Man to Stop: Auburn sophomore guard/forward Earnest Ross. The Tigers' leading scorer (12.9 ppg) and rebounder (7.0 rpg) can trace his success to former USC Director of Basketball Operations L.J. Hepp, who coached him at Panther Creek HS in Cary, N.C. A physical defender, Ross has a good body (6'5," 215 lbs.) and is especially effective when he establishes his three-point shot. Fragile offensive teams take their cues from their best player - if he struggles, they generally struggle, too. The Gamecocks can't let Ross get a bolt of confidence early.

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"Since I've been here, we haven't had much success on the road at South Carolina," senior forward Josh Harrellson said. "They've got a great crowd, real loud, real intense, real vocal, and they can definitely get you out of your game quick with chants and stuff."

Since a lot of the players weren't even around for last year's defeat that ended the undefeated dream, the loss doesn't sit as particularly bad with this bunch as last year's team. But for those that were, one thing seems to reverberate in their minds about that loss, and it may not be what you think.

"They played it like Rocky Top," sophomore guard Jon Hood said.

What Hood is referring to is "Sandstorm," a techno song that became the unofficial rallying cry of Devan Downey and the South Carolina faithful.

"It was every timeout," Hood said. "The last 12 minutes, it's nothing but Sandstorm. They only play it when they're up and they only play it when they come back, so if you stay away from Sandstorm, you're playing well, you're taking care of them."

Although it's just a song, the hostile crowd at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., played off it and made things difficult for the visiting Wildcats. With each momentum-changing basket  from South Carolina, the South Carolina staff blared "Sandstorm" and the fans went wild.

Usually, the rebounding battle isn't won because one frontcourt dominated the other; it's because the guards made a concerted effort to get involved. Remember, Devan Downey and Brandis Raley-Ross had 5 rebounds apiece in last year's matchup in Columbia. Kentucky has plenty of oversized guards, from 6'3" Brandon Knight to 6'4" Doron Lamb to 6'6" DeAndre Liggins to 6'7" Darius Miller. Neglect to box them out at your own risk. South Carolina has gang-rebounded exceedingly well in its wins, as documented on "Inside The Chart". The Gamecock guards can't drift back on shot attempts in anticipation of stopping Kentucky's transition, and abandon their rebounding responsibilities.

One Other Thing... As stated earlier, Kentucky ranks 4th in the nation in TO% (15.9%). The Gamecocks have faced two other teams this year that rank in the Top 15 nationally in TO%: Boston College (7th) and Ohio State (13th). Total rebounding margin in those 2 games: -23. If South Carolina can't turn Kentucky over, controlling the boards and forcing one-and-done possessions will be absolutely critical.

Columbia, SC    Channel 21
Florence, SC    Channel 65
Myrtle Beach, SC    Channel 45
Summerville (Charleston), SC    Channel 21

- Beckham Field renovation (Softball) - We are renovating the field to install better turf and a drainage system, similar to our Baseball and Soccer facilities - Summer 2011 after Softball season wraps up

- Colonial Life Arena Men's and Women's Basketball locker room renovations - will begin after this season and be completed prior to next season

- Farmers Market development - I wrote previously about the plans for the Farmers Market. For next football season it will be flattened and available for parking. The full development of the area will be complete for the 2012 football season.

- Athletics Village

- Tennis Complex - to be completed this fall.
- Coaches Support Building - an office building for most sports and support services to be completed in the summer of 2012
- Parking Garage - a multi-use facility that will be completed this May
- Infrastructure - upgrades to the South Energy Plant to support the new and existing buildings, laying pipes for steam and chill water, an underground water storage tank for irrigation and landscaping.  
- To see the full master plan for the Athletics Village, click here.

TV: SEC Network (Click here for list of affiliates), ESPN3.com
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network from IMG College (Click here for list of affiliates)
Tickets available at the CLA Ticket Office before the game

A friend recently asked me about Ellington's free-throw percentage (a modest 64.3%), and why it lagged behind his other numbers. Traditional statistics, though, don't account for how many clutch baskets Ellington has made in his freshman season. After studying the box scores, I found this: Ellington's "clutch" free throw percentage - loosely defined as a player's FT% in the last five minutes of a game - surges to 76.4% (13-17). Look at Ellington's free throw numbers in the "clutch zone" compared to the first 35 minutes of a game:

Time in game    FTM-FTA    FT%
40:00-5:00               14-25    56.0%
5:00-0:00 (& OT)    13-17    76.4%

Ellington's "clutch" three-point percentage is even more startling. In South Carolina's most tightly-contested wins of the season -- Florida, Vanderbilt, Wofford, Clemson, and Western Kentucky -- Ellington has a "clutch" 3pt.% of 61.5% (8 for 13), well above his season average of 41.5%.

Darrin Horn told me earlier this year that Ellington epitomizes a "brighter the lights, bigger the player" guy. Few moments require steelier nerves than icing a game with a three-pointer or a free throw. Ellington has delivered on both.

Just ask Billy Donovan.

Case in point: sophomore Lakeem Jackson grabbed a team-high 6 offensive rebounds against Alabama, displaying his typically tenacious, workhorse style. Yet Jackson never went to the free throw line, and only one of his 6 offensive boards resulted in a Carolina basket (a Bruce Ellington three-pointer at the 16:40 mark of the 2nd half). South Carolina put itself on the doorstep countless times against Alabama - can it cash in on those opportunities against Florida, and string together productive possessions? Several factors can help:

• Florida ranks 10th in the SEC in FG% defense (41.7%)
• Florida doesn't force turnovers at a high rate.
• Transition baskets. Darrin Horn told me on "Carolina Calls" that his team didn't do its best job finding the outlet man quickly.

Turnaround Jumper: Anthony Grant recruited freshman Brian Richardson while head coach of VCU, and offered the slender sniper one of his first scholarships. Richardson continued his relationship once Grant left for Tuscaloosa, and considered Alabama before signing with Carolina. Handcuffed by two early fouls while chasing Vanderbilt's John Jenkins, Richardson was held scoreless in 9 minutes of play. I wouldn't expect that trend to continue. Richardson is shooting 41% from 3-point range on the road this year, a nearly 10% increase from his percentage at home.

At home, you need to make free throws. On the road, you need to make three-pointers. Richardson will factor prominently into those plans.

"Space your fingers wider." That simple piece of advice has led to a free throw-shooting renaissance for sophomore forward Lakeem Jackson. After a 4-for-5 performance against S.C. State (which last year would've prompted me to race to Corner Pantry and buy a lottery ticket), Jackson's free-throw percentage stands at 50.0% (19-38).

Jackson explained his improved mechanics to me Thursday. "I didn't have my fingers wide, and my thumb was in more [last year,]" Jackson said. He credits head coach Darrin Horn with reconstructing his mechanics over the summer. "His thumb would almost be underneath the ball," Horn demonstrated, almost like a person making the number 4. That caused the ball to roll erratically off Jackson's thumb on his release, resulting in free throws that sprayed like buckshot toward the rim.
Extreme Makeover: Free Throw Edition.

(Coach Horn should know about free throws. He told me he made 20 in a row before Thursday's practice.)

The best proof of Jackson's improvement? When he swished a free throw at the 13:00 mark of the 1st half against S.C. State, it made him 16-of-34 at the foul line. Last year, Jackson went 16-of-59 total at the free-throw line.

"Valet parkers do it. Fact-checkers do it. And Gamecock basketball players do it, too.

After a typically intense, competitive drill at their Blossom St. practice facility, head coach Darrin Horn will select a player from the winning team. "Validate that," Horn will instruct him. The player then toes the free-throw line with a simple set of consequences.

Make the free throw, and the losing team sprints.

Miss the free throw, and the winning team sprints as well.
For the Gamecocks, it's time to validate their early season wins.

After a choppy, 1-3 stretch over the holidays, it's time for South Carolina to validate its early-season successes. With SEC play arriving Saturday, the Gamecocks must prove that their 8 wins define them more than their 4 losses. A final chance for validation awaits tonight, as South Carolina host South Carolina State (7 p.m. EST, Gamecock Sports Network from IMG College).

On that note, let's dive into your pre-game tip reads for the Bulldogs"