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--

March 7, 2012

Welcome to the postseason, where odds are a suggestion, the past does not define you, chaos always lurks at the scorer's table, and everybody stakes an equal claim to cutting down the nets.  Regular-season records may not lie, but for four days, they can definitely be ignored.

The SEC Tournament begins Thursday for South Carolina, and with it, a chance to redefine the ending to a difficult season.  Carolina's first-round matchup brings five-seed Alabama (20-10, 9-7 SEC), the Gamecocks' first postseason date with the Tide since 2010.  Of all the regular-season baggage the Gamecocks would like to leave behind, though, there's one thing they'd like to keep:  their 56-54 victory over the Crimson Tide January 25. 

Let's go beyond buzzer-beater and analyze the reasons why Carolina defeated Alabama January 25.

Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks try to wreak havoc on the brackets in New Orleans:

SEC-ond Coming:  There was much more to Carolina's Jan. 25 win than a last-second Bruce Ellington layup.  What did we learn from South Carolina's first encounter with Alabama?  Pay attention to these four factors Thursday:

1.)  Carolina kept JaMychal Green in check.  Despite its reputation as a low-scoring team, Alabama has one of the trickier matchups in the SEC in Green, a 6'9," 228-pound forward.  The SEC's active leader in career double-doubles, Green only managed 6 points (on a season-low 4 field-goal attempts) with 4 rebounds against Carolina.  Even more shocking: he finished the night with a -7 plus-minus.

Alabama 2nd Team All-SEC forward  JaMychal Green (right).

"We did a pretty good job of pushing him off the block," assistant coach Neill Berry told me at New Orleans Arena Wednesday.  "We also did a good job double-teaming him and forcing some turnovers.  The way our defense is set up, if we can communicate on the back line we can limit a big man's touches."

2.)  Carolina made the game an "inside job."  The Gamecocks attacked the rim vigorously against Alabama, taking advantage of a paint that lacked Green's intimidation.  Carolina scored 32 of its 56 points in the paint (57.1%), which tied for the highest percentage by a Crimson Tide opponent all season.

Even though Carolina shot 32.4% from the field, the Gamecocks offensive-rebounded actively - Anthony Gill and R.J. Slawson combined for 10 offensive rebounds, one less than the entire Alabama team.  Offensive rebounds are the perfect antidote for a team with such stifling defensive numbers as the Crimson Tide's.  The Gamecocks need that same tenacity from their power forwards Thursday. 

Anthony Gill (left) rebounded ferociously against Alabama at Colonial Life Arena.

Another reason why Carolina needs to play inside-out:  Alabama allows 27.8% shooting from three-point range, tied for 2nd-lowest in the nation.  Bruce Ellington has stepped up down the stretch, driving to the rim and finishing with more frequency.  Will Alabama's artful dodger, SEC All-Defensive point guard Trevor Releford (a league-leading 2.2 steals per game), be a shutdown defender on Bruce, and force him to live on the outside?

3.)  South Carolina prevented easy fast-break baskets.  A particular sore spot for South Carolina lately (see Friday's "Inside The Chart").  Alabama only managed 8 points off turnovers against the Gamecocks, a season low for the Tide.  Make them earn their points in the halfcourt.

4.)  Carolina prevented the big run.  Unlike their recent history, South Carolina stubbornly refused to let Alabama go on a run.  The Crimson Tide's largest spurt was 5-0 -- their smallest run in a game all season.

Alabama ranks 9th in the nation in Points Per Possession Allowed (0.88), a more accurate indicator of a team's defensive prowess than scoring defense or field-goal percentage defense.  South Carolina was the only opponent to beat Alabama whose Points Per Possession was below the Crimson Tide's average.

Alabama Losses                   Opps Pts./Poss.

Dayton                                   1.23

Kentucky                               1.17

LSU                                       1.05

Georgetown                            1.02

Vanderbilt                               1.00

Kansas State                          0.99

Florida                                    0.97

Mississippi State                     0.94

Opps. Season Avg.                0.88

SOUTH CAROLINA                 0.85

Why was that the case?  Because Carolina never allowed Alabama to metabolize their defensive stops into a long, game-breaking run.   The Gamecocks have had trouble stanching runs lately, especially at the ends of halves.  It reared its head in Athens Saturday, when Georgia closed the first half on a 9-1 run and never relinquished its lead.  In New Orleans, a protracted run could surge the Gamecocks straight out of the season.

Other notes, quotes, and anecdotes ahead of the Gamecocks' SEC Tournament opener:

Missing Mitchell:  Since their January 25 contest, Alabama head coach Anthony Grant suspended jumping-jack forward Tony Mitchell for the remainder of the season.  It cost the Tide a dynamic, slashing wing, but after two shaky losses following his suspension, Alabama closed the regular season winning 4 of its last 5. 

In Mitchell's absence, Grant has started to press more, mix his man-to-man and zone defenses, and play smaller lineups.  Nonetheless, the Gamecocks may applaud Grant's enforcement of discipline:  in four career games, Mitchell averaged 12.0 ppg and 9.2 rpg against South Carolina.

Tony Mitchell - Career

vs. South Carolina:                 12.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg

Career:                                    14.4 ppg,  7.0 rpg

Who has stepped up most in Mitchell's absence?  Pay attention to freshman Rodney Cooper, a 6'6," 205-pound swingman who only played 3 minutes against Carolina.  He may not have the ceiling-scraping athleticism of Mitchell, but Cooper has more range (40% 3pt. last 4 games), and his confidence has grown down the stretch.

Alabama finished the regular season winning four of its last five, relying on a mix of players to fill the void of forward Tony Mitchell. 

Record Watch:  South Carolina finished the regular season shooting 69.912% from the free-throw line (316 of 452).  They could become the first Gamecock team to finish with a FT% of 70% or better since 1987-88. 

And Finally...  Does a last-place seed in a conference tournament consign a team to "one-and-done" hell?  Far from it.  In fact, l researched all the last-place seeds that won their first-round conference tournament game in the last five years (major conferences only).  It happens almost annually:

Year              Team                      Conf.           Record                   1^st -Round

2007              Miami (FL)                ACC            4-12                        W-Maryland

2008              Georgia                  SEC             4-12                        W-Ole Miss*

2009              DePaul                     Big East      0-18                        W-Cincinnati

2010              Nebraska                  Big 12         2-14                        W-Missouri

2010              Miami (FL)                ACC            4-12                        W-Wake Forest

*-Won SEC Tournament

Further proof that in the postseason, anything can happen.  And in a city as colorful and unpredictable as New Orleans, the Gamecocks have a fitting final backdrop to make chaos of the SEC Tournament.

Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you Thursday.

(And hopefully beyond that.)

And with that, it's time to close the book on "Inside The Chart" for 2011-12.  I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at the research, stats, and anecdotes that I collect weekly during my preparation for broadcasts.  For a voluntary blog, it gave me tremendous satisfaction to write (despite a few too many late nights finishing it).  I hope it gave you some different perspectives on the Gamecocks, and I hope it encourages you to listen to our broadcasts more.  No matter what, my duty to you will always remain what happens between the lines.  Thank you for reading!     -AD 

March 2, 2012

Nothing offers greater salvation than the five sweetest words in college basketball.

March.

The calendar has now turned to college basketball's most glorious month, and South Carolina hopes it can also turn the page.  Hearts broken on a Mississippi State buzzer-beater, the Gamecocks can mend them with a strong finish against the Georgia Bulldogs (13-16, 4-11 SEC).  Pre-tip reads before Carolina rolls into Stegeman Coliseum (1:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network).

Turnabout on Turnovers:  Football coaches preach it religiously:  win the turnover battle, win the game.  The Gamecocks have just done that, hoarding possessions for their slow-tempo style. 

South Carolina has won the turnover battle, but not the points-off-turnovers battle.

So why have they wound up on the short end?  Despite committing 15 fewer turnovers than its opponents over the last 3 games, South Carolina has been outscored 50-38 in points off turnovers.

Opponent                Rebound Margin                  Pts. off TO's

Mississippi St.        +2  (14-12)                            -11  (19-8)

Tennessee               +12 (21-9)                               +6  (23-17) 

Vanderbilt                +1  (12-11)                            -7  (14-7)

____________________________________________________

South Carolina:    47 TO, 38 points off TO

Opponents:           32 TO, 50 points off TO

Georgia already struggles to score.  The Bulldogs' effective FG% of 45.0% ranks 300th in the country, and last in the SEC.  South Carolina doesn't need to help them out.  The Gamecocks need to prevent the casual turnovers - coughing up dribble handoffs, getting stripped above the three-point line, etc. -- that can lead to easy transition baskets. 

"KCP" - Keep Caldwell Pacified:  In its Feb. 8 win, Carolina held down 6'5" freshman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, one of the more multifaceted scoring guards in the SEC.  "KCP" managed only 9 points, and suffered through one of his more frigid three-point shooting nights in SEC play (1-7 3pt.).  

Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right) averages 13 ppg. 

Just as impressive, South Carolina forced Caldwell-Pope into 3 turnovers.  That may not sound significant, but Caldwell-Pope ranks 20th in the nation (2nd SEC) in Turnover Rate (9.1%).  Turnover rate is an estimate of the number of turnovers a player commits per 100 plays.

Against South Carolina, Caldwell-Pope had a Turnover Rate of 21.1%, well above his season average of 9.1%.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - Turnover %

Season:                                  9.1%

Vs. South Carolina               21.1%

Like they did against Vanderbilt's Jeffery Taylor, the Gamecocks never let Caldwell-Pope catch comfortably, especially when he curled around baseline stagger-screens (where they like to run him).  Caldwell-Pope and senior Gerald Robinson Jr. are Georgia's most dynamic scorers.  Take away one, and it could be difficult for Georgia to sustain its offense.

What Not To Ware:  Georgia celebrates Senior Day Saturday, and like all teams, it will try to deliver a fitting send-off.  The Bulldogs will honor a pair of mainstays in its backcourt, point guard Dustin Ware and shooting guard Gerald Robinson, Jr.  Robinson, the Bulldogs' leading scorer, has an explosive first step, polish off the dribble, and an ability to affect every aspect of the floor (11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists vs. South Carolina).

He may not post the gaudiest numbers, but senior guard Dustin Ware (left) has been a barometer for Georgia's success.

But don't sleep on Ware.  The 5'11" guard from Powder Springs, Ga., led all SEC games in three-point percentage last year (49.3%), but has been mired in a season-long shooting slump.  When he makes three-pointers, though, he clearly transforms Georgia's offense.

Dustin Ware 3pt. FG%

Wins:                       28-65 3pt.             43.1%

Losses:                   22-100 3pt.            22.0%  

Under the proud lights of Senior Day, will Ware have one final, crowning performance on his home floor?  And will he lift the Bulldogs' offense with him?

Huh?  In its two SEC wins, the Gamecocks have shot 19.6% at the three-point line (10-51)... and 87.5% at the free-throw line (21-24).

Damontre Needs to Dominate:  Damontre Harris collected his 2nd career double-double against Mississippi State, tallying 14 points and 11 rebounds.  He'll try to carry that attitude into Athens, where Georgia's most physical post player, sophomore Marcus Thornton, has been bothered by balky knees.  No other Bulldog low-post player, such as Donte' Williams and John Florveus, prefers a crash-and-bang style.

How can Damontre Harris merge his strong offensive rebounding and 80% free-throw shooting?

As the season draws to a close, Harris needs to connect two facets of his game:  his wingspan and his improved free-throw shooting.  Harris has the length of a Marabou stork.  Combined with his nimble leaping ability, he can get to offensive rebounds in a hurry.  Too often, though, he'll attempt a stickback using a turnaround or finesse move, rather than driving his body through a defender.

Harris' may have ended a streak of 12 straight made free throws against Mississippi State, but his SEC FT% remains a healthy 80.8%.  If Harris can seek out contact, and grind for free throws off offensive rebounds, he'll make himself even more effective.

And Finally... Welcome to March.  What more needs to be said?

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.  We'll see you in Athens.

February 29, 2012

David Gaines reminds Malik Cooke of the story sometimes.  They still share a laugh over it.

The head coach at the Christ School in Arden, N.C., first met Cooke as a rising 10th grader - "14 years old, skinny as a rail, and the youngest guy in his grade."  Cooke had arrived at the boarding school from his native Charlotte, intent on playing basketball at a high level.

A week after he arrived, Cooke jumped in an afternoon of pickup games at the Christ School's gym.  He was matched against a team featuring identical twins Chavis and Travis Holmes, seniors who would become the highest-scoring set of twins in NCAA Division I history at VMI.

 "Malik had lost 4 or 5 games in a row to the team with the twins.  He came over to me almost in tears," Gaines said. "'Coach, you gotta say something to these guys.'  He was to the point I couldn't understand what he was saying.  I asked him why. 

He said, 'My team lost again.  They told me to sit my a** down."

Gaines calmed down his newcomer.  But he was left with an impression of Cooke that has endured into his final days as a Gamecock.

"It was great in that he didn't like that at all.  We felt as a staff that we had a kid who didn't like to lose." 

An utter, unbleached disdain for losing.  A willingness to never take a day off.  And a desire to push himself every day to get better.  Talk to those closest to Malik Rashad Cooke, and it's clear those traits have defined him through his 22 years.  

They helped turn a soft-spoken kid into a leader,  a state champion, and a college graduate.  They sustained him as hard luck, losses, and a transfer year could've worn away his resolve.   And they transformed Cooke - the guy too slow to be a shooting guard, too un-athletic to be a small forward, too tiny to be a power forward - into a 1,000-point college career.

As his Senior Night approaches against Mississippi State Wednesday, the man incongruously nicknamed "Cookie" - nothing about him has ever crumbled - reflected on a basketball career that was forged as much by sheer will as raw talent.

"I hope I don't have any regrets when I go back.  I hope I did everything I could to try to be the best I could every day," Cooke said.

--

Gamecock fans have seen Cooke's desire for two years.  His Dad, Richard Jones, has known it for much longer.  In fact, basketball was Cooke's destiny before he even realized it.

"I put him over top of my head, and the first time he threw a ball at the hoop, it went in [on a regulation-size rim]," Jones said.

 "I said, 'You're going to be a ballplayer."

Jones raised Cooke on taking pride in whatever he did.  Somewhere in those lessons, a fiery competitive streak was born.

"I always hated to lose," Cooke said.   "It was just probably in everything I did like video games, foot races, I mean whatever, flag football."

And basketball.  Jones still recalls an AAU tournament in Greensboro, N.C., when Cooke was 12 years old. 

"They had them scheduled for 4 games that day.  The last game was against [Mississippi State guard] Dee Bost.  He was cramping.  They couldn't get him out of the game.  He wanted that game so bad because it was for pool play, and they would go to Nationals. 

 "I could see the tears bubbling up in his eyes from the cramps.  He wouldn't go out for anything in the world," Jones said.  Cooke's team won in overtime.

After spending his freshman year at Vance HS in Charlotte, Cooke and his family decided to enroll him at Christ School, a burgeoning basketball power in the mountains of western North Carolina.

He began as a role-playing 10th grader, fresh off a serious ankle injury in the offseason.  Two years later, he left the Christ School with a career scoring record (1,375 points, a mark that still stands), state titles as a sophomore and senior, and scholarship offers from Nevada and Marshall. 

Cooke opted for Nevada, 2,500 miles from his hometown.  "I thought it was an opportunity to find myself, and be a man," he said.

---

Cooke spent two seasons at Nevada, averaging 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds for head coach Mark Fox as a sophomore.  But a coaching change - and more importantly, the health of his father - prompted him to seek a school closer to home.

"At the time it was very hard, because I was dealing with sarcoidosis, which was ailing my health," his father, Richard Jones, said. 

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, sarcoidosis is a disease of the immune system that can affect the eyes, lungs, lymph nodes, and liver.  It can lead to organ damage in one-third of all people afflicted with it.  Most experience remission -- Jones' symptoms have mostly cleared up -- but the disease can also be fatal.  NFL Hall of Famer Reggie White died from sarcoidosis.  

"We kept it under the radar for so long.  I knew if there was any way we could get back home, let's try and do it, because I want to see him.  I didn't know the longevity of me being able to see him play," Jones said. 

Cooke parted amicably with Nevada, and found a new home at South Carolina.  But his first season on campus presented a dilemma.  How does someone quench his competitive thirst when there's no competition?  Cooke had to sit out the 2009-10 season per the NCAA's transfer rule.   

Instead of playing, he uncaged his competitive energies in Carolina's practices and scrimmages.  He often led the Gamecocks' reserves against a starting five led by All-SEC guard Devan Downey.  Cooke and Downey turned routine scrimmages into trash talk-laced wars.  If his team lost, a scowl would linger on his face well after the final buzzer.

"I really didn't try to take it easy on them.  I went as hard as I could.  We had a lot of good players so it was good for me and them.  I wanted to come out every day and just work as hard as I could and try to make them better," he said.

--

At South Carolina, Cooke's play has mirrored his personality.  Horn says his lone senior has an "old man's game."  He attacks offensive rebounds, hits midrange jumpers, and uses cagey moves to score against taller forwards.  It's the perfect blend of guts and guile, steel will and scrap iron.

And of course, he seems to rise when the occasion calls for it most.  In his first SEC start, he filled in for an injured Lakeem Jackson by scoring a career-high 22 points at Tennessee.  With the Gamecocks on a five-game losing streak, Cooke made 9 of 10 free throws against Ole Miss, then sealed the win with a last-second steal of Rebels leading scorer Chris Warren.  A pair of late free throws clinched a win at Clemson.  His baseline bank shot with 20 seconds left propelled Carolina to a win over Georgia in February.

And then there was the nationally-televised game against #2 Ohio State Dec. 17.  Cooke had poured in 10 first-half points, helping Carolina to a 4-point lead early in the 2nd half.  Then a Deshaun Thomas elbow bloodied his left eye, forcing him out of the game.  Few will forget the sight of Cooke, blood trickling down his face, slamming his towel to the ground, upset at having to leave his team to get stitched up in the locker room.  By the time he returned, Ohio State had grabbed the lead for good.  Yet Cooke, a bandage still bothering his vision, battled until the bitter - and literally bloody - end, scoring a team-high 21 points.

As a redshirt senior, he evolved into Carolina's unquestioned team leader.  He organized pickup games and team-building outings over the summer, even though he couldn't play because of a dislocated ankle.  In December, he earned his degree in sociology.  The losses have piled up - more than he'd like -- but they have not sapped his will to keep fighting.  And head coach Darrin Horn says Cooke's unflagging work ethic has set an example for his teammates.

"That's one of the reasons that you've seen a team that's got 2 wins in league play continue to come out and play hard and compete.  That's a rare thing given our situation, and I think Malik has been a part of that because of his consistency and leadership," Horn said.

For Senior Night, Cooke was asked to choose a song for his videoboard montage.  He picked Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

It seems like an unusual pick for a 22 year-old, but not an unlikely one.  From his beginnings in Charlotte to his final days as a Gamecock, one thing becomes clear.  

Malik Cooke has only known one way.

THE 10 BIG, BURNING QUESTIONS OF THE GAMECOCK IMG SPORTS NETWORK

By Andy Demetra, "Voice of the Gamecocks"

Contact us:  @GamecockRadio

We appreciate you listening to the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We also understand you may have some questions about our radio coverage.  Below, you'll find answers to the 10 most commonly asked-questions about our radio network broadcasts.  We hope it'll give you greater insight into the structure, distribution, and contractual commitments of our radio network.  Thanks for listening!     -Andy Demetra

1.)    Where can I listen to the game in [insert your town here]?

We keep a detailed affiliate list here.

2.)    Where can I listen to the game online?

By subscribing to Gamecock All-Access.  A subscription to Gamecock All-Access not only lets you watch all South Carolina home baseball games (with the radio call attached), but the live radio calls of all South Carolina away games. 

Our affiliate stations own the terrestrial radio rights to Gamecock athletics.  However, IMG College owns the streaming radio rights to Gamecock athletics.  As part of their contract agreement, all affiliate stations must disable their live streaming during South Carolina football, basketball, and baseball broadcasts.  Violators are subject to penalty by IMG College. 

3.)    Can I listen to the game on my phone?

Yes!  Gamecocks Online has an official app in the iTunes store and Android Marketplace which allows you to stream broadcasts over your phone.  The app is free to download, but the live content requires a premium subscription ($4.95/year for Android, $9.95/year for iPhone). 

While it costs less than a Gamecock All-Access subscription, you will not have access to live video for South Carolina home games.  Also, depending on cell reception and your phone's bandwidth, the stream may be more sensitive to buffering.  

Please note:  Gamecock All-Access and the Gamecocks Online app are both managed by CBS Interactive, Inc.  The Gamecock IMG Sports Network does not control the availability, reliability, or sound quality of these streams.

4.)    What if I have a TuneIn, IHeartRadio, or other radio listening app on my phone?

You won't be able to listen.  If a station has disabled its live streaming, a TuneIn, IHeartRadio, or other radio app will not apply.

5.)    How can I sync up the radio with the TV call?

Because of differences in satellite transmissions, as well as our own FCC-mandated 7-second delay, the radio call will not always match up to the TV.  There are devices you can buy, such as SportSync, that will even out the delay. 

6.)    Why do certain stations carry all Gamecock baseball games, while some only carry SEC and post-season games?

Because of scheduling conflicts, staffing concerns, or local programming restrictions, some stations don't have the ability to run a full broadcast schedule.  To still maintain a Gamecock presence in their market, they may elect to carry only SEC and post-season series.     

For the first time in 2012, the Gamecock IMG Sports Network has made all of our baseball broadcasts available "network-wide" when they don't conflict with basketball.  Essentially, our stations have a greater opportunity than ever before to pick and choose their schedules, and expand their non-conference baseball coverage.  It's best to check with your local station to find out whether a particular game will air.

In the last 2 years, we've grown our baseball affiliate list from 6 to 13 stations.  You can always approach your local station about carrying all Gamecock baseball games -- community groundswell tends to make things happen, especially if there are local business owners who may be interested in sponsoring the extra coverage.

7.)     How come you don't have a station in my hometown?

Say you live in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Why doesn't a station there carry South Carolina football?  Simply put, there aren't enough Gamecock fans in Raleigh - and more importantly, advertisers who want to target them -- to justify a station carrying the games. 

Each year, the IMG College Affiliate Relations team travels to every market in South Carolina, trying to line up new affiliates and renew existing ones.  We always strive for 100% penetration.  However, for the same reasons listed above - scheduling conflicts, staffing concerns, or other programming obligations - in certain markets, no radio station may be willing to invest in becoming a Gamecock IMG Sports Network affiliate.

8.)    But I live in an area that has an affiliate station listed.  Why can't I hear the game?

You may have an affiliate station that's designated for your market, but its signal doesn't reach your home.  Unfortunately, there's not much we can do.  Stations' signals are sometimes stronger in one direction than another. 

Also, AM radio stations have different signal strengths in the daytime and nighttime.  By law, they have to "power down" their signal at night.  Thus, you may be able to hear Gamecock baseball broadcasts during the day, but can't pick it up once the sun goes down.  Lastly, did you check to see whether your station is carrying the game?

9.)     If a Gamecock basketball game or coaches' show airs at the same time as a Gamecock baseball game, why do stations have to carry the basketball game/coaches' show?

Invariably, overlaps occur during a season.  As part of our radio agreement, the sport with more affiliates statewide always takes priority on pre-emptions.  Currently, we have more basketball affiliates (21) than baseball (13).  In fairness to our affiliates, and the sponsors who count on our network coverage, we have to offer on our satellite channel the sport that's carried by more of our stations.  From an ethical and business standpoint, it's the right thing to do. 

We also defer to the "ongoing" sport.  A late-season conference game should, and will, take priority over an early-season non-conference game.   Wins and losses do not factor into this decision.  It's about staying consistent with our affiliates and our sponsors' expectations.

10.)   Is the baseball game on XM?

We hope this clears up some of the questions you may have had.  Thanks for listening - we look forward to signing on next!

February 24, 2012

Pretty only counts in pageants.  In basketball, ugly works.

Think you're watching an "ugly" game?  Look a little closer.  Maybe that opponent, which loves getting into the open floor and knocking down three-pointers , has been dragged out of its comfort zone.  Suddenly, it has to scavenge for baskets off free throws and putbacks.  Maybe an opponent, which relies on motion and passing in the halfcourt, has been sped up, and sucked into a choppy, turnover-prone game. 

Is that ugly basketball?  Or solid execution of a game plan?

South Carolina may have lacked the aesthetic that mattered most - the scoreboard - against Vanderbilt.  But the Gamecocks forced the normally polished Commodores into engaging them in a rock fight.  Vandy, which entered the game shooting an SEC-high 40.2% from three-point range, only made 4-16 three-pointers en route to an SEC season-low 59 points.  The same applied to Georgia - the Bulldogs' triangle offense relies on spacing, cutting, and constant motion.  Yet the Gamecocks rushed them into 13 turnovers, setting the tone for a rough-around-the-edges victory February 15.

In both cases, South Carolina played the way that gave itself the best chance to win.  "Uglying" the game worked.

 At this point, South Carolina makes no pretenses about itself.  Games will be grinds.  The floor will become a junkyard.  But when a team ranks 11th in the SEC in field goal percentage, it's a fool's paradise to believe you can win by out-gunning an opponent.  The Gamecocks need to steer teams to their style - one that's high on hustle, low on glamor, and built around valuing possessions.

It may not produce the most eye-pleasing basketball.  To the naked eye, it might look ugly.  But as long as it produces wins, the Gamecocks won't mind.  In fact, they'll see plenty of beauty in it.

Pre-tip reads before South Carolina (10-17, 2-11) and Tennessee (15-13, 7-6) tip off at Colonial Life Arena:    

Oh By The Way:  Incidentally, Tennessee has rallied around head coach Cuonzo Martin's motto "Stay Ugly."  Keep your pageant sashes at home Saturday. 

SEC-ond Coming:  What did we learn from South Carolina's last meeting with Tennessee, a 69-57 Volunteers win in Knoxville?  Pay attention to these four factors Saturday:

1.)      The three-pointer is Tennessee's barometer.  Since its win over the Gamecocks, Tennessee has won four of its last five, catapulting into a tie for 4th place in the SEC (and a potential first-round bye). 

Looking through the splits, the three-point line has been a dividing line in the Volunteers' SEC wins and losses:

Three-Point FG% - SEC Games

Wins:                      38.2%

Losses:                    27.2%

Individually, the Gamecocks can't lose sight of guard Skylar McBee (right).  The junior, late of the Sonny Bono mustache, burned Carolina for a career-high 18 points in Knoxville.  He also owns one of the more remarkable streaks I've seen in college basketball this season:  his last 36 field goal attempts have all been three-pointers.

2.)     Getting inside wasn't the problem.  Finishing was.  South Carolina only scored 8 of its 57 points in the paint, for a season-low "PiP Percentage" of 14.0%. 

Lowest "Points In Paint" Percentage - 2011-12

1.)      @ Tennessee                               14.0%  (8 of 57)

2.)       vs. Kentucky                                26.9%  (14 of 52)

3.)      @ Vanderbilt                               29.1%  (14 of 48)

South Carolina's SEC average:  39.2% (259 of 759)

The problem wasn't settling for jump shots, or failing to find driving lanes against UT's man-to-man defense.  The Gamecocks did plenty of that.  But Damontre Harris and Anthony Gill shot a combined 1 for 13 from the field, a repugnant percentage for a center and power forward.  South Carolina's low-post players need to "finish through" their defenders, whether on entry passes or off of offensive rebounds.

Which leads to....

3.)     Carolina could crack the offensive glass.  Perhaps it correlates with South Carolina's low finishing rate around the rim.  But the Gamecocks had success offensive-rebounding against Tennessee, finishing with their second-highest Offensive Rebounding Percentage (OReb%) in SEC play.

                Highest OReb% - SEC Games Only

1.)      Florida                           1/14                       43.7%

2.)      Tennessee                     2/8                         43.2%

Offensive rebounds serve as the ultimate rally repellent.  They extend possessions, and can lead to fouls on stickbacks.  South Carolina spoiled its comeback bids against LSU and Vanderbilt by not offensive-rebounding effectively enough.  If thrust into a similar situation, can the Gamecocks bang the boards like they did before against Tennessee?

Anthony Gill (left) will need to be a presence against Tennessee. 

One other thing to contend with:  Tennessee did not play with its 6'8," 250-pound bull-in-a-china-shop freshman forward Jarnell Stokes (wrist).  Alongside leading rebounder Jeronne Maymon, Stokes (8.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg) has returned to the Vols' lineup. 

   4.)     The Gamecocks got "Smoke-Screened."    Tennessee rained a fusillade of three's on Carolina, making 10 of 20 from behind the arc in Knoxville.  Coach Horn said his team did not defend the three-point line well enough to win.

"That's so important with this defense that we're playing," he said on "Carolina Calls."  "We're not way out on the floor, by the hashmarks, defending and denying.  If the ball gets moved too easily, too quickly, it makes some of our switching and matching more difficult."

Here's the good news:  South Carolina played perhaps its best conference game switching and defending through screens against Vanderbilt.  Will that carry over to Tennessee?  In particular, the Gamecocks need to get matched early against point guard Trae Golden, a physically strong creator who sets up his teammates well.  

Free Advice:  Most glaring in Wednesday's box score was Vanderbilt's 28-4 edge in free-throw attempts.  Historically, South Carolina has not shot a high volume of free throws under Darrin Horn.  In fact, in nine seasons as a head coach, Horn's teams have ranked an average of 280th in the nation in Free Throw-Point %, or the percentage of a team's points that come from the foul line. The numbers indicate it's a function of a coach's style, not a hapless weakness of this year's team.

It'd be worth seeing this guy for a few more trips to the free-throw line. 

I asked Coach Horn for a player who could reach the foul line more.

"If I had to pick one, and think he's capable of it with his game, I'd say Anthony Gill," he replied.  "Anthony Gill's a strong, physical player.  He's got a good skill level."

More free-throw trips may suit the Gamecocks for another reason:  Tennessee ranks 2^nd in the SEC in FG% defense  (39.3%).  Carolina needs to cash in on "easy" ones as often as they can.

Stat of the Week:  Tennessee forward Dwight Miller came out of nowhere Wednesday, delivering 10 points in 16 minutes in a 73-60 win over Ole Miss.  Miller did not play against South Carolina, and had scored just two points in 12 prior SEC games.  He also kept alive his rigorous - and humorous -- avoidance of the assist.  In 132 minutes this year, Miller has yet to record an assist.  Even Carlton Geathers has managed 1 assist in 172 minutes.

Sadly, Miller's miserliness pales in comparison Florida Atlantic's Kelvin Penn.  According to Ken Pomeroy, Penn leads the nation in minutes played without an assist - 520 minutes and counting.  That's the equivalent of 13 regulation games!  Godspeed, you two.

And Finally...  Casey Manning, our radio crew's resident gadabout, chatted up the father of Vanderbilt guard John Jenkins after Wednesday's game.  Jenkins leads the nation with 3.8 three-pointers per game.

Jenkins' father told Casey something interesting.  "I'm actually John, Jr.  My son is John Jenkins III."

Yes, the nation's leading three-point shooter is a "Third." 

Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well.  Our pre-game coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you at Colonial Life Arena.

February 22, 2012

Greetings from Nashville.  Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks face the baseline benches, elevated floor, and Kevin Stallings' gym-piercing whistle at Vanderbilt:

SEC-ond Coming:  What did we learn from South Carolina's last meeting with Vanderbilt, a 67-57 Commodores win January 10?  Pay attention to these four factors Wednesday:

1.)     Vanderbilt's best rebounder may not be who you think:  If Vanderbilt personnel read like a high school yearbook....

-          Most powerful player?  Festus Ezeli. 

-          Most explosive leaper?  Jeffery Taylor, scary highlight-reel maker and the SEC's leading scorer in conference games (18.6).

-          Best rebounder?  Neither.

The most difficult Commodore to contain on the boards continues to be 6'7," 230-pound senior Lance Goulbourne.  In 2 of his last 3 games against South Carolina, Goulbourne pulled down 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively.  South Carolina will need every bit of its athleticism - R.J. Slawson's in particular - to prevent Goulbourne from factoring on missed shots. 

The Commodores have wanted their role players to pitch in more offensively, and Goulbourne has gone just 5 for his last 24 from the field (20.8%).  Carolina can't let that let Goulbourne generate his offense off rebounds, and emerge as a complementary scoring threat. 

  2.)   The Commodores can be turnover-prone if you make them.  South Carolina's 3/4-court press has harried Vanderbilt the last two seasons, forcing them into turnovers or speeding them up once they cross into the forecourt.  South Carolina forced 18 turnovers in their Jan. 10 meeting; the Commodores committed 20 turnovers in a 61-52 win over Georgia Sunday. 

A textbook trap of Vanderbilt's John Jenkins (left) Jan. 10.  The Gamecocks forced 18 Vandy turnovers in their first matchup. 

The Commodores have a strong mix of polished, athletic finesse players -- when they find their rhythm in Kevin Stallings' thick-playbook motion offense, they can be hard to stop.  South Carolina needs to make it a rock fight, and force Vanderbilt to beat them ugly.  With more turnovers, Carolina can exact its brand of raw, low-possession basketball, a style not befitting the freewheeling Commodores.

3.)     Vandy can be dangerous any night from three.  The numbers don't leave much to subtlety:  Vanderbilt leads the SEC in 3pt. FG% (40.2%).  South Carolina ranks last in 3pt. FG% defense (39.0%).  The Commodores drained buckets -- and the Gamecocks' wills - when they connected on 13 of 22 three-pointers in January.  Like Florida, Vanderbilt has three players who shoot better than 40% from three-point range (Taylor .496, John Jenkins .459, Brad Tinsley .423).  If the Gamecocks trap out of their zone, they must do so decisively, and make their rotations crisp.  Any waffling could lead to sluggish rotations - and dangerously open looks for a good-passing Vandy team.  If the Commodores want to beat the Gamecocks from three-point range, make them shoot challenged three-pointers.

4.)     Don't lose track of John Jenkins.  Vanderbilt's three-point sniper produced one of the more incredible stat lines in college basketball against Ole Miss last week.  The junior shooting guard scored a team-high 28 points... on just five field goal attempts.

John Jenkins vs. Ole Miss:  28 pts.  (5-5 FG,  4-4 3pt.,  12-15 FT)

Jenkins leads the SEC in scoring (20.1 ppg), and leads the nation in three-point field goals per game (3.8).  Vanderbilt weaves Jenkins relentlessly around screens - forward Steve Tchiengang is a particularly hard screener - hoping to give him enough daylight for his lightning-quick release.  Jenkins also loves the stepback jumper if a defender tries to slip underneath a screen.  The Gamecocks can't let him get in rhythm or shoot open transition three's.

Big Fes' vs. Big 'Tre:  Damontre Harris told me he considers Vanderbilt big man Festus Ezeli the strongest player he's faced.  His play against the Commodores' 6'11," 255-pound center will be critical Wednesday. 

Ezeli ranked 7th in the nation last year in fouls drawn/40 minutes, inducing an average of 7.9 fouls per 40 minutes.  As we've seen all year, South Carolina's production inside ebbs and flows with Harris' foul situation.  He picked up his first career double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) against Vanderbilt Jan. 10.  Can Harris be a wrecking ball against Ezeli, while also staying out of foul trouble?

Damontre Harris (left) vs. LSU.  He recorded his first career double-double against Vanderbilt Jan. 10.

"It's just about doing my work early in the play, pushing him off the block, and figuring out how the refs are going to call the game," Harris told me.

Bump In The Road:  South Carolina was scuttled by a season-low 5 offensive rebounds against LSU.  Despite that output, offensive rebounding remains South Carolina's biggest statistical strength.  The Gamecocks rank 30th in the nation in Offensive Rebounding % (36.8%), a figure which also leads the SEC.

That bodes well against Vanderbilt:  statistically speaking, Vanderbilt is one of the poorer teams in the nation at preventing offensive rebounds for its height.  The Commodores rank 11th in the nation in Average Height (players measure an average of 68.1").  However, the Commodores rank 7th in the SEC, and 170th nationally, in Offensive Rebound Percentage Defense.  Only Florida State and Syracuse have taller average heights, but worse percentages.

Vanderbilt                             NCAA Rank

Average Height                    11th

OReb % Defense                  170th

Watch This:  Need another confirmation of South Carolina's meat-grinder schedule?  Vanderbilt is one of three teams to put three players (Taylor, Jenkins, Ezeli) on the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List.  The other two?  North Carolina and Ohio State.

Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you in Nashville.

February 17, 2012

When the losses pile up, players have plenty of reasons to "check out."  To lose pride, slink away, and stray from the things that made them successful.  It's the first slip on a slope that can lead teams to a cardinal sin of sports:  being okay with losing. 

When the whistle blew - ahead of schedule -- to end South Carolina's practice Tuesday, the Gamecocks could've merrily skipped away, content to punch the clock and enjoy the early dismissal.  Yet for a half-hour after practice, every Gamecock player stayed behind to get up extra shots.  They went through shooting drills, pushed up free throws, rebounded for one another, and generally ribbed each other as they waited their turn in the rotation. 

A 1-9 start in the SEC could have worn away at the Gamecocks' resolve.  It could've splintered them, left them resigned - or worse, made them okay with losing.  But inside those losses were comebacks.  Plenty of them.  In Knoxville, Gainesville, Oxford, and Fayetteville.  Yes, the losses had piled up.  But South Carolina had shown too much fight to stop now. 

The Gamecocks finally showed the fruits of their fight against Georgia.  Wednesday's game didn't come easy, nor did it come pretty, but the Gamecocks grinded their way from a seven-point deficit to beat the Bulldogs 57-56.  Will that preparation pay off further against LSU (15-10, 5-6 SEC) Saturday? 

Pre-tip reads before Gamecocks and Tigers renew pleasantries at Colonial Life Arena:

Malik Cooke (left) led South Carolina with 13 points vs. Georgia.

Quick Hands:  Georgia came in averaging 10.3 turnovers per game, the 4th-lowest total in the nation.  South Carolina shook out 13 turnovers from the Bulldogs, their second-highest total in SEC play.

Let's put it another way:  Georgia committed 13 turnovers in 40:00 against South Carolina.  Georgia had committed 13 turnovers in its last 82:15 of SEC play. 

Man To Stop:  center Justin Hamilton.  Behold!  A true low-post player.  At 7'0," 260 pounds, Hamilton sat out last year as a transfer from Iowa State.  He has since led the Tigers in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounds (7.3 rpg), while shooting a team-best 52.2% from the floor.  Hamilton has soft hands and a nice touch around the rim, with the ability to shoot smoothly from 8-12 feet.  His post offense is measured and well-schooled, rather than herky-jerky and explosive, and he shields the ball from his defender exceptionally well.  When you're 7'0," 260 pounds, why not use your body to your advantage?  He's also a terrific offensive rebounder (2nd SEC, 3.7 rpg).

Person of interest:  LSU 7-footer Justin Hamilton, an Iowa State transfer.   

Trap Game?  The Gamecocks weren't afraid to trap on the wing, or rotate a weak-side player over, to hunt for turnovers against Georgia.  The risk of a trap, of course, is that it leaves behind one less defender if the opposing ball-handler breaks your trap.  Even if the Gamecocks double LSU's posts, or force the Tigers to slingshot around the perimeter to avoid a trap, it may be worth the gamble.  LSU has shot 13 for its last 73 from three-point range (17.8%) in its last 5 games. 

Matchup to Watch:  South Carolina's Bruce Ellington vs. LSU freshman guard Anthony Hickey.  Maturity isn't measured easily in college basketball.  But Ellington has quietly shown more poise at the point during his sophomore season:

Bruce Ellington

Year                        Assists                   Turnovers

'10-11                    42                           43

'11-12                    40                           27

As you can see, Ellington has nearly as many assists - in five fewer games - while committing 16 fewer turnovers.  He's rushed less, and played in control more.  He'll receive a test Saturday from Hickey, a 5'10" former Kentucky Mr. Basketball who has had a solid rookie season for head coach Trent Johnson.  In addition to averaging 9.6 ppg and a team-high 3.8 apg, Hickey ranks among the SEC leaders in steals (2.1 spg).

Bruce Ellington will get a test from one of the quickest pairs of hands in the SEC, LSU point guard Anthony Hickey. 

Ellington and Hickey have several traits in common:  height (Hickey 5'10," Ellington 5'8"), hype (starting point guards from Day One), and crossover ability (both starred at quarterback for their high schools' football teams). Ellington will need to use his more mature ballhandling against Hickey's hyper-quick hands.  We'll also see if Ellington can use his athleticism to shed Hickey off ball screens, something the Gamecocks did often against Georgia.  At eye level, few players see eye-to-eye with Bruce.  Look at how Ellington has fared when facing an opposing point guard shorter than 6'0" in SEC play:

Date                       Team                      Player                                     Height                    Points Scored

1/15/11                 Florida                  Erving Walker                       5'8"                         23 points              

2/2/11                   LSU                         Andre Stringer                       5'9"                         20 points

1/14/12                 Florida                  Erving Walker                       5'8"                         17 points

Clearly, Ellington has shown he can get his shot up.

Threes Need Not Apply:  South Carolina has shot 10-51 (19.6%) from three-point range in its two SEC wins. 

We Interrupt This Game... South Carolina sealed the Georgia game thanks to stellar, 14-15 free-throw shooting.  Neither team has shown a penchant to drive or play physically - South Carolina ranks 334th in the nation in FTA/FGA, LSU 335th  That could easily decide the game - which team gets to the line better?

And Finally... Did the Gamecocks receive some serendipitous scheduling?  South Carolina held Georgia's triangle offense to an SEC season-low 35.1% FG.  Georgia head coach Mark Fox learned the triangle as an assistant coach at Nevada to Tigers head coach Trent Johnson.

Repetition and preparation.  The Gamecocks exhibited it after the practice whistle Tuesday.  They'll try to show it when the referee's whistle blows Saturday.

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.  We'll see you at Colonial Life Arena.

February 15, 2012

Ever run on a treadmill, then step off and try to walk?  That may be how it feels when South Carolina takes the floor Wednesday. 

February 10, 2012

Assistant coach Cypheus Bunton has a big day planned Saturday.  And it doesn't even involve going to Home Depot (or Bed Bath & Beyond if he has time).

"I'll be turning the big 4-0 on Saturday," Bunton told me on "Carolina Calls" Thursday.  "My birthday wish is to get a win." 

The Gamecocks hope to oblige.

Pre-tip reads before South Carolina (9-14, 1-8 SEC) and Arkansas (16-8, 4-5 SEC) lock horns at Bud Walton Arena:

To "Hell" And Back:  Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson spent 17 years as a Razorback assistant under Hall of Famer Nolan Richardson.  In his first season back, Anderson has resurrected the famed, frenetic "40 Minutes of Hell" style made popular by his mentor.  It has helped the Razorbacks to a conference-leading 8.8 steals per game (16th NCAA) and a gasping-for-breath 71.4 adjusted possessions per game according to Ken Pomeroy.  No other SEC team averages more than 66 possessions per game.

Adjusted Tempo* - SEC

1.        Arkansas                               71.4

 SEC average                          65.8       

12.   South Carolina                       62.0

*"Adjusted tempo" takes a team's possessions per game, and weights it against the preferred pace of opponents and when the game was played.

Arkansas' full-court pressure isn't technical, or tactical, or loaded with principles.  It's meant to be chaotic, and predatory, and panic-inducing.  Find someone as fast as you can, and don't let him get through.  The Razorbacks will double-team on the inbound - often face-guarding the inbounder - and suffocate the lead guard into committing a turnover.   

February 7, 2012

They watched, but didn't dwell.  Analyzed, but didn't agonize.  What was the point?  South Carolina knew it played poorly, and Kentucky - well, Kentucky played like a #1-ranked team.  The tape wouldn't reveal anything new, or different, or rosy.

So when it came time to break down Carolina's 86-52 loss to #1 Kentucky, the Gamecock coaches ritually studied the tape.  But they decided not to share their findings with the players.

"We'll put what's behind us, behind us," Darrin Horn said Tuesday.  "We had a game that we weren't as good as we had been.  Reviewing that game was not going to help us get ready for the next one."

Makes sense.  Why show anything that would undercut your team's confidence heading into a key stretch of SEC play?  What good would that do?  Better to flush it out of your system, and move on to the next one.  Besides, bigger opportunities lay ahead for the Gamecocks.  After a brutal SEC schedule that featured teams with a combined .716 SEC winning percentage, South Carolina's next eight opponents have a combined .384 SEC winning percentage. 

SEC Winning %

1^st 8 opponents:  .716

2^nd 8 opponents: .384

Ugly Is Beautiful:  New Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin has centered his team's identity on defense, rallying around the phrase "Staying Ugly."  The Volunteers don't rank highly in Turnover %, Block %, and Steal %.  They prefer instead to guard players straight-up, and force them to execute their sets to completion.  Martin values defense so much that he benched leading scorer and assist man Trae Golden for the Georgia game, displeased with the sophomore's defensive intensity. 

Tennessee does an especially good job bringing help and rotating over - being "ball conscious," as Horn puts it.  South Carolina had one of its better-executed offensive halves against Florida, stretching the floor with quick passes and slashing from the wings in the 2nd half.  If they can keep the floor spaced, it may neutralize Tennessee's defense.

Broken Glass: Rebounding is as much about establishing an attitude as gaining a possession.  It sets an aggressive, determined tone that coaches hope will spread to the rest of their team's game.  The Gamecocks have always made aggressive, swarming rebounding a priority. 

And We'll Be Counting:  In the last three games of the series, Tennessee has made 65 free throws.  South Carolina has only attempted 40.

There One Day...  It has become one of the most taunting - and tantalizing - developments of the 2012 season.  Freshman Damien Leonard showed off his smooth shooting stroke and heat-up-in-a-hurry ability against Kentucky, scoring a career-high 19 points on 3-6 three-point shooting.  No player may be a bigger "X" factor in the second half of SEC play than Leonard - he can stretch the floor for players like Bruce Ellington, Malik Cooke, and Anthony Gill to penetrate or get isolations. 

But look at Leonard's follow-up games after his biggest high-water scoring marks of the season:

Opponent                             Points Scored                         Next Opponent                   Points Scored

Mississippi Valley St.          16                                           North Carolina                     15

North Carolina                      15                                           Southern Cal                         0

Wofford                                  14                                           USC-Upstate                          1

Kentucky                                 15                                           Vanderbilt                             0

Kentucky                                 19                                           Tennessee                              ?

Leonard's combined shooting in those last three games:  0-10 FG,  0-6 3pt.

Darrin Horn remarked that Damien "showed that he belonged" against Kentucky.  Can he now do it on a more consistent basis?  Staying aggressive, but knowing when to be aggressive? 

Man to Stop:  forward Jeronne Maymon.  Sophomore guard Trae Golden may lead the Volunteers in points (12.9) and assists (4.7).  But given Carolina's struggles containing opponents on the glass, Maymon takes top billing.  A 6'7," 265-pound redshirt junior from Madison, Wisc., Maymon is a hard-nosed forward who both finishes at a high rate (.557 FG, #2 SEC) and also pounds the boards (8.4 rpg, #2 SEC).  He's not quite a raw banger like 6'8," 250-pound freshman Jarnell Stokes, but Maymon likes to drive hard from the high post.   

February 3, 2012

February 4th has been a magnet for milestones in South Carolina basketball.

On February 4, 1956, the Gamecocks had their highest-scoring game, a 121-point effort against The Citadel in Charleston.  On February 4, 1971, John Roche poured in a school-record 56 points in a win over Furman.

We'll see if February 4 time-stamps another historic moment for South Carolina basketball.  Pre-tip reads before #1 Kentucky descends on Gamecock Country:

SEC-ond Coming:  The Gamecocks have a short turnaround to engineer a not-so-short turnaround from their last meeting with Kentucky, a 79-64 loss in Lexington.  What did we learn from that first game?  What has evolved with the Wildcats since?  Pay attention to these four factors:

Terrence Jones (left) has elevated his game since the last time South Carolina faced him.

In three career games against the Gamecocks, the 6'9" sophomore has averaged 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.  He has a smooth left hand, the playmaking skills of a guard, and the ability to break down taller defenders on the perimeter.  When he's on, teammates like Darius Miller and Doron Lamb have more room, as head coach John Calipari put it, "to do what they do."  Can the Gamecocks reduce his impact Saturday? 

Protect At All Costs:  Like the Miami Heat, no team in the SEC converts turnovers into fast breaks as quickly as Kentucky.  With the nation's leading shot blocker, Anthony Davis, playing goaltender around the rim, the Wildcats can play aggressively and gamble for steals on the perimeter.  It helped UK to a 12-0 edge in fast-break points against the Gamecocks January 7. 

Yet for all their ponderous length and athleticism, Kentucky doesn't go after turnovers as hard as you think.  The Wildcats rank 9^th in the SEC, and 218^th nationally, in TO%.  Only 19.8% of opponents' possessions result in turnovers. 

The Wildcats prefer to lay back, wait for blocks (1^st NCAA block %), and get runout-rebounds (1^st NCAA 2pt. FG% defense).  The Gamecocks only committed 12 turnovers against Kentucky in Lexington.  Can they be strong with the ball again in Columbia?

Kentucky's a Tougher Team:  Not "tougher" in the sense of more talent-laden, but "tougher" in the sense of, well, toughness.  LSU and Tennessee both tried to play Kentucky physically - swinging elbows, delivering hard fouls, and in the case of LSU's Malcolm White, horse-collaring Anthony Davis on a breakaway.  The strategy only seemed to inflame the Wildcats.  Kentucky not only responded, but it dished out punishment of its own, overpowering the Tigers and Vols with its defense and athleticism.  The Wildcats have held their last three opponents to 50 or fewer points, the first time that's happened in three consecutive games since the 1950-51 season.  

February 2, 2012

Brenton Williams' shooting ability has been a poorly kept secret in the Gamecocks' practice facility.

"I always challenge our guys after practice to see how many [three-pointers] they can make in a row.  He holds the record - 31 in a row," assistant coach Mike Boynton said on "Carolina Calls."

Now, Williams' marksmanship has started to leak out to the rest of the SEC.  After dropping a career-high 15 points against Ole Miss, the 5'11" Kissimmee, Fla., native has shot his way into a more prominent role in the Gamecocks' backcourt rotation.  He'll have a chance to solidify that spot Thursday, when the Gamecocks return to his mater patria to face #12 Florida (9:00 p.m. EST, Gamecock IMG Sports Network). 

Ironically, the Gamecocks' recruitment of Williams required several trips to Gainesville.  Despite earning county Player of the Year honors at Osceola HS, Williams' best scholarship offers came from Division I lightweights Louisiana Tech, Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman.  He opted instead to enroll at Santa Fe Community College, two hours southeast of Kissimmee but 2.3 miles from Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville.  Williams said his father convinced him that by going to a junior college, he could play his way into a larger offer.

"I definitely got what I wanted out of it.  Good coaching, good competition," Williams said.

Seeking help in the backcourt - a need intensified by Bruce Ellington's decision to play football - the Gamecock coaches were intrigued by Williams' play.  He only averaged 11.8 ppg and 39% 3-point shooting at Santa Fe, but his numbers didn't illustrate his impact. 

"We could immediately see his athleticism and explosiveness on the offensive end," Boynton said.  "One thing that always happened, whether in high school or junior college, was he was always efficient when it came to scoring the basketball."

January 25, 2012

There's a difference between defeated and daunted. 

Through four SEC games, the Gamecocks were unquestionably the former.  Wednesday night showed they were far from the latter.  After plenty of flashes and stretches, South Carolina pieced together enough of both to capture its first SEC win, a 56-54 victory over RPI #29 Alabama. 

"We came out and worked like we were undefeated," Darrin Horn said of his team's practices leading up to the Alabama game. 

Now comes the tricky part:  making that win stick on the road.  The Gamecocks face an Ole Miss team Saturday (13-7, 3-3 SEC) that led Florida by as many as 16 points before falling 64-60 Thursday night. 

The Rebels come in defeated. 

Will they be daunted? 

Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks and Rebels tee it up at Tad Smith Coliseum:

"They have a few more guys who can just go create offensively for them," he said on "Carolina Calls."  "That's going to be a challenge for us, especially on the road.  They create pretty well off the dribble, even from the '3' and the '4' spot.  We're going to need to do a good job defensively of keeping the ball in front."

Horn said his team did its best job all year of denying driving lanes from Alabama's guards.   Against superior slashers like the Rebels' Jarvis Summers, Nick Williams, and Jelan Kendrick, the Gamecocks will need an even better effort.  Ole Miss' biggest strength comes on the boards:

-          1st SEC rebounding margin, SEC games (+9.8)

-          2^nd SEC rebounding offense (40.0)

-          2^nd SEC offensive rebounds (13.6)

If Carolina can't contain Ole Miss' dribble penetration, it'll result in more rotations off the ball - which could leave the Gamecocks out of position for rebounds.

...And On the Other Side:  As the Alabama game illustrated, South Carolina is a different team when R.J. Slawson and Anthony Gill are active on the boards.  After combining for just 3 rebounds against Auburn, "Slaw" and "AG" had 9 rebounds apiece against the Crimson Tide.  Most importantly, the Gamecocks lost very few "chase-down" rebounds, where a shot caroms away and a player must beat his opponent to the ball. 

Ole Miss ranks 23^rd in the nation in 2pt. FG% defense (33.7%).  Alabama ranks 12th.  To be successful, the Gamecocks must follow the same blueprint from Wednesday:  rebound their misses and not waste possessions on turnovers. 

Man To Stop:  Reigning SEC Player of the Week, forward Terrance Henry (right).  The Rebels no longer have dynamic point guard Chris Warren - and his rabbinical beard - as their instant-offense alpha dog.  In addition, leading scorer Dundrecous Nelson (11.2 ppg) was dismissed from the team in January for a violation of team rules.  The Rebels have instead turned to Henry, a 6'9," 210-pound forward with a soft touch around the perimeter.  Darrin Horn describes Henry as "long and versatile," and he has the ability to open the floor for his teammates.  He's also nimble enough to be a defensive headache - head coach Andy Kennedy matched him on Mississippi State point guard Dee Bost, and placed him at the top of a 2-3 zone against Georgia. 

Horn on Holloway:  Paired alongside Henry in the frontcourt will be Rebel-turned-Gamecock-turned-Rebel-again Murphy Holloway.  The Irmo native played his first two seasons in Oxford before transferring to South Carolina.  After sitting out the 2010-11 season, Holloway opted to return to Ole Miss.  

Darrin Horn gave his first comments about facing Holloway on "Carolina Calls":

"I'm actually looking forward to seeing him just personally.  [He's a] terrific kid.  I really enjoyed having him in our program.  He's doing what we all know he does well - rebound the basketball, and finish at the rim, and use his great athleticism for the Rebels."

The Gamecocks won't need a lengthy scouting report on Holloway.  He's athletic, active, and a powerful offensive rebounder.  He also has a dominant left hand and a nifty spin move off the dribble.  But Horn shrugged off the notion that their familiarity with "Big Murf" gives them an edge.

"The thing is, what he's good at, he's good at every night.  He's hard to key on.  He's just a terrific athlete that's very active around the basket.  I don't know if there will be much to our advantage on that," he said.

One For The Road?  The home team has won 18 of the last 20 games in this series.  Former SEC West teams are a combined 61-8 at home this year (.884).

Lakeem Jackson will try to deliver a rare win for the road team in this series.

State of Rebellion:  Ole Miss played a sagging 2-3 zone against Georgia, daring the Bulldogs to shoot 3's and choking down driving lanes for Georgia guard Gerald Robinson.  South Carolina, as we've seen all year, plays its best when it makes a concerted effort to play inside-out.  After an abysmal 5-31 three-point performance against Alabama - even Darrin Horn called it "horrific" - will Ole Miss use the same tactic against the Gamecocks?

Force The Forcing:  Ole Miss has six guards on its roster.  Five of them are freshmen.  That lack of seasoning shows up most in Ole Miss' turnovers and three-point shooting.  Like Alabama, Ole Miss shoots an alarmingly low 28.3% from three-point range, good for 328^th in the nation.  The Rebels also commit an SEC-high 15.6 turnovers per game, more than one turnover worse than the next biggest offender.  Can the Gamecocks force the Rebel guards into forcing action in the halfcourt, and disrupt the flow of Ole Miss' offense?

And Finally... Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy played his freshman season at North Carolina State, where he played on the Wolfpack's 1987 ACC Tournament championship team.  One Gamecock had a front-row seat for Kennedy's only year in Raleigh:  head baseball coach Ray Tanner served as N.C. State's 45-second shot clock operator at the time.

Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy as a freshman at N.C. State (#21).  You might know the Wolfpack's shot clock operator that season.

 "Andy Kennedy, sharpshooter," Tanner replied when I asked him about Kennedy.

Tanner also served as official scorer during the Jim Valvano era.  But when it came to operating the shot clock, he wasn't above giving his alma mater a slight home-court advantage.

"I liked watching the game better than keeping the score.  You could also start [the clock] a little later when the Wolfpack had the ball," Tanner said slyly.

The clock for the Gamecocks starts at 7:00 p.m. Saturday.

Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well.  Our coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you in Oxford.

January 25, 2012

Pre-tip reads before South Carolina and Alabama collide under the CLA roof:

Pressure Points:  At the end of the day, scouting reports only offer clues, not facts.  Heading into their contest against South Carolina, Auburn had played mostly a 2-3 zone defense.  Outside of the Gamecocks, no SEC team had trotted out more zone than the Tigers.  When the ball tipped, though, Auburn abandoned it for a pressuring man-to-man, crowding Carolina's ball-handlers and making it difficult for them to "catch and create." 

Twenty-three turnovers later, the Gamecocks trudged out of Auburn Arena with a 63-52 loss.  However, the Tigers may have unwittingly prepared the Gamecocks for the defense they'll face Wednesday.  Alabama (13-6, 2-3 SEC), under the steel-melting gaze of head coach Anthony Grant, plays a withering man-to-man which puts the Tide near the top of the NCAA defensive charts:

-          12^th NCAA in scoring defense (57.5 ppg)

-          7^th NCAA in field goal percentage defense (37.3%)

-          8^th NCAA in 3-point percentage defense (27.6%)

-          3^rd NCAA in effective field goal percentage (41.5%)

(as of Jan. 24)

Alabama doesn't trap excessively, overload, or full-court press at every opportunity.   Rather, they pride themselves on "staying in front" and not allowing easy shots.  Darrin Horn mentioned the need to get "easy ones" against Alabama - namely stickbacks and fast-break baskets, before Alabama's defense can set. 

Also important: don't be timid.  In the last two games, Alabama's opponents have 69 free throw attempts to their 35.  Can South Carolina play hard-nosed, fearless basketball, and get easy points at the foul line?  Can Bruce Ellington shrug off the pressure that he knows will come, and still be an effective penetrator?  If he has to play facilitator, can Damien Leonard, Brian Richardson, or Malik Cooke keep the floor stretched with catch-and-shoot jumpers?  Cooke, in particular, may need to take charge - he's only hit 1-9 three-pointers in conference play.

Can South Carolina drive hard like Malik Cooke (right), and get to the free throw line against Alabama?

Last 2 games

Team                      FTA

Alabama                35

Opponents            69

Man to Stop:  Alabama small forward Tony Mitchell (left).  His frontcourt running mate, preseason 1^st Team All-SEC pick JaMychal Green, may drip more newspaper ink, but nobody drips more athleticism on the Tide than the 6'6," 210-pound junior from Swainsboro, Ga.  Mitchell earns "Man To Stop" status because he averages close to a double-double for his career against the Gamecocks (12.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg in 3 games). 

Mitchell is a skyscraping leaper who primarily scores off cuts, offensive rebounds, and transition opportunities.  His ballhandling has tightened, and his ability to score off the dribble has improved, but it still isn't a featured part of his game.  Mitchell will also have the motivation of shaking off a terrible shooting slump - in his last two games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky, he has averaged 3.0 ppg on 2-17 FG. 

Rele-vant Information:  Looking to curb your 2^nd-half defensive struggles?  South Carolina should look no further than Alabama point guard Trevor Releford.  Check out Releford's scoring splits over the last 2 games:

Opponent                             1st Half Pts.                          2^nd Half Pts.

Vanderbilt                             0                                              14

Kentucky                                0                                              17

TOTAL                                    0                                              31

I don't think I've seen anything like that before.  Releford, by the way, rated as Scout.com's 10^th-best point guard in the Class of 2010.  Bruce Ellington ranked 12^th.

Jack-ed Up?  In three career games, junior Lakeem Jackson has averaged 10.7 rebounds/game against Alabama.  He set his career high with 14 boards against the Crimson Tide in the 2010 SEC Tournament in Nashville.

Three pointers?  They don't happen often with Alabama (Right:  freshman Trevor Lacey).

Conversely, the Gamecocks rank 332^nd in the nation in 3pt. defense, permitting 40.1% shooting from three.  Will Wednesday's game offer relief to the rained-upon Carolina defense?  Here's the quirk:  the next highest major-conference teams in 2pt. FG distribution have all faced the Gamecocks.  And all three knocked down more three-pointers than they were accustomed to: 

Opponent                             2pt. Distribution (NCAA Rank)                          vs. USC

Alabama                                62.9% (2^nd)                                                            ??

Southern Cal                         62.3%  (8^th)                                                            53.9%

North Carolina                     61.9%  (12^th)                                                         52.9%

Ohio State                             61.6%  (13^th)                                                         59.4%

South Carolina allowed too many easy drives against Auburn, where the help-side defender stood motionless.  Alabama will want to attack inside.  Can the Gamecocks be more aggressive in their help-side defense, and dare Alabama to beat them from three?  Or will the Crimson Tide defy their three-point percentages like Carolina's other opponents?   

No Trespassers:  Damontre Harris broke his previous career high with 6 blocks against Auburn, most of them of the malevolent, highlight-reel quality.  After rejecting Kenny Gabriel on a baseline dunk in the 1^st half, Harris shook his head wistfully, as if to say, "What were you thinking?"

I asked Harris what he learned most in his freshman season as the backup to Sam Muldrow, Carolina's all-time blocked shots leader.

"He taught me about timing," Harris told me before practice Tuesday.  "You have to anticipate, stay low, and always be ready."

Equally impressive, Harris logged a career-high 37 minutes against Auburn while only committing one foul.  He'll need to bring that same floor presence against Alabama's imposing front line.

And Finally... Brian Richardson's first scholarship offer came from Anthony Grant.  He offered him while still head coach of VCU.

Now that we're prepared, we hope you are as well.  Our pregame coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. EST on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network.  We'll see you at Colonial Life Arena.

January 20, 2012

Anyone who saw the schedule knew it would be tough.

Few knew how historically tough it would be.

As the Gamecocks return to SEC play against Auburn (11-7, 1-3 SEC), they do so with an unforgiving gauntlet behind them.  South Carolina opened conference play by facing three teams ranked in the Associated Press' preseason Top 10 poll (#3 Kentucky, #7 Vanderbilt, #8 Florida).  The Gamecocks battled hardily, but dropped all three, the latest a 79-65 setback to Florida.

After some research, I discovered an astonishing stat.  In the last 15 years of the AP poll, only two other schools have opened their conference schedule by facing three straight preseason Top 10-ranked opponents. 

·         In 2008-09, Georgetown - itself a preseason top-25 team - faced Connecticut (AP preseason #2), Pittsburgh (#5), and Notre Dame (#9) in succession.  The Hoyas beat the Huskies, but lost the next two.

·         In 2002-2003, Iowa State hosted Kansas (AP preseason #2), played at Texas (#4), and then hosted Oklahoma (#3).  True to their nickname, the Cyclones must have felt sucked in by an uncontrollable centrifugal force; ISU lost all three.

(Thanks to Chuck Sullivan of the Big East, Rob Carolla of the Big XII, and Heather Hirschman of the ACC for assisting me in the research).

South Carolina's SEC schedule has been literally once-every-five-years arduous.  That said, the Gamecocks offer no excuses for their 0-3 start.  Winning is the expectation, without exception.  The Gamecocks can't let their opening schedule, however brutal, affect their resolve.  Pre-tip reads before the Gamecocks and Tigers lock claws and paws on the Plains:

(By the way, Auburn did not begin the season ranked in the Top 10.)

You Don't Know The Half of It:  If a team struggles with shooting, coaches have shooting drills.  If a team falters on the boards, coaches have rebounding drills.  So how does a coach practice more consistent efforts from one half to the next?  Untimely, up-and-down halves have submarined the Gamecocks in their three SEC games (they currently have a 25.7 point differential between halves). 

I asked Darrin Horn on how he addressed those swings.  While it's important to understand why the drop-offs occur, he says it's more important to maintain the right mentality.

"We've seen this from the last two teams that we've played. You learn to come out and just keep grinding and keep chipping away and keep doing the things you need to do with experience.  Sometimes when it doesn't go well, we let it get to us," Horn told me on "Carolina Calls."

How The Other Half Lives:  Despite matching its win total from last season, Auburn has had its own problems with dry spells.  In a 65-58 overtime loss to LSU, the Tigers managed one field goal in overtime.  They mustered just one field goal in a nine-minute span against Kentucky.  Indeed, Horn may have a kindred spirit in Auburn head coach Tony Barbee, who said this week:  "We're still looking for that catalyst.  One or two guys that can step up and make plays when the game matters."

Carolina and Auburn are separated by a mere .001% in field goal percentage (Auburn  .427, South Carolina .426).  Kentucky, Florida, and Vandy rank 1-2-3 in the SEC in FG%; Auburn sits in 8^th.  Both teams also use a 2-3 zone as the centerpiece of their defensive efforts.  If a drought occurs, which team can weather it better?  Who can knock down a tough shot, or bust a zone with a three-pointer, to snap their team out of an offensive funk?  Look for that subplot Saturday. 

Man to Stop:  Auburn guard Kenny Gabriel.  The 6'8," 209-pound senior leads the Tigers with 8.1 rebounds per game, and grabbed a career-high 13 against the Gamecocks in 2011.  Perhaps he owes his rebounding prowess to his head coach at United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, N.C.: former Gamecock forward Tony Kitchings. 

Gabriel drew headlines when he recorded the first triple-double in Auburn history, a 24-point, 13-rebound, 10-block performance against Bethune-Cookman January 2.  He's a rangy, athletic power forward who can back his opponent in the post, but also step out and shoot the three  (he went 0-8 3pt. vs. LSU).  His inside-out game presents a tricky matchup for Carolina.

And Another Thing:  Today marks the 11-year anniversary that Kitchings set the South Carolina school record for rebounds in an SEC game.  Kitchings corralled 18 rebounds against - you guessed it - Auburn.

I Feel You, Bruce:  When Bruce Ellington returned from football, he admitted his basketball "feel" would take the longest to regain.  In fewer reps, Ellington's "feel" feels stronger than ever.

"He's not trying to do too much, and we're not asking him to do too much.  When he didn't play well down the streth last year, that was probably more my fault, because we were asking him to do too much," Darrin Horn said on "Carolina Calls."

Ellington's improved feel may be best reflected in his Assist/Turnover Ratio.  Like any scoring point guard, Ellington must be wary of forcing action that could result in turnovers.  Instead, Bruce has enjoyed his best nights protecting the ball against the top teams in the SEC. 

Opponent                                                             A/TO                                      Ratio