Billy Donovan was hired as head coach of Florida March 27, 1996.

Around midnight that night, Frank Martin said his cell phone chirped with a message.  It was Donovan.  He told him he planned to come to his high school in Miami, Fla., the next day to recruit some of his players.

Two decades later, Martin and Donovan remain tight, a friendship forged from their earliest days in coaching.  Donovan plucked Anthony Grant, one of Martin's assistants at Miami Senior High, to join his staff at Marshall.  For 15 summers, Martin worked as a counselor at Donovan's basketball camps.  Two of his former players, Brent Wright and Udonis Haslem, became centerpieces of Donovan's first Final Four team. 

"If it weren't for Frank Martin, we wouldn't have played for the national title in 2000," Donovan told The Gainesville Sun. 

That friendship will be set aside Wednesday, when the Gamecocks become the next team to take their crack at Donovan's #4-ranked Gators (16-2, 6-0 SEC).  Pre-tip reads before the Gators and Gamecocks hit the floor (8:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Inside The Efficiency:  Demolished?  Dismantled?  Pick any verb.  They all describe what Florida has done to SEC competition this year.  The Gators have won their conference games by an average of 26.5 points, the latest an 82-47 drubbing at Mississippi State.  The Gators' top seven players are juniors and seniors, and that chemistry shows:  Florida ranks 2nd in the nation in Offensive Efficiency, averaging 1.23 points per possession (PPP). 

"That ball never stops, which allows you to not get set defensively," Martin said at his Tuesday press conference.

But Wait, There's More:  Martin didn't call Florida "national championship good" for offense alone.  The Gators lead the nation in Defensive Efficiency, allowing a mere 0.8 points per possession (PPP).   They also rank second nationally in scoring defense (51.2 ppg). 

Florida Defense - NCAA Ranks

Defensive Efficiency                      0.8 Points Per Possession (#1 NCAA)

Scoring Defense                             51.2 ppg  (#2 NCAA)

Two-Point FG% Defense                39.0% FG  (#3 NCAA)

Fouls Per Game                              15.8  (#25 NCAA)

The Gators close gaps, stay between the ball and the rim, and rarely foul.  The Gamecocks picked a good time to have their best shooting game of the season, a 57.7% performance against Arkansas.  Can a player like R.J. Slawson, who just strung together the best two-game scoring stretch of his SEC career, make a difference down low?

Did You Know:  Before coming to South Carolina, junior Brenton Williams spent one season at Santa Fe Community College, a 2.5-mile drive from the University of Florida campus.  Williams went scoreless against Arkansas after posting 16 points in each of the last three games.

Stat vs. Stat:  The Gamecocks biggest strength will come under fire Wednesday.  The Gamecocks are one the best teams in the nation at grabbing offensive rebounds; Florida is one of the best teams at denying them. 

Rebounding Percentages

South Carolina                   Get 42.4% of available offensive rebounds  (3rd NCAA)

Florida                                Get 73.8% of available defensive rebounds (11th NCAA)

South Carolina has only faced one team that ranks in the top 100 in the nation in Defensive Rebounding % (Missouri, 67th).  Against a Florida team that only allows 39% shooting from two-point range, tenacious offensive rebounding may be South Carolina's salvation.

Bruce Almighty:  Martin understands why fans want to see Bruce Ellington score 20 points a night.  No player scores with as much kinetic flair as the Gamecocks' armor-plated, 5'8" dual-sport star.

Bruce Ellington (left) has locked down the opponents' lead scoring guard.

It's not that Martin minds it. He just doesn't need it.  Not when Ellington can affect so many more points on the other end.  In the last three games, Ellington has posted shutdown defensive performances against the opponent's leading scorer:

Player                           Avg. Entering Game            Points Scored

Kedren Johnson (VU)   15.9 ppg                                  3 pts.*  (0-6 FG,  0-2 3pt.)

Phil Pressey (MU)         12.2 ppg                                  6 pts.    (1-8 FG,  1-6 3pt.)

B.J. Young (ARK)         16.9 ppg                                  7 pts.*  (3-12 FG, 0-2 3pt.)

                                                                                     5.3 ppg, 15.4% FG,  10.0% 3pt.

*-Season-low

Ellington will likely draw the assignment on Boynton, the SEC's active leading scorer with 1,833 career points.

Can You (Not) Top This:  On the flip side, Ellington will likely be guarded by Florida's 6'5" junior Scottie Wilbekin, a leading candidate for SEC Defensive Player of the Year.  Arguably the SEC's best on-ball defender, Wilbekin held Texas A&M's Elston Turner, who had just exploded for 40 points against Kentucky, to 4 points on 1-of-10 field goal shooting.  In his next game, he straitjacketed Missouri point guard Phil Pressey, the SEC's Preseason Player of the Year, into a season-low 2 points and 10 turnovers.  A hard player to screen, expect Wilbekin to "chest up" Ellington, and whittle away at his energy on the offensive end.

Wilbekin, though, may have his hands fuller than normal.  In two career games at Florida, Ellington averages 19.0 ppg and 42.9% three-point shooting, his highest average against an SEC opponent.

Bruce Ellington Career at Florida (2g)

Points:                  19.0*

FG%                     48.2%*

3pt.%                    42.9%*

*-Career highs on road vs. SEC opponent (min. 2 games)

And Finally... Martin isn't the only Gamecock coach with fond memories of Donovan's summer camps.  Assistant Matt Figger also took turns as a counselor while coaching in the junior-college ranks.  It was there that he first met Frank Martin, which led to him joining Martin's Kansas State staff in 2007.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you in Gainesville.  -AD--

-    Students are encouraged to pre-request their tickets as we aim for 2,000. As pre-requested numbers approach 500 tickets, 1000, 1500, and finally 2,000 tickets, we'll be giving away prizes!

500 - Personalized, autographed Frank Martin Basketball
1000 - Under Armour prize pack
1500 - Observe a men's basketball practice and receive a behind-the-scenes tour
2000 -  iPad

-    Promotional booth on Greene St on Friday - stop by for a chance at more prizes!
-    Double Student Rewards for attendance (be sure you're signed up for Gamecock Social Rewards here)
-    Double Loyalty Points for attendance
-    Garnet Army T-Shirts (while supplies last)
-    Free Food for all students
-    President Pastides says he'll see you there!

Check out this week's Facebook Fan of the Week winner!  Adrian Mann of Lexington, SC, submitted this photo with the following description: 

Get your necks loose and your lungs ready.

The Arkansas Razorbacks (12-6, 3-2) bring their end-to-end, gasping-for-breath style to Colonial Life Arena Saturday to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks (11-7, 1-4 SEC).  After a narrow loss to Missouri Tuesday, the Gamecocks will look to stop their cycle of late-game heartbreak, and seal a second SEC win.

They're already off to a good start:  Arkansas has yet to win a road game, losing all five by an average of 12.8 points. 

Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks and Razorbacks collide in Columbia (1:00 p.m. EST airtime, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

The Tug-Of-War:  A basketball game has various states of equilibrium.  If a team struggles in one area, it can compensate in another.  If a player pursues one stat too vigorously, it could leave him underperforming in another.

South Carolina hangs his hat on relentless offensive rebounding.  Despite its small stature, the Gamecocks rank 3rd in the nation in Offensive Rebounding Percentage (42.2%). 

Arkansas, led by second-year coach Mike Anderson, excels in the open floor.  According to Synergy - and Luke Winn's excellent SI Power Rankings -- Arkansas ranks 8th nationally, getting transition baskets on 21% of its possessions. 

It begs the question:  will the threat of a fast break affect South Carolina's ability to offensive-rebound?  Might they sacrifice sending some players to the rim, so they can cover themselves for potential runouts?

Frank Martin has been down this road before, when his Kansas State teams battled Anderson's squads at Missouri.

"If our guys go to the glass, then Arkansas is going to have to stay in there and rebound, and not be able to leak out," he explained on "Carolina Calls." 

"In the past, the battles between Mike's teams and my teams have been who's going to be better at what they try to do.  We try to rebound.  They try to turn you over.  The games where we haven't turned it over and out-rebounded them, we've had success.  You either run everyone back or you got to go rebound.  I like to go rebound," he said.    

That tug-of-war - South Carolina's offensive rebounding versus Arkansas' quick-trigger transition - could decide a winner Saturday.  Freshman Michael Carrera, the Gamecocks' highest-percentage offensive rebounder, will need to bounce back after managing just one offensive rebound against Missouri.

"Hell" To Pay:  Anderson, a longtime Nolan Richardson assistant, has rekindled his boss' famed, frenetic "40 Minutes of Hell" style.  Using a blistering full-court press, the Razorbacks have forced 17.8 turnovers per game in league play, most in the SEC.  Junior Mardracus Wade is Arkansas' top turnover merchant (1.8 steals/game).

Arkansas' press isn't technical, or tactical, or loaded with principles.  It's meant to be simple, and chaotic, and panic-striking.  See ball, swarm ball, steal ball. 

But Arkansas has another impressive stat.  Usually teams that play a fast-paced, trapping style get reckless with the ball themselves.  Yet Arkansas also ranks 8th nationally in Turnover % Offense, throwing it away on just 16% of possessions.  According to kenpom.com, they're the only team in the top 25 in both TO% Defense (i.e., forcing turnovers) and TO% Offense (avoiding them).

Arkansas - Turnover Percentage (% of Possessions Ending in a TO)

Offense:              16.1%  (8th)

Defense               24.8%  (14th)

Valuing possessions will be key Saturday.  No "jailbreaks," as Martin called Missouri's runouts.  Fortunately, Carolina has improved dramatically in keeping the basketball, as the numbers below show:

South Carolina Turnover Margin

Non-conference:                -3.6        (14th SEC)

Conference:                       +2.6       (4th SEC)

Man to Stop:  Arkansas guard B.J. Young.  He may rank third in the SEC in scoring (16.9 ppg), but no team's offense flows through a single player more than Young.  A crafty, long-armed, 6'3" sophomore, Young leads the SEC, and ranks 46th nationally, in Possession Percentage (29.9%).  Also called Usage Rate, it's the percentage of a team's possessions that ends with a player a.) making a shot; b.) missing a shot that isn't rebounded by the offense; or c.) committing a turnover while that player is on the floor.

Arkansas runs very few ball screens compared to South Carolina's other SEC opponents, preferring an offense based around constant moving, cutting, and passing.  They like to spread the floor, and get perimeter defenders leaning and off-balance to set up driving opportunities.  Few players thrive in those conditions better than Young, who torched the Gamecocks for 27 points in a 76-65 win last year.

B.J. Young (photo courtesy:  WholeHogSports.com)

In terms of height, ball-screen usage, and driving habits, Young's game compares favorably to Vanderbilt's Kedren Johnson, whom the Gamecocks - Bruce Ellington in particular -- held scoreless from the field last Saturday.  Young is a more athletic, souped-up version of Johnson.  Can Carolina experience the same success?

And Another Thing.... Don't forget about 6'7," 240-pound junior Marshawn Powell, either.  A true inside-out threat, Powell has career averages of 23.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game against South Carolina.  He missed all of last season with an ACL injury.  Powell ranks second behind Young in scoring (15.4 ppg) and leads the Hogs in rebounds (5.4 rpg).

Kicking Glass:  Rebounding is a port of entry in Frank Martin's system.  Don't contribute on the boards?  Don't expect to last long.  Against Missouri's towering front line, both 5'8" Bruce Ellington and 5'11" Brenton Williams chipped in with career highs in rebounds.

If it feels like we've called out career highs often, you'd be right.  South Carolina's five returning backcourt players have set career highs in rebounds 8 different times this year:

Player                              Previous Career High   New Career High '12-13

Brian Richardson              5 vs. USC-Upstate            8 vs. Elon, 8 vs. Miss. State

Brenton Williams               4 vs. Florida                     5 vs. Missouri

Bruce Ellington                  8 vs. W. Kentucky            9 vs. Missouri

Damien Leonard               4 vs. Tennessee              5 vs. PC, 8 vs. SC St., 9 vs. Auburn

Eric Smith                          3, 10 times                       4 vs. S.C. State

The Redemption of Brenton:  Junior Brenton Williams looked adrift.  Through two SEC games, the Gamecocks' leading scorer had posted a grand total of 2 points.  Turnovers and timidity had limited him to 12 minutes, and reduced the Kissimmee, Fla., native to a shadow of his former self.

But Martin doesn't believe in abandoning a player.  Nobody goes into his doghouse - "I didn't have a dog growing up."  Every game - and more importantly, the practices in between - represents a new chance to earn playing time.

Williams has made the most of his new chance.  Since his slow start, Williams has scored 16 points in the last three games, steadying a backcourt in which Ellington has struggled to find his touch (23% FG in SEC play).

Brenton Williams (right) has scored 16 points in three straight games.

"He's playing aggressive again.  He got un-aggressive all of a sudden," Martin said.  "You can't succeed as a player if you're tentative out there."

Martin also credits a better understanding defensively with sharpening Williams' play on offense.

"The more attention to detail you pay to what we do defensively, the more patience I got with you offensively," he said.

With Arkansas ranking second in the SEC in scoring (79.6 ppg), Williams' scoring may be required Saturday.

Free & Easy:  The frontcourt trio of Lakeem Jackson, R.J. Slawson, and Laimonas Chatkevicius has enjoyed a free-throw shooting renaissance:

Player                                   Started                               Since

Lakeem Jackson                    7-29       (24.1%)                 7-13       (53.8%)

R.J. Slawson                          16-25     (64.0%)                 13-16     (81.3%)

Laimonas Chatkevicius          2-6         (33.3%)                 8-8          (100.0%)

And Finally...  Chatkevicius and freshman Mindaugas Kacinas brought their own cheering sections to Missouri.  Kacinas' host family at his high school, Word of Life Traditional School, made the five-hour trek from Wichita, Kan., to watch him play.  So did neighbors of Chatkevicius' host family - the Klaipeda, Lithuania, native spent two summers playing AAU ball for a team based in Kansas.

Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  See you at Colonial Life Arena.  -AD--

The tweet, sent at 8:32 p.m., immediately sparked Gamecock fans' curiosity:

@GamecockRadio:  Frank Martin told me tonight that he played the offensive line coach in the movie "Any Given Sunday."

That's right.  "Any Given Sunday," the Oliver Stone-directed, Al Pacino-starring, 1999 film-turned-basic-cable staple about the fictitious Miami Sharks.  Before he rose to small-screen stardom as a successful college basketball coach, Frank Martin played an extra in the film when it shot on location in Homestead, Fla.

Not all stories - especially one as far-fetched as this - can be explained in 140 characters.  So here's the backstory from Coach Martin himself:

At the time, Martin was working as a high school coach in his native Miami.  His athletic trainer, who had signed up to play a referee in the movie, approached him in school one day.  The football players in the movie - all of whom were actual ex-football players - were grumbling.  They hated the actors who had been cast as coaches, believing they were inauthentic.

The directors asked Martin's athletic trainer if he knew any real coaches who could fill the roles.

"He said, 'Hey, they want new coaches.  Are you interested?'" Martin said.

It was after basketball season, so Martin figured why not.  He ended up spending eight days on set, playing the Sharks' offensive line coach during the film's game scenes.  (No word on whether this makes Martin part of Al Pacino's coaching tree, too.)  The days lasted from 6:30 in the morning until 8 o'clock at night, and Martin remembers them mostly for standing around between scenes.  He recalls earning somewhere betwen $100 and $200 per day.  He didn't receive a credited role, either, which explains why he doesn't appear on any IMDb.com page. 

Incidentally, the man who choreographed the football scenes in "Any Given Sunday," Mark Ellis, is the brother of Gamecock football radio voice Todd Ellis.  The two re-united at Thursday's edition of "Carolina Calls."

Now for the second-most popular question:  can you see Martin in the film?

Good luck.  The final cut melded him into the background of most shots.  He says his staff has tried to spot him for ages, to no avail.

Although it might require a change to the movie poster.    -Andy Demetra

Catch up on the day's buzz about the Gamecocks! In today's edition: check out this week's home events; welcome new football assistant coach Deke Adams; men's basketball fought hard in a close game against No. 22 Missouri; Swimming & Diving return to CSCAA rankings at No. 23; Baseball 2013 season ticket booklet released; baseball is ranked No. 11 in preseason poll; check out our Facebook fan of the week; and more!

GAMECOCKSONLINE.COM NEWS

Football. Deke Adams Named to Coaching Staff

Men's Basketball. Missouri Outlasts South Carolina 71-65

Baseball. Baseball Weekend Scrimmage Schedule

Baseball. Perfect Game USA Ranks Baseball No. 11 In Preseason Poll

Softball. Previewing the Gamecocks in 2013: Defense

Swimming & Diving. Gamecocks Return To CSCAA Rankings At No. 23

Track & Field. Gamecocks to Host Midweek Meet, Women Break into Top 25

Equestrian. Start Time for Texas A&M Meet on Feb. 23 Changed

General News. Video - Gamecocks Host Boy Scouts Event

GAMECOCKS AROUND THE WEB

Football: Former UNC assistant takes over Gamecocks' defensive line (GreenvilleOnline.com)

Football: Podcast: Deke Adams on 107.5 The Game

Football: 13 for '13: Jadeveon Clowney reinvents Heisman hyperbole (CBSSports.com)

Men's Basketball: Cloninger: Learning how to win (GamecockCentral.com)

COCK-A-DOODLE TWEET

THIS WEEK IN GAMECOCK COUNTRY

Women's Basketball takes on another Top-10 opponent this week as they host No. 5/4 Kentucky Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks are coming off two wins over LSU and Florida last week and SEC Freshman of the Week honors for Tiffany Mitchell. Swimming & Diving hosts the final home meet of the season taking on three programs from the Carolinas this weekend. Senior members of the team will be honored before Friday's start to the meet. Men's Basketball will return home Saturday after facing #22 Missouri on the road Tuesday night. The game vs. Arkansas at 1:30 will also feature our annual Spurs and Saddles equestrian event in front of Colonial Life Arena before the game and our Active Gamecocks program participants.  Students, be sure to get your CarolinaCard scanned at all home events to earn Student Rewards Points! Not signed up for the program? Get more info and sign up here.


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Track & Field Indoor Open Meet - 4 PM - Indoor Field House
-    Students, be sure to get your CarolinaCard scanned to earn Student Rewards Points!


Thursday, January 24 ,2013

#18/14 Women's Basketball vs. #5/4 Kentucky - 7 PM -- Buy tickets online, including the Family 4-Pack!
*Carolina is 16-3 overall and 4-2 in the SEC after wins last week over LSU and Florida.
-    Double Student Rewards Points - get your CarolinaCard scanned at the student entrance
-    The Gamecock Softball team will be recognized at halftime while joining Cocky in his favorite dance at center court!
-    Watch the latest Gamecock Spotlight on senior guard Sancheon White:




Friday, January  25, 2013

Swimming & Diving vs. College of Charleston/Queens/Wingate - 4 PM
-    Senior Day festivities about 30 minutes prior to the start of the meet
-    Team posters
-    Free admission, meets are in the Carolina Natatorium at Blatt P.E. Center

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Swimming & Diving vs. College of Charleston/Queens/Wingate - 10 AM
-    Team posters
-    Free admission, meets are in the Carolina Natatorium at Blatt P.E. Center


Men's Basketball vs. Arkansas - 1:30 PM - Buy tickets online!

-    Spurs and Saddles - annual Equestrian event beginning out in front of Colonial Life Arena at approximately 12:00 PM.  Children can get their pictures taken with some of our horses, meet the 2012-13 Equestrian team, and get autographs before heading in to basketball! (Photo at left from one of our past Spurs and Saddles events!)

-    Active Gamecocks Day -

-One of the designated games for which participants in our Active Gamecocks program may use their free tickets! Active Gamecocks is a statewide initiative to fight childhood obesity.  Children in Kindergarten to 5th grade participate in the program by logging their physical activity for two weeks with a goal of 30 minutes per day with the ability to earn free athletic event tickets. Over 4,200 participants from 64 schools participated in this segment of the Active Gamecocks program!

Friday vs. #23 Texas - 5:00 PM
Saturday vs. #9 Kentucky or #52 Michigan State - 1:00 or 5:00 PM

Saturday vs. #52 Missouri - 1:30 PM
Sunday vs. #64 Brown or #16 Michigan - Time TBA

When the Gamecock basketball team boarded its charter flight in Columbia, S.C., Monday, it was 64 degrees.

When they landed in Columbia, Mo., it was 18 degrees.  And dropping.

Some cold snaps, they can't avoid.  Others, they hope to shed.  After suffering through their poorest shooting game in 15 years Saturday, the Gamecocks look for kinder rims and better results when they visit Mizzou Arena to face the #22 Missouri Tigers (13-4, 2-2 SEC).

Talented but enigmatic, Missouri has battled inconsistency all season, especially on the offensive end.  After an 83-52 blowout loss to Florida Saturday, head coach Frank Haith questioned his team's ability to handle adversity.  To add to the fog, best all-around big man Laurence Bowers (team-high 16.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg) will miss a fourth straight game with a sprained MCL.  Senior guard Keion Bell (8.9 ppg) may also not play because of a sprained ankle, and fellow guard Earnest Ross (9.6 ppg) could miss action with a back injury.

Cold, indeed.

The Gamecocks hope it becomes ideal conditions for a road win.  Pre-tip reads before the first-ever showdown between the Gamecocks and Tigers (7:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

What's New Is Old Again:  While at Kansas State, Frank Martin and his staff coached five times at "The Zou," racking up a record of 1-4.  That may not sound like much, but consider:  Missouri has gone 87-4 on its home floor since the '08-09 season.  Last year, Martin's team dealt Missouri two of its four regular-season losses.  Associate head coach Brad Underwood was recruited by Missouri before opting to play at K-State.    

Glass Warfare:  South Carolina's most consistent strength has been its offensive rebounding.  Entering Saturday's game with Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks ranked 2nd in the nation in Offensive Rebounding % (OReb%), grabbing a board on 44.1% of their misses.

That number nosedived against Vandy.  Unable to seal their defenders inside or win long caroms, the Gamecocks only grabbed 26% of their misses in a 58-51 loss.  For the first time all season, an opponent had a higher OReb% than South Carolina.

A more imposing task awaits them in Columbia.  Helped by an Effective Height that ranks 8th in the nation (compared to the Gamecocks' 291st), the Tigers rank 11th nationally in OReb%. 

Offensive Rebounding % - NCAA Rank            Effective Height - NCAA Rank

3.            South Carolina    (42.6%)                       8.     Missouri   

11.          Missouri               (40.1%)                      291.  South Carolina

With injuries robbing them of size - forward Tony Criswell has also been playing with a broken finger - the Tigers have fallen to 13th in the SEC in OReb% in conference games-only (26.5%).  Look for 6'9," 255-pound UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi (team-leading 8.2 rpg) to play an increased role Tuesday.  Haith warned that South Carolina "is going to test your manhood."  Can the Gamecocks test the Tigers' intensity on the glass early?

Speaking of Rebounds...  Senior Lakeem Jackson pulled down a team-high 10 boards against Vanderbilt.  It marked the first time that Jackson had consecutive games with double-digit rebounds.

The Art of Su-"Press"-ion:  Missouri's Phil "Flip" Pressey may not be the best point guard in college basketball, but he certainly makes a case as its most electrifying.  The SEC's Preseason Player of the Year, Pressey runs the Missouri offense with ball-on-a-string aplomb, ranking 8th nationally with 7.2 assists per game.  He's especially deadly on screen-and-rolls, slicing to the basket or making sleight-of-hand passes with deadly timing.  Earlier this year, Pressey tied an SEC record with 19 assists in an overtime loss to UCLA.

Yet in two games against Missouri last year, Martin's Kansas State teams throttled Pressey, holding him to 3-of-17 field goal shooting with 10 assists and 10 turnovers.  K-State handled Missouri, an eventual NCAA Tournament 2-seed, in both games.

Phil Pressey vs. Kansas State Last Year

Game #1 (W 75-59):        0-6 FG,    0-2 3pt.,  3-4 FT,  3 pts.,  3A,  4 TO

Game #2 (W 78-68):        3-11 FG,  2-6 3pt.,  0-0 FT,  8 pts.,  7A,  6 TO

Why did Pressey struggle against Martin's defense?  The tape reveals this:

·         They forced Pressey out high.  Kansas State's defenders crowded him on the dribble - "crawling up in him," in coaching parlance.  Pressey had to continually break five-second counts, expending precious energy while dribbling farther away from the rim.

·         They jammed screeners.  Pressey accepts the majority of his screens in the middle of the floor, above the top of the key.  By jamming the screener, K-State prevented Pressey's screen-and-roll mate from running toward the rim.  Meanwhile, Pressey's defender would jump underneath the pick, re-establish contact, and continue extending his pressure. 

·         They denied wing passes.  Missouri is stocked with shooters, waiting to take advantage of drive-and-kicks from Pressey.  Kansas State's wing defenders never let them drift too far from sight.  Without those passes available, Pressey often had to create one-on-one, where he occasionally gets reckless.

Can the Gamecocks duplicate that Tuesday?  Unlike Kansas State, Carolina doesn't have a true "goaltender" center, waiting to deter drives to the basket.  Also, Missouri's wings are much taller this year - even with pressure, they could raise up and rain down three's.  Watch for Oregon transfer Jabari Brown, who leads the Tigers in scoring in SEC play (16.5 ppg) while shooting 45% from three-point range.  Other than Brown, Missouri has struggled to find a reliable scoring option from outside. 

Bruce Ellington will need his matchless athleticism against Pressey, and not get clipped on screens.  A player like Brian Richardson, whom Martin calls his "most understanding perimeter defensive player," could also factor on the wings.   We'll see if the same principles apply, even if the personnel has changed.

Finish Him:  Vanderbilt's long guards repeatedly clogged driving lanes and denied clean looks at the basket.  Missouri has a similar silhouette - besides Pressey, the Tigers can send out 6'5" Earnest Ross, 6'5" Jabari Brown, and even 6'7" Negus Webster-Chan to recreate "Hands Across America" around the arc. 

Brenton Williams has gone 16-of-18 from the FT line over the last 2 games, mainly from driving to the basket.

That shouldn't scare off the Gamecocks, though - the Tigers are also the second-most foul-prone team in the SEC, averaging 15.1 fouls per game.  If Carolina attacks the rim with conviction, or gets inside the paint before Missouri sets its defense, they could get rewarded.  Brenton Williams has been excellent lately, attempting 18 free throws in the last two games off runs to the rim.  

And Finally...  In what may be a college basketball first, Tuesday's game features a pair of sons of former pro handball players.  The fathers of Missouri forward Stefan Jankovic and South Carolina forward Mindaugas Kacinas played the sport professionally in Europe.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  See you in the other Columbia.  -AD--

The moment couldn't have been lost on the Gamecocks.  Down two points with two minutes to play against LSU, the players huddled around head coach Frank Martin during a timeout.

Carolina's first two SEC games had ended in taut, last-second losses.  Another down-to-the-wire finish was at hand.  But if the Gamecocks expected a sermon about redemption or seizing the moment, they received a different message from their head coach.

"Rarely do I ever look back into negative experiences," Martin recalled of the huddle.  "That moment, all I spoke about was what a great opportunity to step up and get a stop right now.  Let's get a stop right now.  We don't need six stops; we need one." 

The Gamecocks got that stop.  And many more.

Thanks to a ferocious final stretch of defense, South Carolina finally got the ending it wanted.  The Gamecocks left Baton Rouge with an 82-73 overtime victory, giving them a chance to even their conference record against Vanderbilt (6-9, 0-3 SEC) Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.

Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks and Commodores tip in Columbia (1:30 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Trivia Question:  Which SEC team returned the lowest percentage of its points from last year? 

Bet you thought Kentucky, with its raft of players declaring for the NBA Draft.  Try again.

That distinction belongs to Vanderbilt, which lost its top six scorers from last year's SEC Tournament championship team.  Two-time SEC scoring champion John Jenkins, athletic wing Jeffery Taylor, and block-of-granite center Festus Ezeli were all among the first 31 players taken in the NBA Draft.  When preseason camp convened, the Commodores had lost 88% of their scoring from last year.  Their returning roster only had three starts combined.

This picture says it all about Vanderbilt's struggle to score under 14th-year head coach Kevin Stallings.  (Courtesy:  AP)

Predictably, Vanderbilt has struggled to score.  The Commodores rank last in the SEC in:

·         Points per game (59.1 ppg)

·         Field goal percentage (40.5%)

·         Free-throw percentage (56.8%, 2nd-worst in the nation)

Those numbers have put the Commodores on pace for their lowest-scoring season since 1949.  The 'Dores have scored 33 points in a game - twice. 

Yet Vanderbilt has also shown flashes of danger.  The Commodores took Kentucky to the wire at Memorial Gymnasium, and fell to Ole Miss after the Rebels needed a 35-footer at the buzzer to force overtime.

Their offense may be erratic, but the Commodores have stayed competitive thanks to an active, hustling, helping defense.  Vanderbilt's defensive efficiency ranks 84th in the nation, compared to an offensive efficiency ranking of 251st.  Of Carolina's opponents to date, only Clemson and Mississippi State -- both losses -- have better defensive efficiency rankings than the Commodores.

Permission To Launch:  Vanderbilt is the SEC's biggest purveyor of "5-out motion," spacing all five players around the perimeter and running an infinite number of slips, counters, and cuts off their basic set.  That often results in a bulk supply of three-pointers:  the Commodores rank 6th in the nation, getting 39.3% of their offense from three-pointers. 

"They play old-fashioned basketball -- which is the one I like watching, by the way," Martin said on "Carolina Calls."  "They pass, they cut, they share the ball.  It's not a guy dribbling all the time."

Leading scorer Kedren Johnson (left) is constantly in "attack mode," according to Martin.

Martin says his team's ability to defend ball screens will be key to stopping Vanderbilt's long-range barrage.

"I watched that Ole Miss game film.  Ole Miss was late on their ball screen coverage.    That ball got in the paint.  They started getting sucked in.  Next pass made.  Three, three, three," Martin said. 

The Gamecocks need to call out their ball screen defenses early, and prevent Vandy's dribblers from putting them on their heels with attacks to the paint.  Failure to do so could lead to over-helping and late close-outs on three-point shooters.  Sophomore Kedren Johnson (team-high 15.9 ppg) is Vandy's best finisher off the dribble, and guards Kyle Fuller and Dai-John Parker can also shed defenders around screens.  Freshmen Kevin Bright (48.8% 3pt.) and Sheldon Jeter (41.7% 3pt.) lurk on back cuts and three-pointers. 

A team that struggles to score doesn't need any easy baskets.  The Gamecocks don't need to help with any communication-born breakdowns.

Three's Away:  Vanderbilt has made a three-pointer in every game since the advent of the three-point line in 1986, a span of 847 games.  The Gamecocks have held two opponents this year, S.C. State and Mississippi State, without a three-point bucket.  Carolina and Memphis are the only schools nationally with a pair of three-point shutouts over Division I opponents. 

0 Three-Point Field Goals Allowed - NCAA Leaders

1.            South Carolina                   (S.C. State, Mississippi State)

    Memphis                             (UAB, Oral Roberts)

In Praise of Jackson:  With his team leading by 2, LSU head coach Johnny Jones called timeout, hoping to draw a play that would give his team a two-possession lead.  While he slashed away on a whiteboard, the Gamecocks were ready with a curveball.  When they re-took the floor, Carolina switched to a 3-2 zone, with 6'5" Lakeem Jackson joining the top line at small forward.

Despite limited reps at his position, Lakeem Jackson's job in Carolina's 3-2 zone helped swing the game against LSU.

The gambit paid off.  Jackson's length bothered LSU point guard Anthony Hickey, and the Tigers' offense sputtered with him.  Over the last seven minutes, Carolina held LSU to 2-of-12 field goal shooting.  They also outrebounded the Tigers 8-1.

LSU Offense vs. 3-2 Zone - Final 7:00

FG:                                         2-12

3pt.                                         0-6

Running a set                         0-10

Turnovers                               1

Rebound Margin                     -7

"I have not given Lakeem as many repetitions as he needs to be comfortable in that spot. Yet he acted like a senior, went out there, and took care of business," Martin said.

Given Vanderbilt's penchant for three-pointers, could we see more of the 3-2 Saturday? 

Notable Quotable:  "I had somebody ask me the other day ask me how I was sleeping and I told them I was sleeping like a baby.  I was waking up every two hours and crying."

-Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings during the pre-season, on concerns over his team's youth, to Nashville City Paper

And Finally:  The Gamecocks spied a visitor during their closed practice at Pete Maravich Assembly Center Tuesday night.  A stray cat was seen roaming around the concourse (and no, it wasn't Mike the Tiger).

Our pre-game coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you at Colonial Life Arena.  -AD--

January 17, 2013

LSU sophomore Johnny O'Bryant III was a McDonald's All-American, rated the #4 high school center in the class of 2011. 

South Carolina freshman Michael Carrera went unrated by Rivals.com's recruiting service, and only garnered a 3-star ranking from Scout.com. 

Yet down the stretch in Baton Rouge, the freshman from Anzoategui, Venezuela, outworked and outfoxed his more decorated counterpart.  Carrera poured in 12 points and 7 rebounds - all while battling four fouls - over the final 5:00 of regulation and overtime, paving the way for an 82-73 Gamecocks victory. 

"Michael played like a kid who didn't want to lose tonight," head coach Frank Martin said in our post-game interview.

Carrera's fearless, unflinching play at LSU inspired me to look up his "crunch time" statistics this year.  I'll define "crunch time" as the final five minutes of regulation and overtime, with South Carolina leading or trailing by five points or less. 

By that definition, Carolina has played six "crunch time" games this year (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Missouri State, Manhattan, Mississippi State, Auburn, and LSU).  In those games, Carrera has played 30:49 of a possible 45:00 of crunch time. 

His numbers? 

-Andy Demetra

Catch up on the day's buzz about the Gamecocks! In today's edition: check out this week's home events; fan info for women's basketball game at Carolina Coliseum Thursday; men's basketball travels to LSU; softball begins pre-season practice; track & field's Breanna Radford earns AgSouth honor; one month until baseball opening day; check out our Facebook fan of the week; and more!

GAMECOCKSONLINE.COM NEWS

Women's Basketball. Fan Info for Thursday's Game at Carolina Coliseum

Men's Basketball. Men's Hoops Travels To LSU On Wednesday

Men's Basketball. Video - Tuesday's Basketball Press Conferences

Men's Basketball. Gamecock Spotlight: Lamont Evans

Equestrian. Hunt Seat Rider Sydney Smith Begins Carolina Career

Equestrian. Video - Coach Major Previews First Week of Spring Practice

Softball. Gamecocks Start Practice in Beautiful January Weather

Track & Field. Breanna Radford Named AgSouth Athlete of the Week

Football. Three Football Scholarship Players Begin Carolina Careers

Gamecock Club. My Carolina & Gamecock Club To Host Baseball/Softball Preview Party

GAMECOCKS AROUND THE WEB

Men's Basketball. Gamecocks Look To Improve Late-Game Execution (ABC Columbia)

COCK-A-DOODLE TWEET

Gamecocks fans couldn't be more excited for baseball season to begin. As of yesterday, we're exactly one month from opening day! Go Gamecocks!

1 month until the first pitch of the college baseball season! Can't wait to watch the #gamecocks again!

-- Rob McGlamery (@RobMcGlamery) January 16, 2013

When the Gamecocks last saw new LSU coach Johnny Jones, they were eating a team meal at a New Orleans steakhouse before last year's SEC Tournament.  Jones' previous team, the North Texas Mean Green, was on the surrounding flat-screens, battling for the Sun Belt Tournament championship.

Filets and dinner rolls captured most of the Gamecocks' attention, the game conceding to the camaraderie of a team dinner.  But the team Carolina watched that night will closely resemble the team they'll face Wednesday, when South Carolina visits Jones' LSU Tigers (9-4, 0-2 SEC).  Like his teams at North Texas, Jones brought an uptempo, freewheeling style to Baton Rouge that frustrates and exhausts in equal parts. 

Before taking over at his alma mater, LSU, Johnny Jones spent 12 seasons as head coach of the University of North Texas. 

Frustrated was not part of Frank Martin's attitude when discussing South Carolina's close losses to begin SEC play.

"I only care about LSU.  Everything else is irrelevant," he said at his Tuesday press conference. 

Resolve unbowed, the Gamecocks head to Baton Rouge Wednesday, looking to deliver the same result to Jones that they saw on TV that March night:  a loss.

Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks head to Death Valley's next-door neighbor, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Stealing The Show:  Bruce Ellington had one offensive rebound against Auburn.  

Make no mistake, though:  Ellington rebounded.

After a nightmarish, 9-turnover night against Mississippi State, the Gamecock point guard committed only two in 36 minutes against Auburn, while adding 5 assists and a team-high 18 points.

His turnaround comes at an opportune time.  LSU ranks 6th in the nation in Steal Percentage, getting a strip on an astounding 14.3% of possessions. 

(Next-highest SEC team in that category?  Mississippi State, which harassed the Gamecocks into 24 turnovers in a loss last week.) 

"If you take a lazy dribble or make a lazy pass, they make it into a comedy show," Frank Martin said Tuesday. 

LSU boasts one of the fastest, most larcenous backcourts in the country in sophomore Anthony Hickey (2nd in the nation with 3.5 steals/game) and senior Charles Carmouche (2.5/game. 4th SEC).  The Tigers don't rack up steals by trapping or full-court pressing.  They prefer their mayhem to come from gambling, pestering, and jumping into passing lanes.  Think of it like a blitzing secondary in football.  Often, those steals have snowballed into big runs - the Tigers have 12 runs of 10-0 or more this year.

The Gamecocks' turnover troubles are well-chronicled.  So is the Tigers' ability to force them.  What will Carolina need to do to avoid LSU's larceny?   Make sharp cuts off the ball, "meet the pass," and avoid the soft skip pass (Hickey is particularly adept at snatching cross-court passes).

Fast Times at the PMAC:  LSU's steal-hungry defense - and guard-driven offense -- creates speed.  Lots of it.  The Tigers' 72.9 possessions per game rank 22nd in the nation, a significant jump from the Trent Johnson years. 

To further quicken the tempo, LSU shoots three-pointers fearlessly, averaging 22 attempts per game.  Hickey (11.3 points/game) works in and out of ball screens well, while backcourt mate Andre Stringer has "team bus range" - his range begins approximately when he steps off the bus.  Meanwhile, forward Shavon Coleman (team-leading 13.4 points/game, 8.4 rebounds/game) uses isolations at the elbows and circle to penetrate and create.

So will LSU's blinding speed give the Gamecocks motion sickness?  Not necessarily.  Carolina has played four teams that rank in the Top 100 nationally in tempo.  They've beaten all four, averaging 85 points per game. 

Fastest Tempo Teams vs. South Carolina - 2012-13

NCAA Rank            Team                                 Result

20.                          LSU                                   1/16

50.                          Jacksonville                       W, 91-74

52.                          Morgan State                    W, 87-71

58.                          Rider                                 W, 88-76

76.                          Appalachian State            W, 74-69

.Toweling Off:  Michael Carrera's hustle doesn't end on the referee's whistle.  For the past two games, Carrera has grabbed a towel during a dead ball, bent down on both knees, and mopped up the puddles of sweat he had left behind.

Carrera's custodial detail drew a standing ovation in Columbia, and bemused applause from the fans in Starkville.  Still, they have ball boys for that.  I asked Carrera why he did his own mop work. 

"[It's] just a humble thing.  I've always done it," he replied.

(Side note:  I asked Casey Manning when he would mop up my sweat at courtside.   His reply:  "When you break one."  Fair point.)

As seen vs. Auburn, Michael Carrera (left) gives new meaning to the phrase "dirty work."

Foul Magnet:  After a quiet night against Mississippi State, Carrera brought his familiar, wrecking-ball energy to the floor against Auburn.  The freshman from Anzoategui, Venezuela, finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and a career-high 5 assists, showing no fear against Auburn's taller, senior-laden front line.  He also showed another side of his game:  an irritating knack for drawing fouls.  Though he hasn't played enough minutes to qualify, Carrera's average of 6.9 Fouls Drawn per 40 Minutes would rank 2nd nationally among all freshmen.

No Deep Catches:  In addition to a fleet of quick guards, LSU has an imposing pair of forwards on the low block.  6'9," 257-pound power forward Johnny O'Bryant has a man-among-boy's blend of strength and athleticism.  A high ankle sprain has limited O'Bryant, but the densely-muscled sophomore can face the basket or "bang and hang" with his back to the rim.    

Martin said his forwards allowed Auburn's 6'10" center Rob Chubb to catch too close to the rim, resulting in easy hook shots or free-throw trips.  They also failed to front the post, a fatal flaw for an undersized front line.  Can they avoid the same pitfall against O'Bryant and 7'3" center Andrew Del Piero?

Stat of the Auburn Game, Pt. 1:  The Gamecocks and Tigers were separated by three points or less for 35:43 of a possible 40:00.  That's nearly 36 minutes played a narrow, throat-closing one possession apart.

Stat of the Auburn Game, Pt. 2:  Offensive rebounds for Damien Leonard in 33 minutes vs. Auburn:  6. 

Offensive rebounds for Leonard in 346 minutes of SEC play last year:  5.

And Finally...  The Gamecocks will notice something they didn't see on their last trip to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center:  a 900-pound, life-size bronze statue of LSU legend Shaquille O'Neal.  The "Big Aristotle" statue -- complete with shattered backboard -- welcomes fans outside the PMAC.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  See you on the Bayou.  -AD--

Garnet Army game - free Garnet Army t-shirts for students while supplies last



Pre-Game Student Tailgate - 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM, Tent set up outside the student entrance to Colonial Life Arena
- Pre-game student tailgate sponsored by the Substance Abuse Prevention & Education Office at USC. 
- Doc's Barbeque and Coca-Cola will provide free food and beverages at the event! 
- Prize drawings throughout the event, including six grand prize winners who will receive 2 tickets in a suite for the Feb. 2nd game vs. Georgia.

$1 Popcorn - Celebrate National Popcorn Day with one of our favorite snacks for just $1.00

Annual Football Recognition - At halftime, we'll celebrate the success of the 2012 football season with Coach Spurrier and select student-athletes addressing the crowd. Commemorative posters will be distributed at the gates courtesy of University Trademark & Licensing
-Check out video from last year's celebration.

Check out this week's Facebook Fan of the Week winner!  Sunshine Godfrey of Duncan, SC, submitted this photo with the following description: 

Some made them wince.  Some made them grit their teeth.  Others made them shake their heads. 

No matter the emotion they evinced, they all felt the same.  South Carolina's chance at an SEC-opening win collapsed Wednesday under the weight of 24 turnovers in a 56-54 loss to Mississippi State.  After back-to-back games with a turnover count in the single digits, the Gamecocks relapsed at an inopportune time.

When he recapped the game with his team Thursday, Frank Martin wanted his players to have a takeaway beyond - well, the takeaways.

"Rather than make plays to win the game, we played tentatively and unaggressively, and actually made plays to help them win the game," Martin told his players.  "It's a process.  You have to learn.  You have to believe.  And you have to go out there and do it."

The Gamecocks will look to put an SEC win in their grasp - figuratively and literally- when they welcome Auburn to Colonial Life Arena Saturday (1:30 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network).  After a tepid start, the Tigers (7-7, 1-0 SEC) have played some of their best basketball lately, losing by two points to #12 Illinois before defeating ACC champion Florida State and 9-2 LSU. 

Pre-tip reads before the Tigers roll into Columbia:

"Don't Fight Pressure":  Martin said in his post-game radio interview that Mississippi State's 1-3-1 zone "bothered us all night."  The Bulldogs extended the perimeter, pressured Carolina's guards, and lifted their wing defenders to prevent easy catches.  Ballhandlers got sped up.  Teammates off the ball weren't spaced properly.  The Gamecocks found themselves marooned, with a giveaway often the end result. 

The Gamecocks may get a do-over against Auburn, which runs plenty of 2-3 zone under third-year head coach Tony Barbee. 

Martin explained his philosophy on handling zone pressure on "Carolina Calls."

"I use a phrase.  It's called 'Don't fight pressure.'  That means if you don't have the ball, and they're pressuring you, the last thing you do is run closer to the halfcourt line or run to the ball. 

"Always try to cut the zone.  Run to the rim and move out, rather than fight the pressure by running away from it.  We did that [Wednesday] night.  It's unfortunate, because if you don't attack pressure, then that pressure eventually overcomes you," he said.

The Gamecocks will need to be strong with the ball, and rotate quickly from side-to-side to escape Auburn's pressure.  The Tigers have long, athletic guards at the top of their zone, and guard Josh Wallace (1.8 steals/game) is one of the better pickpockets in the SEC.  Auburn forced 23 turnovers in their meeting last year, a conference high for Carolina.

Driven For More:  Unable to find consistent creases in MSU's 1-3-1, the Gamecocks scored their lowest percentage of points from the paint and free-throw line this season.

% of Points from Paint/FT Line

                                        Points in paint   FTM       Total Points         %

Mississippi State               20                     6            54                       48.1  (Season low)

Rider                                 34                    11           88                       51.1

Missouri State                   20                     22          74                       56.7       

Carolina's two best penetrators, Bruce Ellington and Brenton Williams, didn't score a single basket in the paint against MSU.  Barbee has lamented his team's ability to defend the dribble.  Can the Gamecocks return to their fearless, slashing ways, and get the high-percentage looks they need? 

Man To Stop:  Auburn guard Frankie Sullivan.  Not to be confused with the Frankie Sullivan who co-founded the band Survivor (which, incidentally, wrote the song "Eye of the Tiger"), Auburn's senior guard has nonetheless played a frontman role.  The 6'1," 206-pound Sullivan leads AU with 12.6 points per game, and poured in a season-high 22 against Carolina last year.  

Sullivan isn't overly athletic, but makes up for it with craftiness, an accurate shot, and a high basketball IQ.  He also has a knack for drawing fouls, where he's ripped off streaks of 27 and 21 straight made free throws in his career. 

Martin got an advance screening of Sullivan when Kansas State and Auburn played in the same tournament in Hawaii last year.

"The second you take a play off or catch your breath, he finds a crack and he attacks it.  Last year he was pretty much a perimeter shooter," Martin said. 

"He kind of didn't do anything off the dribble.  This year, he's in attack mode.  He's doing things off the dribble.  He's getting in the paint.  He's getting to the foul line.  He's a good player."

Equally important for Carolina:  not let a secondary scorer emerge.  Pay attention to 6'6" forward Allen Payne - he's scored in double figures in his last three games.

Defend The Three:  Dating back to the Presbyterian game, Carolina's opponents have missed their last 20 three-point attempts. 

Three-Point Defense  (Last 3 games)

Team                                  3pt. FG

Presbyterian                       4-13       (Missed last 3 to end game)

South Carolina State          0-7

Mississippi State                 0-10

Most likely to end that drought?  Guard Noel Johnson, a Clemson refugee who has rediscovered his shooting stroke in his senior season (43.4% 3pt.).

Physical Exam:  When asked to name a defining characteristic of Auburn, Martin sighed.

"We better rebound the basketball," he replied.  "Auburn's going to be, I think from what I've seen, the most physical team that we've played against all year.  They get on that glass, and they're really physical.  It's going to be a big, big part on who finds success - who handles that part of the game."

R.J. Slawson and the Gamecocks will face a physical Auburn front line.

Perhaps that sigh stemmed from what unfolded against Mississippi State.  The Gamecocks' perimeter players grabbed almost as many rebounds (18) as their post players (20). 

Rebounds vs. MSU

Frontcourt  (Jackson, Kacinas, Chatkevicius, Carrera, Slawson):  20

Backcourt (Ellington, Richardson, Leonard, Williams, Smith):        18

That won't cut it against Auburn, who have several brawny big men led by 6'10," 250-pound center Rob Chubb (9.3 ppg, team-best 7.4 rebounds/game).  Payne (5.1 rpg) can also throw his weight around, and the Tigers deploy 7-footer Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (4.7 rpg) off the bench.  Can the Gamecock frontcourt "muscle up," and play with the same intensity and abandon that wore down several opponents this season?  More importantly, can they do it without running into foul trouble?

And Finally.... Auburn freshman Shaquille Johnson has a high school dunk mixtape that's been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube.

The Gamecocks hope for less friendly skies Saturday.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  See you there.  -AD--

The Daily Round-Up returns with the new year! Catch up on the day's buzz about the Gamecocks! In today's edition: Football seniors prep for postseason all-star games; Men's Basketball opens SEC play on the road tonight; Gamecock Spotlight on freshman standout Tiffany Mitchell; PGA golfer Dustin Johnson says NO to Clemson orange; and more!

Tickets are available for this Saturday's SEC home opener for Men's Basketball vs. Auburn! Click here to purchase online!

GAMECOCKSONLINE.COM NEWS

GAMECOCK GEAR

New football items including a Clemson game-used football, rally towels, and an Outback Bowl package available now on our online auctions.

GAMECOCKS AROUND THE WEB

"Clowney probably had the body and the skill to go straight to the league after his high school graduation, but this isn't baseball. And in fairness to the NFL, 99.9999 percent of high school players aren't ready for the NFL. But Clowney was the exception then and he's the exception now."

Some see "down year."  The Gamecocks see "opportunity." 

Yes, the SEC has taken its share of lumps following a number of early-season faceplants.  That matters little to South Carolina, which looks to rebound from a disappointing 2012 by mixing it up in a wide-open league in 2013.  The journey begins Wednesday at Humphrey Coliseum, where they'll look to snap a six-game losing streak to Mississippi State (5-7, 0-0 SEC).

Pre-tip reads as the Gamecocks descend into the Golden Triangle (8:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Scouting The Bulldogs:  Few teams endured a more tumultuous offseason than Mississippi State.  After backsliding into the NIT, head coach Rick Stansbury retired after 14 seasons.  Guards Brian Bryant and Dee Bost (a noted Gamecock killer) graduated.  Post players Arnett Moultrie and Renardo Sidney declared for the NBA Draft.  6'8" guard Rodney Hood, arguably the team's most talented returning player, transferred, as did reserve guard Deville Smith.  New coach Rick Ray, a former Clemson assistant, dismissed two more players in September for a violation of team rules.  Add in three season-ending knee injuries, and Mississippi State is down to an astonishing seven scholarship players.

Brenton Williams and the Gamecocks (70.1% FT, 4th SEC)  will try to get to the free-throw line against an MSU team that doesn't permit many attempts.

With so few bodies, the Bulldogs can ill afford to run into foul trouble, and send opponents on jaunt after jaunt to the foul line.  To their credit, they've dodged that problem:  MSU leads the SEC, and ranks 7th nationally, in free-throw rate  (22.9%).  In fact, they're the only team in the Top 10 of that category with a losing record.  For all their depth and scoring issues, the Bulldogs don't let opponents get to the foul line often. 

When South Carolina has excelled this year, the Gamecocks have harvested free throws, getting to the line on dribble-drives or off offensive rebounds.  Can they do the same against a team that doesn't run into "foul ground" often?

Oddly Enough:  Despite scrambling to fill an eight-man rotation, Mississippi State doesn't have a single player who ranks in the Top 10 in the SEC in minutes played.  The Bulldogs and Gamecocks play at an almost identical tempo.

Man To Stop:  It only takes one player to tap a team's confidence.  For that reason, junior guard Jalen Steele earns "Man To Stop" status against the Bulldogs.  A former Mr. Basketball from Knoxville, Tenn., the 6'3" Steele missed the first month of the season with a fractured shooting wrist.  In four games since, he's averaged 11.0 points per game while shooting 46% (8-17) from three-point range.  He's also made his last 27 free throws dating back to last year. 

Even with a lethal screen-and-roll player like Dee Bost last year, Steele often drew the "shooter" label on an opponents' scouting report.   If Steele knocks down a few jumpers early, it could stretch the floor for MSU's long, athletic slashers like freshman Fred Thomas (10.3 ppg, 2^nd team) and swingman Roquez Johnson (team-high 12.4 ppg).  A few three-pointers by Steele could also kickstart the Bulldogs' shaky shooting confidence.  MSU ranks 328th in the nation in three-point percentage (27.5%), last among major-conference schools.

Mississippi State junior Jalen Steele (right) is MSU's best outside shooting threat. 

Senior Leadership:  Lakeem Jackson is South Carolina's Swiss Army knife, a broad-shouldered senior who has played everywhere from point guard to center during his career.  Jackson's consistency has drawn consistent praise from Frank Martin during the Gamecocks' 10-3 start.

How vital has Jackson's steady play been?  In their three losses, Jackson averages a plus-minus of -18.0, worst on the Gamecocks' roster.  In Carolina's 10 wins, his plus-minus jumps to +10.8.

Lakeem Jackson Plus-Minus

Wins:                     +10.8

Losses:                  -18.0                          (vs. Clemson: -14               Worst on team)

                                                                 (vs. St. John's:  -26            2^nd Worst of team)

                                                                 (vs. Elon: -16                      2^nd Worst of team)

("Plus-minus" is a count of how many points a team outscores an opponent -- or gets outscored -- while that player is on the floor).

No player has a greater +/- discrepancy between wins and losses than Jackson.  With Michael Carrera uncertain because of a sore hip, Jackson will need to bring his steady, scrap-iron play to the Humphrey Coliseum paint.  The Bulldogs offensive-rebound well, and will look to scavenge for high-percentage baskets around the rim.

Lakeem Jackson has been a barometer of South Carolina's wins and losses.

Power Play:  What South Carolina lacks in height at the power forward position, they gain in quickness.  Between Carrera, Mindaugas Kacinas, and even Jackson, the Gamecocks have three players capable of drawing out taller forwards, and taking advantage of their speed off screens.  Mississippi State's deepest position may be at the "4," where junior Colin Borchert and sophomore Roquez Johnson each like to stretch the floor, slash, and shoot from outside.  Do the Gamecocks have the type of power forward to neutralize them? 

Swordfight, Part I:  Freshman guard Craig Sword has a nickname more suited to playing for the Gamecocks, not against them:  "Chicken." 

While "Chicken" (8.4 ppg) isn't a prolific three-point shooter, the Gamecocks need to keep him in front of them.  Head coach Rick Ray said of Sword:  "He just has so many more fast-twitch fibers than everyone else." 

Perhaps that explains the nickname.

Swordfight, Part II:  They may not have the most experienced backcourt in the country, but Mississippi State certainly has the best-sounding one:  Craig Sword and sophomore Trivante Bloodman.  Can Bruce Ellington and Eric Smith vanquish a Sword/Bloodman backcourt?

And Finally...  Senior guard Shane Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had a connection to South Carolina long before he set foot on campus.  Phillips' Dad, Oliver, coached linebackers at Duke from 1980-1982 alongside an up-and-coming offensive coordinator named Steve Spurrier.  He also had coaching stints at Brown, VMI, and Carnegie-Mellon and VMI.

Two factors steered Phillips to basketball.  For starters, he didn't have ideal size for a football player.  Secondly - and more poignantly - Phillips said basketball was one of the few sports he could practice on his own while his Dad was encumbered with the long hours of coaching football.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you in Starkville.  -AD--

Check out this week's Facebook Fan of the Week winner!  Bill Cook of Arlington, VA, submitted this photo of his son, Ethan, with the following description: 

"My son Ethan, born on December 4, 2012, is ready to cheer on the Gamecocks in the Outback Bowl against Michigan! Well, at least until nap time!"

The practice floor had emptied out, another two-a-day in the books for the Gamecocks.

Yet there was Brian Richardson, alone with manager Bubba Wright, bounding around the halfcourt.  All the shooting drills he and his teammates had done over the last hour still hadn't satisfied the junior guard.  Richardson wasn't leaving until he made 10 baskets from six different spots around the three-point arc.

At this point, why would he want to stop? 

Midway through the season, the 6'4" guard from Wilson, N.C., has enjoyed a career year, averaging 8.3 points on 43% three-point shooting for the Gamecocks (9-3, 0-0 SEC).  Last Saturday, making his first start of the season against Presbyterian, he nearly equaled a career high with 16 points.  More importantly, he has begun to shed his reputation as a player who struggled to find a "Plan B" if his shots weren't dropping.

"I feel like I'm playing at a high level," Richardson said after practice.

"Brian's been awesome," head coach Frank Martin said on Thursday's "Carolina Calls." "In the beginning with Brian, everything was about getting him to believe that he could do these things.  That was a challenge, just getting him to play with courage and energy, and that confidence that guys who those traits play with."

Richardson traces his transformation to the first meeting he had with Martin last Spring.   

"He told me that he's going to play players that he trusts," Richardson said.  "I'm not just an outside shooter; I can do multiple things.  And I have to do that to open my game up."

Laid-back off the court, Richardson dedicated himself to Martin's message.  He also benefitted from some liberating shooting advice from his new head coach.

"I told Brian like all the other guys:  I'm not going to take you out for making a physical mistake.  But if you've got an open shot, and that's a shot you've proven you can make, and you don't shoot, I will take you out. 

"I don't know if that's helped him or not, but he's playing confidently right now," Martin said.

The numbers suggest it has.  Richardson only averaged 27% from three-point range as a freshman and sophomore, a lackluster percentage for a volume-shooting guard.  Halfway through this season, his average has jumped to 43%. 

More impressively, Richardson has used his fluid, oily-jointed athleticism to get to the rim.

Brian Richardson 2-point FGM

Freshman Year:         12        (30 games)

Sophomore Year:       15        (25 games)

Junior Year:                13        (12 games)

Not surprisingly, that confidence has spread virally to other parts of the floor.  His physical gifts no longer hidden in a standstill shooter's game, Richardson has become a more complete player in his junior season.  He needed all of five games to surpass his block (1) and assist (10) totals from last year.  He's rebounding at a career rate (2.7 rpg), which allowed Martin to make the previously unheard-of move of starting Richardson at small forward against Presbyterian.

And with SEC play around the corner, Martin says Richardson can make just as big an impact on the defensive end.

"He understands our defensive concepts better than any guard on our team.  With his length and athleticism, he can create some problems for people defensively," he said.

"I think he's starting to believe it."

Richardson is turning plenty of other people into believers, too.

-------

More notes as the Gamecocks head toward their final non-conference game against South Carolina State (1:30 p.m. EST Saturday, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Battling It Out:  With Michael Carrera bothered by a left hip injury, freshman Mindaugas Kacinas returned to the starting lineup against Presbyterian.  Kacinas responded with a 13-point, 3-rebound effort to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors.

Martin says his freshmen have benefitted from constant competition in practice.

"Michael plays a very physical, emotional game.  Mindaugas having to deal with that physicality and that emotion every day in practice has made him better prepared to deal with it in real games.

"Mindaugas' skill level is understanding how to play on offense where he plays a little slower.  He tries not to get sped up.  It's helped Michael tone down that energy and enthusiasm.  They kind of learn off each other," Martin said.

With Carrera still sidelined, Kacinas' play at the "4" will be even more critical.  Though not as tenacious a rebounder as Carrera, he's a cagey, capable passer from the high post, and can stretch out opposing power forwards on the perimeter.

Stone Cold:  In the first 35:00 of game time, Kacinas shoots 58% from the foul line.  In the final five minutes of regulation and overtime, his percentage spikes to 83%.

Kacinas FT%

40:00-35:00                 11-19               57.9%

5:00-0:00 (incl. OT)     10-12               83.3%

A Note On Turnovers:  South Carolina hasn't fully cleansed itself of its turnover problem - the Gamecocks are still averaging 18 per game - but Brenton Williams has done his best to lower that count.  Despite handling the ball often, Williams, the Gamecocks' leading scorer (13.0 ppg) has only committed 1 turnover in the last 91:07 of game time. 

Martin also hailed Eric Smith's improvement during the Gamecocks' semester-break practice.

"We didn't have the practice time to get him to make corrections.  We tried to show him film, but you always have to prepare for the next game," Martin said.

The numbers bear that out.  Look at Martin's assist-to-turnover count both before and during exams.

Eric Smith Assist/TO Ratio

                                    Assists            Turnovers

Before exams:              24                    23

After exams:                 24                    11

And Finally.... Among those who attended South Carolina's game against Manhattan at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was former Gamecock great Jim Graziano.  A 6'9" center from Farmingdale, Long Island, Graziano was one of the nation's most sought-after prospects when the Gamecocks signed him in 1977.  To convince Graziano to come to South Carolina, head coach Frank McGuire had to win a heated recruiting battle with.... Frank Sinatra?

Legend has it that Sinatra, a friend of UNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian, volunteered to help in Graziano's recruitment.  Ol' Blue Eyes even placed a call to Graziano's home, making a recruiting pitch on UNLV's behalf.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. EST Saturday on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  See you at Colonial Life Arena.  -AD--

The practice floor had emptied out, another two-a-day in the books for the Gamecocks.

Yet there was Brian Richardson, alone with manager Bubba Wright, bounding around the halfcourt.  All the shooting drills he and his teammates had done over the last hour still hadn't satisfied the junior guard.  Richardson wasn't leaving until he made 10 baskets from six different spots around the three-point arc.

At this point, why would he want to stop? 

Midway through the season, the 6'4" guard from Wilson, N.C., has enjoyed a career year, averaging 8.3 points on 43% three-point shooting for the Gamecocks (9-3, 0-0 SEC).  Last Saturday, making his first start of the season against Presbyterian, he nearly equaled a career high with 16 points.  More importantly, he has begun to shed his reputation as a player who struggled to find a "Plan B" if his shots weren't dropping.

"I feel like I'm playing at a high level," Richardson said after practice.

"Brian's been awesome," head coach Frank Martin said on Thursday's "Carolina Calls." "In the beginning with Brian, everything was about getting him to believe that he could do these things.  That was a challenge, just getting him to play with courage and energy, and that confidence that guys who those traits play with."

Richardson traces his transformation to the first meeting he had with Martin last Spring.   

"He told me that he's going to play players that he trusts," Richardson said.  "I'm not just an outside shooter; I can do multiple things.  And I have to do that to open my game up."

Laid-back off the court, Richardson dedicated himself to Martin's message.  He also benefitted from some liberating shooting advice from his new head coach.

"I told Brian like all the other guys:  I'm not going to take you out for making a physical mistake.  But if you've got an open shot, and that's a shot you've proven you can make, and you don't shoot, I will take you out. 

"I don't know if that's helped him or not, but he's playing confidently right now," Martin said.

The numbers suggest it has.  Richardson only averaged 27% from three-point range as a freshman and sophomore, a lackluster percentage for a volume-shooting guard.  Halfway through this season, his average has jumped to 43%. 

More impressively, Richardson has used his fluid, oily-jointed athleticism to get to the rim.

Brian Richardson 2-point FGM

Freshman Year:         12        (30 games)

Sophomore Year:       15        (25 games)

Junior Year:                13        (12 games)

Not surprisingly, that confidence has spread virally to other parts of the floor.  His physical gifts no longer hidden in a standstill shooter's game, Richardson has become a more complete player in his junior season.  He needed all of five games to surpass his block (1) and assist (10) totals from last year.  He's rebounding at a career rate (2.7 rpg), which allowed Martin to make the previously unheard-of move of starting Richardson at small forward against Presbyterian.

And with SEC play around the corner, Martin says Richardson can make just as big an impact on the defensive end.

"He understands our defensive concepts better than any guard on our team.  With his length and athleticism, he can create some problems for people defensively," he said.

"I think he's starting to believe it."

Richardson is turning plenty of other people into believers, too.

-------

More notes as the Gamecocks head toward their final non-conference game against South Carolina State (1:30 p.m. EST Saturday, Gamecock IMG Sports Network):

Battling It Out:  With Michael Carrera bothered by a left hip injury, freshman Mindaugas Kacinas returned to the starting lineup against Presbyterian.  Kacinas responded with a 13-point, 3-rebound effort to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors.

Martin says his freshmen have benefitted from constant competition in practice.

"Michael plays a very physical, emotional game.  Mindaugas having to deal with that physicality and that emotion every day in practice has made him better prepared to deal with it in real games.

"Mindaugas' skill level is understanding how to play on offense where he plays a little slower.  He tries not to get sped up.  It's helped Michael tone down that energy and enthusiasm.  They kind of learn off each other," Martin said.

With Carrera still sidelined, Kacinas' play at the "4" will be even more critical.  Though not as tenacious a rebounder as Carrera, he's a cagey, capable passer from the high post, and can stretch out opposing power forwards on the perimeter.

Stone Cold:  In the first 35:00 of game time, Kacinas shoots 58% from the foul line.  In the final five minutes of regulation and overtime, his percentage spikes to 83%.

Kacinas FT%

40:00-35:00                 11-19               57.9%

5:00-0:00 (incl. OT)     10-12               83.3%

A Note On Turnovers:  South Carolina hasn't fully cleansed itself of its turnover problem - the Gamecocks are still averaging 18 per game - but Brenton Williams has done his best to lower that count.  Despite handling the ball often, Williams, the Gamecocks' leading scorer (13.0 ppg) has only committed 1 turnover in the last 91:07 of game time. 

Martin also hailed Eric Smith's improvement during the Gamecocks' semester-break practice.

"We didn't have the practice time to get him to make corrections.  We tried to show him film, but you always have to prepare for the next game," Martin said.

The numbers bear that out.  Look at Martin's assist-to-turnover count both before and during exams.

Eric Smith Assist/TO Ratio

                                    Assists            Turnovers

Before exams:              24                    23

After exams:                 24                    11

And Finally.... Among those who attended South Carolina's game against Manhattan at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was former Gamecock great Jim Graziano.  A 6'9" center from Farmingdale, Long Island, Graziano was one of the nation's most sought-after prospects when the Gamecocks signed him in 1977.  To convince Graziano to come to South Carolina, head coach Frank McGuire had to win a heated recruiting battle with.... Frank Sinatra?

Legend has it that Sinatra, a friend of UNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian, volunteered to help in Graziano's recruitment.  Ol' Blue Eyes even placed a call to Graziano's home, making a recruiting pitch on UNLV's behalf.

Our pre-game coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. EST Saturday on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  See you at Colonial Life Arena.  -AD--