

4 p.m. Softball will host Campbell at Beckham Field. It's the Harvest Hope Food Drive Day - $1 Admission with canned food item.  

Thursday

7 p.m. Women's Basketball will take on Georgia at Colonial Life Arena.  

9 p.m. Men's Basketball travels to Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats.

Friday

3 p.m. The Baseball team will travel to Greenville, N.C. to take on East Carolina. Gamecocks are now 3-0.

All Day Track will compete in the SEC Indoor Championships hosted in Fayetteville, Ark.

Saturday

11 a.m. Softball travels to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on Providence and compete in the FAU Fourth Annual Strike Out Cancer Tournament.

1 p.m. Men's Tennis will host Appalachian State at the Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center. Come out and celebrate the Outdoor Season Kickoff and get a Free Garnet T-Shirt.

1 p.m. Softball travels to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on Loyola and compete in the FAU Fourth Annual Strike Out Cancer Tournament.

2 p.m. Women's Equestrian heads to to Bishop, Ga. to compete against Georgia.

2 p.m. Baseball is on the road to take on East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.

6 p.m. Men's Basketball will host Mississippi State at Colonial Life Arena.

All Day Track competes in the SEC Indoor Championships hosted in Fayetteville, Ark.

Sunday

11 a.m. Softball heads to Boca Raton, Fla. to take on Providence and continue to compete in the FAU Fourth Annual Strike Out Cancer Tournament.

11 a.m. Tune into the Dawn Staley Show on the SportsSouth network.

11:30 a.m. Tune into the Darrin Horn Show on the SportsSouth network.

1 p.m. Baseball is on the road to take on East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.

1 p.m. Women's Basketball travels to Nashville, Tenn. to battle it out against Vanderbilt.

1 p.m. Softball takes on Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla.

All Day Track competes in the  SEC Indoor Championships hosted in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Gamecocks will be on the road traveling to Lexington, Ky. to battle it out against No.16 Wildcats Sunday. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.

TV: FSN - Click here to find FSN in your area

Radio: 1320 AM (Columbia)

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter

Saturday had all the ingredients for another memorable upset at Colonial Life Arena.

Packed house. Gray uniforms. Gritty play from the Gamecocks. Mistakes from the opponent.

Unfortunately, that garnet magic couldn't last for the full 40 minutes.

South Carolina led the Volunteers 46-43 with 9:18 to play in the game, but suddenly went cold from the field. The Gamecocks made just one field goal (a three-pointer by Devan Downey) over the next seven minutes, allowing Tennessee to pull away for the 63-55 win.

"We came into this game knowing it'd be tough because of Tennessee's talent," said South Carolina head coach Darrin Horn. "We wanted to put ourselves in position to be there in the last five minutes to make some plays and win the game. But we had a stretch where we didn't score at all and had some turnovers that led to [Tennessee] baskets. We didn't make enough plays when we had to."

South Carolina's issues with depth and experience on the court make every play crucial when playing quality opponents like the Volunteers.

"We're not in a position where we can have those kind of lapses against this kind of team," said Horn.

The Gamecocks shot 9-for-30 (30%) in the second half and 20-for-63 (31.7%) overall.

"We took some great shots today, but just had a bunch that didn't go in," said Horn.

"It was just one of those cases where shots just weren't falling," said Downey. "Shots weren't falling, but this team is going to keep fighting. That's one thing we're not going to stop doing."

Key Box Score

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
G Brandis Raley-Ross	5-10	2-6	4-7	5	16	1	3	0	2	38

On an afternoon when the league's leading scorer was struggling to get his shots to fall, Raley-Ross helped shoulder the scoring load. The senior guard scored in double figures for the fifth straight game, shooting 50% from the field.

Key Quote

"We're going to keep playing. We need to move forward in a way that we understand we're building a program regardless of how games turn out. And that's going to be the case whether it's five years from now or if we were undefeated right now, that's going to continue to be the focus." - Darrin Horn

Fans who are planning to attend Saturday afternoon's South Carolina vs. Tennessee men's basketball game can also take steps to keep themselves healthy this spring.  South Carolina DHEC will have nurses on hand at a station on the concourse of Colonial Life Arena, giving H1N1 flu shots for free to anyone who is in attendance and is interested.

Dr. Ernie Bell, Public Health Director for Region 3 of South Carolina DHEC, says people need to be aware that the threat of H1N1 has not passed.  "Flu epidemics often occur in waves," said Bell, "and since this flu first presented in the spring it is not too late to get the vaccine as CDC has indicated that we may see another wave this spring."  

DHEC will also be providing free H1N1 flu shots at the South Carolina vs. Mississippi State men's basketball game on Saturday, February 27th as well as at Carolina Stadium prior to and during the Gamecocks baseball game with Clemson on Sunday, March 7th.

Fans must have a ticket to those games to gain access to the areas where the vaccine is being made available.  

South Carolina will face Tennessee in the second game of the series today at 1:30 at Colonial Life Arena. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network where Carter Blackburn and Jamal Mashburn will have the call. You can also listen live to Andy Demetra and Casey Manning on the Gamecock ISP Sports Network and GamecocksOnline.com.

Don't forget about the free flu shots at the game!

Click here to download the Gamecock ISP Sports Network Scene Setter

TV: SEC Network

Radio: Gamecock ISP Sports Network

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter, ESPN360.com

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby

Click here for Opening Day Photo Gallery

It may not have had the anticipation and pageantry of 2009 when the stadium opened, but Opening Day 2010 was just as exciting for the Gamecocks. The baseball gods smiled on South Carolina as the weather was perfect for late February - sunny skies and 60 degrees.

The Gamecock baseball team followed suit and provided a enjoyable 10-3 win over Duquesne for the crowd over 6,300 fans. The game featured a three home runs - including a grand slam provided by Jeffery Jones and a debut home run for freshman Christian Walker.

Former Gamecock pitcher Kip Bouknight got the day started by throwing out the first pitch. Bouknight was a key member of the 2000 SEC Champion South Carolina team when he compiled a 17-1 record and earned the Golden Spikes Award.



"Kip was a tremendous athlete and he is a tremendous person," said Tanner. "He's a great influence when he's come back and he's been an integral part of our program."

Jones opened up the 2010 account for South Carolina with a blast to right field to give South Carolina a 1-0 lead over Duquesne in the second inning.

The Dukes scratched back in the top of the third to tie the score, but Jones hit a grand slam in the bottom of third to put the Gamecocks ahead for good.

"It felt good. We've still got work to do but it was great to get a win in the first game," said Jones. "I'm just trying to do what I can to help the team out."

Freshman third baseman Christian Walker performed well in his debut with a solo shot to left center field in the sixth inning.

"[Opening Day at Carolina Stadium] was a great experience, but almost overwhelming," he said "But I was able to get settled down after the first inning started."

Coke is giving four students the chance to compete at the Tennesse game on Saturday to win a 5-day/4-night trip for two to the 2010 NCAA Men's Final Four in Indianapolis on April 2 -April 6 valued at $2,250.
 
Four of the most fanatically dressed students will be selected and brought on court for a free throw competition. Each contestant will get 30 seconds to see how many free throws they can make. The two finalists will compete at halftime.

Surely there's some members of the Garnet Army that will be ready for this challenge...

A year ago, the Gamecocks celebrated the opening of Carolina Stadium with a 13-0 victory over the Duquesne Dukes. Starter Sam Dyson, Adam Westmoreland and Jordan Propst combined to one-hit Duquesne on the afternoon.

Darius Rucker sang the national anthem and former Gamecock head coaches Bobby Richardson and June Raines threw out the ceremonial first pitches with university president Dr. Harris Pastides.


Whit Merrifield scored the inaugural run in the bottom of the first inning and DeAngelo Mack hit the first home run in stadium history with a three-run blast in the fourth inning.

 
Click here to read the recap of Carolina Stadium's inaugural game.

Click here for a photo gallery from 2009 Opening Day

Here's a look at the projected weekend starters for the No. 10 Gamecocks this weekend as they open the 2010 campaign against Duquesne.

Friday at 3 p.m. - Senior RHP Blake Cooper
-Cooper finished last season with a 9-4 record, 4.50 ERA in 86 innings. He struck out 65 and walked 29.
-He won his last outing of the 2009 season with a complete game in a 12-2 win over East Carolina in the NCAA Regional.
-Cooper's three-year record at Carolina is 21-12, making him one of only 18 pitchers in program history to earn 20-plus career wins.
-He is the first senior to get an Opening Day start since Aaron Rawl started for the Gamecocks in 2005.



Saturday at 3 p.m. - Junior RHP Sam Dyson
-In 2009, Dyson was 9-4 and posted a 5.21 ERA in 102 innnings of work. He struck out 94 and walked 37 batters.
-He was a 10th round selection in 2009 MLB Draft by the Oakland A's.
-In two years at Carolina, Dyson is 17-4 with 138 strikeouts in 152.2 innings pitched.
-Dyson was named as a 2010 Preseason All-American, earning third-team honors on the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American list.



Sunday at 1:30 p.m. - Freshman LHP Tyler Webb
-Webb comes to the Gamecocks from Northampton HS in Nassawadox, Va.
-Rated the No. 6 best player in the state of Virginia, Webb was also named to the Virginia High School Coaches Association's All-State team.
-Along with fellow pitcher Jordan Propst, Webb is the tallest player on the Gamecocks' active roster - measuring in at 6 feet, 6 inches tall.

 

It's not difficult to notice that things look a little different around here at Spurs Up. We've moved from our original location on WordPress to a platform managed by CBS College Sports. We're still moving furniture around and hanging pictures, so you might see some things change over the next few days.

There are several advantages to our new format:

1) We are now integrated into the GamecocksOnline.com page design. So if you're reading a blog post about the Gamecock softball team and want to know when their next game is, you can just scroll right up to Schedules. Pretty helpful, right?

2) Want to share with your friends on your social networking site of choice a great Q&A with your favorite Gamecock student-athlete? Just click the Share button and select your network. Easy as pie.

3) More embedded video. With this new format, we can embed video from pretty much any source that allows it. For example, a video from ESPN.com could not be embedded on the WordPress platform. Now we can bring more content to you through the blog.

What do you think of the new format?

Baseball season starts this Friday so today's Know a Gamecock features one of the team captains - pitcher Jay Brown. A 6'4 right-hander from Brunswick, Georgia, Brown was named to the 2009 SEC Community Service Team. He has received a bachelor's degree in political science and is pursuing a master's degree in public administration.



Who is an MLB player you would say you model your game after?

Adam Wainwright.  (St. Louis Cardinals) - He's from my hometown. He's a bit older than me but I've grown up watching him develop as a high schooler and then in the minor leagues.

What is your favorite MLB team?

Braves. I grew up as a Georgia boy and we always went to a couple of games every summer.

What is your favorite SEC venue other than Carolina Stadium?

I understand Arkansas is good, but I haven't been there yet so I can't say there. I'm going to go with Ole Miss. They've got quite an atmosphere.

Do you have a pre-game superstition?

Before the game when I tie my cleats, my right shoe has to be tighter than the left one. If that's not happening, then i have to redo it.

If you were going to sing karaoke, what song would you sing?

Garth Brooks - Friends in Low Places.

Name 3 people dead or alive you'd like to meet.

Tim Tebow - Jack Nicklaus - George Washington

What is a talent you'd like to have?

I'd like to be able to play the guitar. I've messed around with it a little bit, but I haven't had the time to put forth the effort.

What is your most treasured possession?

Probably the President's Award that I received last spring. That was really a great honor and it meant a lot to receive that.



Who is your celebrity dream date?

I've always had a crush on Jessica Biel. She's quite an attractive lady.



What was your favorite TV show as a kid?

Saved by the Bell

What is one place you'd most like to visit?

I'm a big golf fan. I'd have to say St. Andrews where they play the British Open sometimes. That place is unbelievable.

What was the last book you read?

I just finished reading John Grisham's "The Street Lawyer." I enjoy reading his books

What is your greatest fear?

Being in a plane crash.

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley will be on ESPN.com this afternoon at 4 p.m. ET for a live chat. The chat is part of the site's tribute to Black History Month.

Click here to access the link for the live chat.

You can visit the site now and submit your questions for Coach Staley.

Yahoo! Sports' initial baseball prediction of the tournament field for the 2010 college baseball season has the Gamecocks projected as a regional host. You can click here to see the full field projection.

-Kansas, Dayton and The Citadel are placed in the Columbia Regional.
-Eight SEC teams (including South Carolina) are projected to make the field.
-The Gamecocks face nine teams listed in this preseason projection:
   -Four of which are hosting a regional of their own (East Carolina, Clemson, Arkansas, Florida)
   -Includes one projected national seed (Florida)
   -Others are Vanderbilt, Kentucky, The Citadel, Ole Miss and Georgia


Season tickets are still available for South Carolina Baseball - click here or call 800-4SC-FANS. Tickets start at just $210 per seat.

Looking for a way to follow South Carolina Baseball this season? Purchase an All-Access package for just $9.95 per month and listen to the radio broadcast for every game and watch live streaming coverage of every non-televised home game on GamecocksOnline.com. Click here to order.

Listen to the latest edition of the Friends of the Program podcast with Andy Demetra available on on Gamecock iTunes. Andy's guest today is former Gamecock BJ McKie. Click here to download for free!

If you've ever had trouble finding a South Carolina sporting event on television, then GamecocksOnline.com has you covered. Visit the "Gamecocks on TV" page to see channel listings for each potential network for a South Carolina game.

You can find this page by clicking on the Gamecocks on TV button on the front page of GamecocksOnline.com.

The Gamecocks will travel to Fayetteville to take on SEC West leader Arkansas. Tip off at Bud Walton Arena is set for 9 p.m. ET on CSS. Fans without access to CSS can view the game on Time Warner Cable with a digital converter on channel 165. Dave Baker and Will Perdue will have the call for CSS. Fans can also tune into the game by listening to Andy Demetra and Casey Manning on the Gamecock ISP Sports Network.

TV: CSS (Time Warner Cable - Channel 165)

Radio: Gamecock ISP Sports Network

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter, ESPN360.com

Tonight's men's basketball contest against Arkansas will be televised on CSS. Time Warner Cable customers with a digital converter can find the Gamecocks vs. the Razorbacks on channel 165 at no additional cost.

The game can also be viewed on ESPN360.com.

Over the last 10 seasons, the South Carolina Baseball team has:

Made 3 appearances in the College World Series

Made 7 appearances in the NCAA Super Regionals

Made 10 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Regionals
   -Longest current stretch of all 12 SEC schools
   -One of only eight teams in the nation to reach the tournament every year from 2000-2009

The 4th highest total of wins in the nation from 2000-2009 (468 wins)

Won more SEC games than ANY other team in the league from 2000-2009 (179 wins)

Won 3 SEC Championships (2000 Regular Season, 2002 Regular Season, 2004 Tournament)

1 National Player of the Year (Kip Bouknight - 2000)

2 SEC Players of the Year (Bouknight - 2000; Yaron Peters 2002)

1 SEC Pitcher of the Year (David Marchbanks - 2003)

19 All-Americans

10 straight seasons in the top 15 of the nation in attendance 

Check out this feature from The Darrin Horn Show on freshman Ramon Galloway:

Monday

7 p.m. - Inside the Roost from Staybridge Suites on Huger St. in Columbia. Host Derek Scott discusses issues related to South Carolina Athletics. Monday's guest is head baseball coach Ray Tanner. You can listen live on 107.5 The Game or on www.1075thegame.com.

Tuesday
3 p.m. - Softball begins their double-header against Longwood at Beckham Field.
5:15 p.m. - Softball wraps up its double-header against Longwood.

Wednesday
2 p.m. - Women's tennis takes on Winthrop at home.
9 p.m. - Men's basketball heads to Fayetteville, Ark. to face the Razorbacks.
All Day - Swimming and Diving travels to Athens, Georgia to participate in the SEC Championships.

Thursday
7 p.m. - Carolina Calls with Coach Horn at Wild Wing Café in the Vista.
All Day - Swimming and Diving continues in competition at the SEC Championships in Athens, Ga.

Friday
11 a.m. - Softball begins their weekend of play in Orlando, Fla. with a contest against Florida A&M.
3 p.m. - Baseball hosts Opening Day at Carolina Stadium against Duquesne.
3:30 p.m. - Softball takes on UCF in Orlando, Fla.
All Day - Swimming and Diving continues competition at the SEC Championships in Athens, Ga.

Saturday
9 a.m. - Softball starts the day with a morning contest against Villanova.
11 a.m. - Softball continues their weekend tournament with a game against North Florida.
1 p.m. - Equestrian hosts Oklahoma State in Blythewood at One Wood Farm.
1:30 p.m. - Men's Basketball takes on Tennessee at Colonial Life Arena. Firehouse will provide 3-point cards for the first 2,000 fans, and Verizon will be giving away 10,000 fan banners.
3 p.m. - Baseball hosts Duquesne in the second game of the series
All Day - Track hosts the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, SC
All Day - Swimming and Diving wraps up their week of competing in the SEC Championships in Athens, Ga.


Sunday
11 a.m. - Softball finishes up their weekend in Orlando, with a game against Troy.
1 p.m.  -Women's tennis hosts Clemson. Fans will receive free t-shirts.
1:30 p.m. - Baseball closes out the first series of the season against Duquesne at Carolina Stadium.
3 p.m. - Women's basketball travels to Lexington to finish off their series against Kentucky.

For once, the home crowd at Colonial Life Arena was wearing something other than garnet and black.

As part of the WBCA Pink Zone initiative, South Carolina's contest on Sunday afternoon against Arkansas was a pink-out designed to raise awareness for breast cancer. Fans were encouraged to wear pink and the first 1,000 through the door received a free pink t-shirt.

After a stinging loss to Mississippi State on Thursday afternoon, the Gamecocks lost another tough one Sunday at the Colonial Life Arena.

But this one might hurt worse than the last.

Arkansas rallied from a 16-point deficit in the game's closing minutes to shock the Gamecocks 72-68.  The Razorbacks chipped away with strong interior play while South Carolina could only mange seven points in the final 8:11.

"We were up big and they just kept playing," said junior guard Valerie Nainima. "They did a great job driving to the basket and executing."

"They applied a lot more pressure and we just didn't handle it," said junior Samone Kennedy.

An inability to finish off the Razorbacks doomed the Gamecocks in the end.

"We had control of the game, but we just played not to lose," said Head Coach Dawn Staley. "Arkansas was continuing playing and fighting."

As this young team continues to grow, the Gamecocks need a player to become the leader to rally the team when faced with a scenario like Sunday's.

"We don't have a leader that understands when it's time to bear down and play and get the team together," said Staley. "It's been our struggle all season long."

Key Box Score

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
C Kelsey Bone	6-10	0-0	0-2	12	12	1	2	1	0	29

Bone posted her eighth double-double of the season with 12 rebounds and 12 points. It was the 12th time this season she has pulled down double-digit boards and the sixth time in SEC play. 

Key Stats
-The Gamecocks won the rebound battle, pulling down 41 boards to 32 for Arkansas. The 41 rebounds tied South Carolina's season high in SEC action.
-South Carolina made just two three-pointers, tying their SEC season low. The Gamecocks were 2-of-12 from three-point range.
-South Carolina shot 48% from the field, their best shooting percentage in their last nine games.


Key Quote

"[Arkansas] wanted it more than we did and they played like it." - Dawn Staley

The women's basketball team hosts the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. The first 1, 000 fans in attendance will receive a free pink t-shirt. The team will be wearing special pink jerseys, which will be up for auction after the game to raise money for breast cancer research. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Carter Blackburn and Brenda Van Lengen will have the call.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 1320 AM (Columbia)

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter

The Gamecocks will be on the road this weekend as they make their way to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Tip off is set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network (Channel 806 - Time Warner Cable, Columbia) with Dave Neal and Mark Gottfried on the call.

TV: SEC Network

Radio: Gamecock ISP Sports Network

Web Coverage: Live Stats, Live Audio, Twitter

Highlights from Last Meeting: SEC Digital Network: Georgia vs. South Carolina

Scene Setter: Click here to hear Saturday's scene setter from the Gamecock ISP Sports Network

Baseball head coach Ray Tanner is on SECSports.com with a brief video interview talking about the impact of Carolina Stadium and what it's like to play in the ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference. Click here to watch the video (SEC site doesn't embed video). 

Make plans to attend Sunday afternoon's women's basketball Pink Zone Game presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors. The Gamecocks host the Arkansas Razorbacks at 3 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. Click here to purchase tickets or call 800-4SC-FANS.

The game is part of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness for breast cancer research. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free pink t-shirt.

In addition, the Gamecocks will wear special pink uniforms. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase a game-worn uniform on the South Carolina Auctions page of GamecocksOnline. The auction will begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday and last for two weeks.

For those of you that can't make it to the game, it will be televised on ESPN2.

Weather permitting, the Gamecocks will open the 2010 season at Beckham Field with the Palmetto State Showdown. The tournament will feature seven of the nine South Carolina schools that play Division I softball.

Visit the Palmetto State Showdown tournament page on GamecocksOnline.com here.

Click here for a preview of the 2010 edition of the South Carolina softball team

Here's a look at who the Gamecocks will face over the weekend:

College of Charleston - Friday @ 5 p.m.
-Finishing with a 23-26 record last season, the Cougars were 14-9 in Southern Conference action and earned the conference's No. 2 seed in the league tournament in 2009.
-The Cougars return 13 players from last year's squad, including reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year Kristie Shifflett and SoCon first-teamer Katie Forbes. Shifflett batted a team-high .360 a year ago with 10 homeruns and 43 RBIs while Forbes hit .297 with a homerun and 20 RBIs while playing the outfield and pitching.

Furman - Saturday @ 2 p.m.
-The Paladins finished 22-29 overall and 11-12 in the Southern Conference last season and placed fifth in the league.
-Furman returns five position players and three pitchers from last year's team. Senior pitcher Lana Mackey, a preseason SoCon second-team selection, will head the pitching staff after posting a 2.64 ERA and fanning a league leading 171 batters last season.

Winthrop - Sunday @ 12 p.m.
-The Eagles posted a 26-21 record in 2009 and a 15-3 mark in Big South action, finishing in second place behind league champion Radford.
-Winthrop returns eight starters from last year's team, including three-time All-Big South selection Megan Evans and two-time Big South Conference Tournament MVP Cari Wooldridge.

Charleston Southern - Sunday @ 4 p.m.
 -The Buccaneers ended the 2009 campaign with a 26-33 mark and a 7-11 record in Big South competition. CSU earned a fourth-place finish in the league, their best since 2001.
-Charleston Southern lost five starters from last year's team and will have nine newcomers on the 2010 squad.

It was another hard lesson for this young women's basketball team.

After a hard-earned road win against No. 14 Georgia, the Gamecocks stumbled at home against Mississippi State, falling 55-53 on Thursday night.

South Carolina turned the ball over 18 times (their highest total in eight games) and shot just 34.9% from the field (their lowest in their last five games).

"It was a very winnable game, but we didn't deserve to win," said South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley. "We lost this game with our preparation."

In a game that featured a series of mini-runs by each team, it was the Bulldogs who managed to pull away with the win.

South Carolina had an opportunity to tie the game with the final possession of regulation, but Kelsey Bone's lay-up attempt with a second to go failed to drop.

Staley had been unhappy with the team's effort in practice in the days leading up to the match-up with Mississippi State.

"It's my job to get them right and they weren't right coming into the game," she said. "Our players have a responsibility too. They have to get themselves in a position to get up and play basketball games."

An instant reaction might point to Gamecock miscues in the final minute of action as crucial, but Staley and La'Keisha Sutton said the issues were apparent throughout the contest.

"It didn't come down to those plays," Staley said. "It came down to plays where things broke down."

"Throughout the whole game, different people made different mistakes," said Sutton. "It wasn't any one mistake."

Key Box Score

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
G Ieasia Walker	4-10	2-4	0-0	5	10	2	4	0	2	27

The freshman guard recorded an SEC-season high in minutes played with 27. Walker had her highest point output since a 10-point effort against Kentucky.

Walker shot 4-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 from behind the arc.


Key Stats

• -The Gamecocks out-rebounded the Bulldogs 41-29. Kelsey Bone (13) and Charenee Stephens (10) each had double-digit rebound totals.
• -The Gamecocks had their highest positive rebound margin (+12) since out-rebounding Brown by 20.
  
• -Stephens recorded her first double-double of SEC play and her second of the season with 10 rebounds and 10 points.
• -South Carolina turned the ball over 18 times, their highest total since 18 turnovers against Kentucky on Jan. 14.
  

Key Quote

"We lost as a team, we won as a team. Hopefully, we'll come back better as a team on Sunday." - La'Keisha Sutton

Women's basketball freshman Ieasia Walker comes to Columbia from Amityville, NY. A 5'8 guard, Walker averages 4.5 points per game for the Gamecocks and has played in all 23 games this season.

 

What is your greatest achievement so far?

Winning two national championships at the AAU level.

What is your greatest fear?

Getting injured.

What is the last song you heard?

Jay-Z - What more can I say

What is the last book you read?

Does poetry count? The last thing I read was a poetry book for English class.

What is a talent you'd like to have?

I want to be a better artist.  I've always liked to draw. I can draw good, but I can't draw people really well.  I'd like to perfect that art.

What is your dream job?

To be a coach, maybe at the high school level.

What is your most treasured possession?

My iPod.I like to do sudoku puzzles and that game is on there. I have about 800 songs, videos, everything's on there.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I was taller.

What is one place you'd like to visit before you die?

Hawaii - i don't know why. That's what everyone says. It looks beautiful there though.

Name three people you'd like to meet.

Kobe Bryant, Sanaa Lathan (Love and Basketball is one of my favorite movies), President Obama.

What was your favorite TV show growing up?

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Everyone watched that.

[The Editor: Just to tie it all together - here's a clip of the Fresh Prince playing basketball. Side note - why are basketball courts always so tiny on sitcoms?]

Thirteen of South Carolina's baseball games will be televised this season - click here to see the schedule of televised games. But did you know that if you sign up for Gamecock All-Access, you can also watch live streaming of every non-televised home baseball game? In addition to that, you can also hear the radio broadcast for every baseball game, home or away, for the 2010 season.

 Click here to sign up for All-Access and purchase a subscription for just $9.95 per month. For the entire 2010 baseball season, that's just $40! That's less than 75 cents per radio broadcast and just over $1 to watch a live stream of a home game at Carolina Stadium.

Freshman infielder Briana Hamilton writes the final softball blog of the preseason as she talks about her excitement leading up to finally starting the 2010 season. Click here to read.

Today's Know a Gamecock features softball sophomore Kandyce Redondo. An electronic journalism major from Pembroke Pines, Florida, Redondo chose chose South Carolina over Florida Atlantic, UCF, North Florida and Jacksonville University.

South Carolina hosts Mississippi State tonight at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. The acrobat, Red Panda, will perform as the halftime act. The game will not be televised, but you can listen live on 1320 AM (in Columbia) or on GamecocksOnline.com. Brad Muller and Marcy Girton will have the call.

South Carolina (13-10, 6-5) Notes

• Freshman Kelsey Bone is averaging 14.5 points per game, and ranks second in the SEC in rebounding with 9.3 a game.

• The Gamecocks hold a 7-4 edge over the Lady Bulldogs in games played in Columbia.

• In Sunday's game against No.14 Georgia, South Carolina tied its season low for points, but also yielded a season-low points in collecting a 52-42 win.

• Valerie Nainima was the only Gamecock to reach double-figures in Sunday's contest, netting 21 points.

• A win against Mississippi State would bring head coach Dawn Staley within four wins of her 200^th as a head coach.

• The Gamecocks only need to win two more at home to clinch their 100^th all-time home win.

Mississippi State (15-9, 6-5) Notes

• Mississippi State is 3-2 in its last five games and is 3-2 in conference road games this season.

• As a team, the Lady Bulldogs are averaging 73.5 points per game while limiting opponents to 60.6.

• Mississippi State is shooting 41 percent from the field.

• Senior Alex Rack leads the Lady Bulldogs in scoring with 19.2 points per game.

• Mississippi State holds a 15-9 advantage in the overall series. The Lady Bulldogs have won seven of the last 10 meetings.

Playing at home? Check.

First half shooting struggles? Check.

Manageable halftime deficit? Check.

Second half surge? Check.

Win? Check.

For the fourth time at home in SEC play this season, the Gamecocks followed that script to perfection, gutting out a 77-71 win over Florida at Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday night.

South Carolina shot a forgettable 14-of-37 (38%) in the opening half, but trailed only 35-31 at the break. The Gamecocks were 0-of-9 from behind the arc.

"We were getting great looks, but they weren't going in," said South Carolina Head Coach Darrin Horn.

The Gamecocks were able to keep the Gators from getting too much of an advantage by capitalizing on Florida miscues. Florida turned the ball over 12 times in the first half while South Carolina had only three turnovers.

Leading scorer Devan Downey had just eight points in the opening period. Junior Sam Muldrow led the Gamecocks with 10 points.

"Tonight we wanted to compete and keep playing the next play regardless of how things were going," said Horn.

Senior guard Brandis Raley-Ross said the team was confident at halftime about shot selection. "It wasn't like we were taking bad shots," he said. "We knew if we kept taking good shots and moving the ball around offensively, they were going to go in."

In the second half, shots started falling for the Gamecocks while the Gators continued to turn the ball over. The surge started to build and South Carolina would take the lead for good with six and half minutes to go.

Raley-Ross credited defensive pressure (the Gamecocks would force 20 Gator turnovers) as the factor that pushed South Carolina past Florida. "Defense - we were preaching it at every huddle," he said. "We knew we could do what we wanted offensively - it was all about defense."

Raley-Ross scored 17 points in the second half, including four three-pointers. Downey got on track as well, finishing with 24 points.

"The second half effort was much better," said Horn. "We played with a lot more energy on both ends of the court. It was a terrific total team effort."

Key Box Score

	Total FG-FGA	3 pt FG-FGA	FT-FTA	Rebs	Pts	Assts	TO	Blk	Stl	Min
G Brandis Raley-Ross	6-15	4-11	4-6	2	20	2	2	0	2	33

Early in the second half, Downey drove inside and kicked it out to Raley-Ross for a 3-point attempt. Raley-Ross faked and passed the ball away. His head coach was less than pleased.

 "I told him at the media timeout that he leads the country in shot fakes," said Horn. "I told him if he passed up another 3, he was coming out."

The senior guard heeded the call, hitting 4-of-8 from behind the arc in the second half to score 20 points. The 20-point effort was a season-high for Raley-Ross and tied his career high.

 "Brandis was huge and made some really big shots for us in the second half," said Horn.

"He told me he was going to take me out so I let it fly," said Raley-Ross. "It felt good to make them down the stretch like that."

Key Stats

• South Carolina forced 20 Florida turnovers, a season-high for the Gators.
• The Gamecocks scored 20 points off Gator turnovers.
• South Carolina forced 20 or more turnovers for the ninth time this season.
• Tonight was the first time this year that two Gamecocks have scored 20 or more points in the game.
• Tonight was also the first time since the loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 16 that more than two Gamecocks scored in double figures.
• Florida struggled from the free throw line, making only 9-of-22 attempts.

Key Quote
"Devan has been so good and so special that I think the effort our entire team is putting forth...has gone a little overlooked. Our guys are continuing to fight and play to find a way to win," - Darrin Horn.

Ron Morris of The State has a great feature story on women's basketball junior guard Valerie Nainima in today's paper. Click here to read "USC's Nainima develops into star."

Now Nainima is helping lead the resurgence of the women's program at USC. She leads the team in several categories: scoring (17.7 ppg.), minutes played per game (34.7), 3-pointers (69), assists (68) and free-throw shooting (79.2 percent). She launches 3-pointers with a picture-perfect jump shot, and she is fearless in her drives to the basket. Her ball-handling skills allow her to slide into the point-guard position when needed, and her defensive prowess is as strong as anyone on the team. Beyond all that, Nainima (pronounced Nye-KNEE-muh) possesses a work ethic that has transformed her from a "little chubby girl" recruit in Fiji to potentially the best player Staley has coached. "She really is a coach's dream," Staley says.

The second women's basketball fan bus trip of the season brought about 50 Carolina fans to Athens to see the Gamecocks beat the No. 14 Georgia Bulldogs 52-42 on their home court on Sunday. The Gamecock faithful met at the Basketball Practice Facility and were greeted with a boxed meal from Firehouse Subs and a gift bag courtesy of South Carolina Athletics including a recyclable grocery bag, Pink Zone piggy bank, this year's media guide, a pom-pom, a women's basketball cup, and a face tattoo.

On the way to Stegeman Coliseum, everyone enjoyed their Firehouse lunch as well as cookies and fudge that a few fans brought to share with their fellow Gamecocks. During the game, the group made sure they were heard as they led the "Game - Cocks" and "U-S-C" cheer. Their efforts paid off as Carolina captured the program's first win over a top-15 team since December 13, 2005, and Coach Staley later tweeted her appreciation for the Gamecock faithful.

The excitement from the game continued on the bus, as there was a celebratory buzz on the return trip. The group watched the movie "Rudy" on the way back to Columbia, and arrived back in time for the second half of the Super Bowl. The Gamecocks look to continue their win streak this week as they host Mississippi State Thursday at 7pm and Arkansas Sunday at 3pm for the 2010 WBCA Pink Zone game.

The Gamecocks head to Athens today for the first of two contests against the Georgia Bulldogs. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum. Listen live on 1320 AM (in Columbia) or on GamecocksOnline.com. Brad Muller and Marcy Girton will have the call. The game is also televised on CSS.

South Carolina (12-10, 5-5) Notes

• South Carolina's RPI is among the highest in the SEC at 32 (as of Feb. 5). Ahead of the Gamecocks are Tennessee (3), Georgia (14), Kentucky (22) and Vanderbilt (24).

• Dawn Staley chose to use November and December as a building block for success in January by having contests against challenging teams. As a result of this, the Gamecocks' schedule is currently ranked as the eighth-toughest in the nation. Tennessee is the only team in the SEC that has faced a more strident challenge than South Carolina this season.

• South Carolina center Kelsey Bone has proven to be among the SEC's top freshmen, leading the conference in rebounding (9.5) and ranking seventh in scoring (14.8). Bone's rebounding average ranks 39^th in the nation and fourth nationally among freshmen.

• The Gamecocks are shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range in SEC play to lead the league.

• South Carolina has scored in the 70s five times this season and is a perfect 5-0 in those games. Since Dawn Staley took the reins of the program, South Carolina is 10-3 in games in which it scores at least 70 points.

No. 14 Georgia (19-4, 6-4) Notes

• The Lady Bulldogs lead the series 28-4, including victories in the last nine meetings. The last time South Carolina defeated Georgia was a 64-59 decision on Feb. 7, 2002, to close out a season sweep of the Lady Bulldogs.

• The No. 14-ranked Georgia Lady Bulldogs look to build upon the momentum gained from a Thursday victory over No. 19 LSU. The win came after a three game losing streak.

• Georgia's 16-0 start to begin the 2009-10 season was the Lady Bulldogs' best opening to a campaign ever.

• Ashley Houts has played more career minutes than any other active Division I player entering 2009-10. She played 34 minutes against LSU on a sprained left ankle, and her amount of time on the court today is TBD.

• The Lady Bulldogs fell to Auburn last weekend by 14 points. The Gamecocks swept their series with Auburn this season.

The Gamecocks travel to Knoxville to face the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers at 6 p.m. You can watch the game live on ESPN or ESPN360.com. Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes will have the call. You can also listen to the Gamecock ISP Sports Network with Andy Demetra and Casey Manning.

South Carolina (13-8, 4-3) Notes

• Senior guard Devan Downey has scored 30 or more points in his last three games and in five of the seven SEC contests this season.
• Downey (22.9 ppg) leads the team and the league in scoring. He ranks 4th in the nation in points per game.
• In his 70th career game, junior Sam Muldrow picked up his first double-double, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in South Carolina's win over Georgia.
• The Gamecocks are 10-4 when they score at least 70 points.
• Downey's 3.0 steals per game leads the league and ranks third in the nation.

Tennessee (17-4, 5-2) Notes

• Scotty Hopson leads the Vols with 13.3 ppg and is shooting .476 from behind the arc.
• Wayne Chism averages a double-double in SEC play with 14.1 ppg and 10.1 rebounds per game.
• Tennessee is 69-6 when scoring 80 or more points under Bruce Pearl.
• Bobby Maze's 2.8 assist/turnover ratio leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally.
• The Vols are 16-1 when they hold their opponent to under 50 percent shooting.
• Tennessee leads the league with a +5.4 turnover margin.

Gamecock senior point guard Devan Downey has been named to the final list of eleven candidates for the Bob Cousy Award. Fans can play a part in the selection by visiting www.cousyaward.com and voting for Downey. Fan voting last from Feb. 5 to March 5.

In the recent feature story on athletics director Eric Hyman, he said "People think an athletic director just schedules the games and goes out and watches the games." I thought people would be interested to see what exactly a full week is like in the life of Eric Hyman so I took a peek at his schedule from last week. For a few of the items, I've got a quote from Hyman about the appointment.

Monday

4:55 am - Leave for Spinning class
Hyman - "If I'm not there by 5:10, then I won't have a bike." Hyman usually rides with Stan Juk, a former Gamecock football player.

7 am - Breakfast at the Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center Hyman - "I was the first one there. I've been looking forward to the completion of this building for a long time. It was exciting to see our student-athletes enter the Dodie for the first time and sit down for breakfast."

10 am - Weekly Meeting with Deputy AD Marcy Girton & Emily White

11 am - Communications Working Group meeting
-Weekly meeting to discuss communication strategy for the department with a team of staff

Lunch with former assistant coach

3 pm - Meeting with a women's tennis recruit
Hyman - "As the Athletics Director, I'm willing to make myself available to coaches in the recruiting process. I am able to communicate the vision for the program and help prospective Gamecocks understand the expectations of building a nationally prominent program at the University of South Carolina

4 pm - Met with Joe Person of the State for a story about the future of facilities and fundraising. Marcy Girton and Senior Associate AD Kevin O'Connell also attended the meeting.

4:30 pm - Met Bob Gillespie of The State for feature story on the Dodie

7 pm - Inside the Roost radio show
-Guest: former South Carolina head men's basketball coach Eddie Fogler
Hyman: "I believe this radio show is another tool we can use to communicate to the Gamecock Nation about the program. When I got to South Carolina, many fans told me that they wanted to hear more about the department, especially the areas and programs that don't receive much coverage. I hope this radio show helps meet that need."

Tuesday
4:55 am - Leave for Spinning class

7 am - Arrives at the Roundhouse -Responds to e-mails and returns phone calls until first scheduled appointment

10 am - Meeting with Associate AD Charles Waddell to discuss football scheduling

10:50 - Noon - Visited a donor with Director of Revenue Development Jeff Crane

Lunch with Art Baker -Baker was a football coach at Furman when Hyman was with the Paladins as well as the former director of the Gamecock Club

2 pm - Coach evaluation
Hyman - "At the end of each season, I like to sit down with each head coach and review what went well and what needs improvement. This helps us stay focused on improving for the future of the program."

3 pm - Met with a student-athlete

4 pm - Met with former Gamecock football player Terry Cousin along with Charles Waddell

6:45 pm - Student-athlete etiquette dinner
Hyman - "We want to prepare our student-athletes for a future after college and teaching them proper etiquette will pay off for them in a key social situation such as a job interview."

9 pm - Men's basketball game vs. Kentucky
Hyman - "I had trouble sleeping that night after all the energy and excitement of the game. I just kept replaying it over and over in my head. It was one of the most exciting moments I've experienced since I've been here. The student support and enthusiasm made such a tremendous difference."

Wednesday
7 am - Arrives at the Roundhouse
Hyman - "We received a lot of positive feedback from people after the Clemson win, but what was surprising to me is that we actually received more after the win over Kentucky. There was so much energy and excitement in the athletics department that morning."

9 am - 12:30 pm - Management Team meeting

Travel to Charleston with Assistant AD for Major Gifts Russell James to meet with three different donors until attending a dinner at 7 pm. Returned to Columbia around 10 pm.
Hyman - "It takes many people to build a successful athletics program. Our donors are one of those key components. I enjoy travelling the state and sharing the vision for our future."

Thursday
8 am - Arrives at the Roundhouse

9 am to 10:30 am - President's Executive Council

10:30 am - Meeting on campus

11:30 am - Lunch with two donors in Hyman's office

2 pm - Telephone call with reporter from Lexington, Kentucky

3 pm - Exit interview with Gamecock football senior Nathan Pepper
Hyman - "I meet with several senior student-athletes as they finish their time at South Carolina to discuss their experience as a student-athlete. Making those experiences worthwhile is important to the future success of our program."

4 pm - Met with a South Carolina student who attended same high school as Hyman. Student was given an old basketball program with Hyman's name and photo in it and the student gave it to Hyman

7 pm - Women's basketball game vs. Ole Miss

Friday
8 am - Arrives at the Roundhouse
Morning scheduled to catch up on e-mails and phone calls

1:30 pm - Appointment out of the office

3 pm - Media tour of the Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center

Saturday
2 pm - Speak to junior football recruits

3 pm - Listened to a sport psychiatrist speak to the men's and women's golf team

5 pm - Speak to men's and women's golf junior recruits at the Dodie

6 pm - Car Dealers reception at Colonial Life Arena

7 pm - Men's basketball game vs. Georgia

Sunday
 2 pm - Women's basketball game vs. Tennessee

With softball season just a week away, SECSports.com has a preview of South Carolina up on their website now featuring video from Head Coach Joyce Compton. Click here to watch.

The Gamecocks open their season at Beckham Field on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. versus College of Charleston. You can reserve a chairback seat for the season for just $25. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS to order.

Check out the latest post on the South Carolina Softball blog by sophomore outfielder Kaitlin Westfall. She talks about some of the things the team has done to get ready to start the season.

The Gamecocks begin their week on the road tonight against Auburn at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum at 6 p.m. Listen live on 1320 AM (in Columbia) or on GamecocksOnline.com. Brad Muller and Marcy Girton will have the call.

South Carolina (11-10, 4-5) Notes

• The Gamecocks have a winning record of 5-3 against Auburn's Head Coach Nell Fortner.
• A South Carolina victory would give the Gamecocks five SEC victories, the most since the 2008 squad collected six.
• The Gamecocks have a 4-3 edge in the last seven meetings including the 63-49 victory in Columbia to start this season's series.
• La'Keisha Sutton, who is hitting an SEC-best 64.7 percent from behind the arc through nine SEC contests, led the Gamecocks in points against Tennessee with 19. Sutton is third on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game, 24^th best in the SEC.
• South Carolina guard Valerie Ninima has been the Gamecocks' leading scorer 10 times this season, during which the team has a 6-4 record. She has scored in double figures in all but one game this season.

Auburn (12-10, 3-6) Notes

• The Tigers lead the series 19-13 and are 10-4 at Auburn.
• The Gamecocks have not defeated the Tigers at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum since February 16, 2006.
• Auburn is coming off a 67-53 win over ninth-ranked Georgia.
• Tonight marks the fourth time head coach Nell Fortner has had to face another Olympic coach. She has also coached three of the four members on South Carolina's coaching staff.
• Junior guard Allie Smalley had 12 points and 4 rebounds at South Carolina on Jan. 17, and has scored more than 20 points in each of the last two games.
• Center senior KeKe Carrier leads the SEC in conference-only games with 3.2 blocks per game, and is coming off a 15 point, 9 rebound, 4 block effort against Georgia. She led the Tigers with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the last contest against USC.

Devan Downey has racked up the national accolades this week after his impressive start to the SEC campaign. Spurs Up put together a brief highlight of some of our favorite plays by No. 2 last week. Watch the video and then vote for your favorite. I don't want to influence the voting, but my favorite was the fall-away shot with 2 seconds on the shot clock. Simply amazing stuff.

Click here for a photo gallery from Wednesday's dedication ceremony

Student athletes, coaches, and members of the Gamecock Club gathered for the dedication ceremony for The Dodie Academic Enrichment Center today. Dodie Anderson, the donor whose generosity made the building possible with a $6 million donation, was also in attendance with her family. The center is the first building in what will become the Athletics Village and will facilitate the academic needs of student athletes.


Athletics Director Eric Hyman started the event by thanking everyone who made The Dodie possible including donors and those in charge of construction and design. University President Dr. Harris Pastides reflected on the outstanding year the university has had so far in the areas of both athletics and academics. Pastides said that The Dodie "will bring together academics and athletics very literally." The building offers student athletes large study areas, a dining facility, tutor rooms, and computer labs. Several rooms in the building will bear the names of donors who contributed to the project. Pastides said that the facility will serve as "a great recruiting tool." Football head coach Steve Spurrier mentioned that the Dodie was one of the many reasons Gamecock signee Marcus Lattimore chose South Carolina.

Women's soccer All-American and SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Blakely Mattern represented the student athletes at the dedication. She was extremely excited about the new building and expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped with the project, especially Dodie Anderson. Mattern said that the building would lend to an even greater student athlete community, something she has cherished during her time as a Gamecock. "I would stay [at South Carolina] forever if they would let me," said Mattern.

Men's basketball head coach Darrin Horn said that he knows Dodie Anderson loves to win. "She loves those 'W's,'" he said. When Anderson stood to speak, she was welcomed with a standing ovation. She quickly confirmed Horn's statement by stating that she would "love to see more 34-17's and 68-62's." She spoke of her hopes for the athletic community, and ended her speech with a vibrant "Go Cocks!"


The dedication came to a close with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Hyman and Pastides stood with Anderson as she cut the garnet ribbon. In the eyes of the Gamecock community, the Dodie is a big step for the athletic department and a huge win for the university.

The Dodie is scheduled to be dedicated later this afternoon (GamecocksOnline will have video and coverage of the event). Here's a look at the new building by the numbers:

• 40,500 square feet - size of the building
• 160 feet x 80 feet - overall dimension of the building
• 2,650 square feet - size of the dining room (seats 200)
• 2,000 square feet - size of the full service kitchen
• 2,400 square feet - size of the largest study lounge
• 500+ - number of student athletes impacted by facility
• 54 feet - height of the building at tallest point
• 15 - months of construction work
• $13 million - total project cost
• 20 - tutor rooms
• 21 - offices
• 12 - seminar rooms
• 3 - computer labs
• 3 - number of floors

Today's Friends of the Program podcast features Clark Kellogg from CBS. Kellogg will talk about speaking with President Obama at the Duke-Georgetown game last weekend. The podcast also features Courtside Confidential with Gamecock freshman Stephen Spinella. Click here to download.

It's February 3rd and it's National Signing Day around the country. We've got you covered on GamecocksOnline with coverage of all new Gamecocks.

Football

• Check out Signing Day Central for bios and videos about signees
• Text SIGNEE2010 to 32391 to receive text updates about Gamecock football signees
• Follow us on Twitter (@GamecocksOnline) and our Facebook page for updates as signees come in
• Visit GamecocksOnline at 4 p.m. this afternoon for a free live broadcast of Coach Spurrier's press conference

Men's and Women's Soccer

• Visit Signing Day Central for Men's Soccer and Women's Soccer for bios of signees and video from Coach Mark Berson and Coach Shelley Smith

Feature story on Devan Downey from Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier:

What Horn likes is that Downey, even at his size, can be self-sufficient when he needs to be in those crucial possessions. Meaning, many other players -- high-scoring players -- lean heavily on others around them to sustain their level of play. They need someone to pass it to them. They need someone to draw the defense. They need someone to be a second scorer. To use a baseball analogy, it's like a power hitter needing protection in the lineup to see better pitches. Downey's currently playing without a safety net, making it all the more impressive.

Check out this photo gallery of the interior of the new Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center. The building will be dedicated tomorrow afternoon.

Download this highlight montage of the South Carolina - Kentucky game from the Gamecock iTunes store. Click here!

The State newspaper ran an in-depth feature story by Bob Gillespie on the new Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center. Click here to read "'Dodie' new heart of USC athletics." The building will be dedicated in a ceremony on Wednesday.

For Hyman, that view is symbolic of the future of USC athletics. One can see three of the school's four most familiar athletics structures - and if The Dodie were taller than three stories, Harrison might catch a glimpse of basketball's Colonial Life Arena, too - but none of those, Hyman said, will be any more crucial than the new building. "This is the heart of the athletics department," said Hyman, who loves to use the term "beehive" to describe the traffic among athletes he expects in the 40,000-square-foot structure. "Academics and athletics at some places are separate, but they're not mutually exclusive. It's so important that we give young people the tools to be successful academically."

Click here to read an article on the primary benefactor for the facility - Dodie Anderson.

A lifelong supporter of community causes in the Upstate, Anderson is an ardent USC fan who shares seats at football games with daughter Randi Berry. When approached several years ago by Hyman about a donation, her first question was, "What does (football coach) Steve (Spurrier) want?" The Dodie is the result. "I was at the (2008) groundbreaking and had my picture made with the (SEC-champion) girls soccer team," she said. "That was fun. I just love the Gamecocks."