What's new
By:
Filters
Gamecock Fanatics

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

***2020-21 #2/3 South Carolina (17-3) vs #17/17 Kentucky (15-5) Game Thread***

ConwayGamecock

ConwayGamecock

Administrator
Messages
3,107
Fanatics Cash
2,067
Points
217
Preview_Grissett_Kentucky.jpg



#2/3 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS VS #17/17 KENTUCKY WILDCATS​



#2/3 SOUTH CAROLINA (17-3, 12-1) VS. #17/17 KENTUCKY (15-5, 8-4)
3 P.M.   |  COLUMBIA, SC.  |   COLONIAL LIFE ARENA (3,500)

GAME DAY INFO | South Carolina Game Notes (PDF)https://gamecocksonline.com/documents/2021/2/20//SCnotes_Gm21_Kentucky.pdf?id=10746 | WATCH: ESPN | LISTEN: 1320 AM | Live Stats  | Staley Media Availability

ABOUT THIS GAME

  • South Carolina will recognize the seniors associated with the team prior to today's game. In addition to senior guard LeLe Grissett, the Gamecocks will honor senior manager Alexis Boston and senior practice players Andrew Bryson, Wyatt Ross and Tommy Webb.
  • The South Carolina-Kentucky series is tied 34-34 after the Gamecocks have won 12 of the last 13 meetings. The Wildcats' last win in the series was a 65-57 decision on Feb. 21, 2019, in Colonial Life Arena.
  • In honor of Black History Month, the Gamecocks will honor Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin in the first half. In previous games, they have recognized Edith Cook, the first Black player in program history, and South Carolina Exec. Assoc. AD/SWA/Chief Diversity Officer Maria Hickman.
 
These final 3 SEC games are still very important for the team to establish some opportunities for several great accomplishments. With the loss Thursday at Tennessee, the team is currently 12-1 in SEC play, and are currently tied in the standings with Texas A&M for the regular-season title. The Gamecocks and Aggies will play each other in their final regular-season game in College Park, TX, with the chance of winning the title out-right if both teams can get to that game with no more blemishes.

What is also important, is that the Gamecocks have all three of their final games scheduled this week: after Sunday's game with #17/17 Kentucky, they have the re-scheduled game with Ole Miss in CLA Thursday, then travel to College Park next Sunday to play the #5 ranked Aggies.

Then, if everything goes as planned in this age of Covid, the Southeastern Conference Tournament begins next week on Wednesday. The Gamecocks will be pretty wore down from this stretch of games by the start of the SECT, and looked at times like they were a bit tired already against Tennessee. The Aggies lost one of their SEC games when Vanderbilt canceled the rest of their season - we were able to get in our game with the Commodores before they checked out - plus they still have to make up their postponed game with Missouri that was paused due to their recent state-wide freeze in Texas.

But both USC and TAMU are several games above the rest of the conference standings: I think both are safe - unless they lose out the rest of the way - of being one of the top 4 seeds for the SECT, which means that each not only get a one-round bye to Thursday, but actually get a two-round bye to Friday, so the extra days off to rest up from this torrid stretch of games at the end of the schedule will be greatly beneficial, especially for the Gamecocks.

 
As for Kentucky Sunday, the last game played in Lexington was a 75-70 Gamecock win. The game played out mostly as I expected - Rhyne Howard taking a lot of shots and scoring a lot of points, but tiring out towards the end, and the rest of the team not doing enough to help. The Gamecocks out-rebounded UK 46-31 and this was also expected as Kentucky does not have the strongest post presence. Points in the paint was 56-34 in favor of USC and again that was expected.

What was not expected was how UK out-scored USC in the first half 41-32. This was mostly on the back of Howard scoring 19 of her 32 pts for the game in the 1st half, shooting 8-13 in the 1st half. In the 2nd half, she shot 5-12 and scored only 13 pts, although that's still not chopped liver. The major thing is that once Howard became a top scorer in the SEC for Kentucky, she sort of became like what Chennedy Carter used to be for Texas A&M - a one-woman offense for the Wildcats while the rest of the team often gets caught standing still and watching. Then in late stages of games when Howard cannot make the score, her teammates struggle to because they spent the game watching someone else (Howard) make them.

Anyhow, the Gamecocks out-scored UK 43-29 in the 2nd half. I'm hoping we do better to start the game, but frankly the team has seemed to be digressing a bit in terms of turnovers and missing high % shots close to the basket. If they can stay focused on dominating the paint which I seriously doubt UK could compete in that area 10 out of 10 games, get the rebounds and drive to the basket, hopefully UK's struggles on the defensive side of the ball will help USC finish better at the rim....

 
I would be at this game in normal times to cheer the girls on.

Gonna switch between this game and the Daytona road race since they both come on at 3:00 pm.

Will be glad when things get back to normal next season.

 
Gamecocks lead 14-12 after the first quarter, but both teams are struggling mightily to put the ball in the bucket. Still a huge issue for the Gamecocks, and it seems to be getting worse with every new game. The Gamecocks shot 4-19 (21%) for the 1st Period......

Kentucky is racking up a LOT of fouls - they already have three players with 2 fouls each, while the Gamecocks as a team only have 2 fouls. One of those Kentucky players though with 2 fouls, is their star offensive player Rhyne Howard...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Gamecocks lead 34-30 at the half, after leading 34-24 with about a minute to go before the Wildcats hit back-to-back threes. Howard came back into the game with 2 fouls and gave her team a lift, hitting on two quick 3-ptrs. The Gamecocks are still battling to get the ball through the hoop......it's amazing how they are struggling so at this point of the season. They are perhaps a sweet-sixteen caliber team right now, with their sudden offensive struggles......

 
The offensive woes are a result of teams playing a zone defense which allows them to double and triple cover Boston. For as long as we can't score from outside of the paint we will struggle. As Dawn has repeated, we need to get the ball inside to Boston. This team does not throw good passes. I can't remember the last bounce pass to the post. Maybe Henderson will stop driving into traffic in the paint, and pass the ball to an open team mate. I am confident that Dawn will get things turned around and be able to correct what needs to corrected.

 
Gamecocks have a stronger 3rd Qtr., out-scoring Kentucky 23-12 and extending their lead to 57-42. Zia Cooke finding her game today, and hit a three-ptr. in the final seconds of the 3rd Period. - she has 21 pts.....

 
Gamecocks win over Kentucky 76-55. Zia Cooke had a strong game with 21 pts and 5 rebounds. Destanni Henderson added 14 pts. Senior Lele Grissett got the start today on Senior Day, and added 13 pts, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, and reserve Laeticia Amihere had her best game of the season with 12 pts and team high 13 rebounds, with 2 steals. Starter big Aliyah Boston was blanketed by the Wildcat zone and only scored 4 pts on 4 attempts, but added 11 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

Rhyne Howard struggled to score today, with 12 pts on 2-11 attempts, with 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Howard was out on the floor in the closing seconds, taking shots to get over double digits.....

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top