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!

GAMECOCK-GAMEDAY THREAD: South Carolina vs.  Florida ***Jan. 07, 2019 at 7:00pm.***

FeatheredCock

FeatheredCock

“Let It Be”
Staff member
Messages
55,935
Fanatics Cash
65,804
Points
13,488
GAMECOCK-GAMEDAY THREAD: South Carolina vs.  Florida ***Jan. 07, 2019 at 7:00pm.***

View attachment 829

**Jan. 02, 2019 -Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.**

View attachment 1504 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Florida Gators 
Florida.png

Here you go free to listen if not near a radio or TV
 
 
 
-------------------------------​




GAME INFO


Who: Florida (9-4, 1-0 SEC) at South Carolina (8-5, 0-0)

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Colonial Life Arena

TV: ESPNU

Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area

Series: Florida leads 45-27

Last meeting: Jan. 5, 2019 — South Carolina 71, Florida 69

KenPom prediction: Florida 70, South Carolina 66


USC-FLORIDA STORYLINES


1. Starting fresh

Christmas was great for the Gamecocks. New Year’s wasn’t.

South Carolina’s odd split of holiday games — a massive win over then-No. 9 Virginia on Dec. 22 followed by a head-scratching loss to Stetson on Dec. 30 — puts USC in an intriguing position heading into SEC play. Which team shows up against the Gators? If it’s the one that grabbed a rare road victory at UVa, then the Gamecocks could easily be 1-0 in the league for the fourth time in five years. But should that Stetson performance linger, South Carolina is facing a talented-enough roster to get blown out at home.

Florida, after all, was picked in the preseason to finish second in the SEC.

“The start of conference play is a big opportunity,” said sophomore guard A.J. Lawson. “If we can come out here and play to the best of our abilities and come out strong, that’ll set the tone for the rest of conference play.”

2. Martin vs. White

The last time South Carolina began SEC play against the Gators, it stole a memorable win. Felipe Haase threw to Chris Silva, who dunked home the go-ahead basket with 2.5 seconds left to cement the Gamecocks’ come-from-behind 71-69 victory in Gainesville last January.

It was all the latest example of Carolina coach Frank Martin’s edge over Florida coach Mike White. The Gamecocks lead the series over White’s Gators (since White’s 2015 hire), 5-2, including USC’s Elite Eight win in 2017.

3. Team Canada

Florida, a team of high expectations coming off an offseason that included the addition of coveted Virginia Tech transfer Kerry Blackshear, had a relatively disappointing non-conference showing as it went from preseason No. 6 to out of the polls.

The Gators rallied back from 21 down to beat Alabama on Saturday in their SEC opener, perhaps the kind of finish to a game that gets them rolling through January. Andrew Nembhard led the charge with 25 points and four assists.

Nembhard is the Gators’ point guard, meaning it’s likely he gets the matchup with fellow Canadian A.J. Lawson. Longtime friends, the 6-foot-5 Nembhard had 10 points and seven assists in last year’s USC game. The 6-6 Lawson, who is coming off a season-low 13 minutes in the Stetson loss, was held to six points in Gainesville.

“We’re just talking about moving on to the next game, playing how I should play, playing to the best of my abilities and not holding back,” Lawson said of the message he received from Martin following the Stetson loss. “And giving it maximum effort.”

4. Couisnard’s availability

South Carolina sixth man Jermaine Couisnard hasn’t practiced since last mid-week due to a back strain. That was Martin’s Monday update. The plan from there was to try practicing Monday afternoon in anticipation for Tuesday’s game.

Couisnard is fifth on the team in minutes (21.8) and fourth in scoring (8.5 points per game). His absence could mean more time for Trae Hannibal or T.J. Moss.

5. Defending Blackshear

South Carolina will get its first crack at Blackshear, the SEC’s preseason player of the year, in an actual game. The Gamecocks are familiar with him, however, from past scrimmages with Virginia Tech.

“I remember him being a good player,” Maik Kotsar said of the 6-10, 241-pound Blackshear. “We never did any proper scout on them just because it was a scrimmage game and we just went at them.

“But we’ve just got to stay solid on defense, got to do everything I can just to stop him.”

Blackshear is averaging nearly 15 points and nine rebounds a game. The senior is an 84 percent free throw shooter.


FLORIDA


Coach: Mike White (199-97 in nine seasons overall; fifth season at Florida — 98-57)

Projected starters: G Andrew Nembhard (10.6 points per game, G Noah Locke (10.2), F Keyontae Johnson (13.0), F Kerry Blackshear (14.9), F Omar Payne (4.3)

Last game: Beat Alabama 104-98 (two overtimes) at home on Saturday

KenPom ranking: 29 (No. 38 in offense efficiency, No. 33 in defense efficiency)

NET: 53


SOUTH CAROLINA


Coach: Frank Martin (254-165 in 13 seasons overall; eighth season at USC — 137-111)

Projected starters: G A.J. Lawson (15.5), G Jair Bolden (9.4), F Keyshawn Bryant (7.6), F Justin Minaya (7.2), C Maik Kotsar (9.7)

Last game: Lost to Stetson 63-56 on Dec. 30 at home

KenPom ranking: 105 (No. 161 in offense efficiency, No. 86 in defense efficiency)

NET: 118

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Need them to play like they did against Virginia. Florida is not as strong of a D and I think our D can slow UF shooting down some. Kotsar gets to earn his keep a lot in this game. If we can get them down it would be great but they can rally. We need our strongest D play this game and need to get some steals again.

 
We usually compete well against Florida.    Because of the inexperience of this team, its very hard to predict how they will play.   Hoping for the best.

 
Gamecocks trail at halftime 40-37. The Gators had the better shooting half in the first half, hitting 50% of their shots compared to us only hitting 39% of ours, and out-rebounded us 20 to 12. We kept it close with strong free throw shooting, hitting 13 of 14 attempts from the charity stripe to keep us close. We need to do a better job defensively in the 2nd half, and hopefully hit some more shots, but to only be down by 3 pts at the half on our floor, we are in solid shape still to take this game, but we need to do better in the 2nd half. Just out-score Florida by 4 points, and that will do it.......

 
If I’m Frank Martin, I sub in Hannibal for Bolden for the rest of the game.  Bolden isn’t getting it done tonight and hurting us defensively.

 
doublea1971 said:
If I’m Frank Martin, I sub in Hannibal for Bolden for the rest of the game.  Bolden isn’t getting it done tonight and hurting us defensively.
Click to expand...
Well... I guess that’s why Frank is the coach and I am not.  He stuck with him, and Bolden starts picking up his game.

 
I hate to be a broken record, but I’m still seeing Lawson’s selfish play being the killer for this team right now.

Bolden WAS hurting us defensively in 1st half, but then came back and played pretty well.  Lawson, on the other hand, finished with 12 points, but 3 assists and 4 turnovers.  He also took EIGHT 3 point shots, making only 3, and was 3 for 15 from the field.  Tellingly, AJ made 2 shots in the entirety of the 2nd half - a 3 pointer and a FT.  In the same half, he missed 9 shot attempts (including 2 FTs).  Right now he’s not passing the ball and he’s not choosing to take good shots.

Coach Martin has to get him on the same page as the rest of the team.  He’s too valuable to our squad, and too good of a player.  I potentially see a benching coming to teach him a lesson, similar to what happened to Sindarius a few years back when he decided to break team rules.  Just to let AJ know that his leadership matters to this team.

 
Lost because Florida has better players and executed their game plan better.    Kotsar was good.   Did about all he could to help us win.    The only other guy I thought was really good was Hannibal.    And Frank wouldn't play him in the second half.   I don't know why.   Couisnard being out likely hurt us tonight.  

Neither Lawson, Bolden, or Moss are getting it done at PG.   Frank needs to start Hannibal at PG and start either Bolden or Lawson at 2G.     When Couisnard gets healthy, let him back up Hannibal at PG.     I don't see this team improving a lot without changes at PG.  

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I believe we need to make a coaching change once the season's over.  Frank's draconian style isn't working and he's taken us as far as he can.  Another year of not making the tourney.  Did y'all catch the stat that we're 345 out of 352 D1 teams at the free throw line?  smdh

 
Blitzkrieg said:
I believe we need to make a coaching change once the season's over.  Frank's draconian style isn't working and he's taken us as far as he can.  Another year of not making the tourney.  Did y'all catch the stat that we're 345 out of 352 D1 teams at the free throw line?  smdh
Click to expand...
I disagree.  Frank is the best coach we have had since McGuire.  This is a very young team that is struggling right now.    Have to give them time to work things out.  One thing the team needs is a guard who can dribble into the lane.   Hannibal is the best bet for that, but Frank is not happy with him at the moment for some reason I do not know.     Need to get Couisnard back too.  He and Hannibal are the two most natural point guards on this team.   But, they are both freshmen.    I think Frank might need to adjust the defense some to keep the opponent from dribbling into the paint.   We have not been any good at stopping that all season and it is hurting us badly.   It killed us tonight.

 
like already mentioned if this team is to have any hope you start hannibal in a 3 guard lineup with lawson and bolden.  lawson makes too many bad decisions/passes to be a point guard.  the past 4 games lawson has 17 turnovers and 7 assists.  we need to either go with a 3 guard lineup with hannibal at pg or bring him off the bench quickly and have him play a majority of the game at the point. 

hard to win when you dont make 3's, get beat up on the boards, have more turnovers than assists, and dont play good defense. 

 
crowcutta said:
like already mentioned if this team is to have any hope you start hannibal in a 3 guard lineup with lawson and bolden.  lawson makes too many bad decisions/passes to be a point guard.  the past 4 games lawson has 17 turnovers and 7 assists.  we need to either go with a 3 guard lineup with hannibal at pg or bring him off the bench quickly and have him play a majority of the game at the point. 

hard to win when you dont make 3's, get beat up on the boards, have more turnovers than assists, and dont play good defense. 
Click to expand...
I agree wholeheartedly with you.  3 guard lineup is the best for the way this team is built.  Frank's defensive system is made more difficult (due to size differences) with that lineup, but nonetheless Lawson is NOT the answer.  He's a "bull your way" to the basket kind of player - quick, with little to no decision making to pass the ball unless he's bottled up.  He's got the quicks to get by most defenders, and he's pretty accurate around the basket with his shooting.  But he's NOT a pass-first, decision making kind of guard.  Bolden, unfortunately, is inconsistent.  I think if Jair got his shot going the way he did against UVA, he could be a completely different player.  I like what I see from Cousinard though he's also a bit like Lawson in that he doesn't tend to pass first.    Hannibal needs to get more time on the court.  Frank is trying to ease him into the game, rather than putting pressure on him to produce as a Freshman.  He's showing lots of flashes of brilliance, but you can tell he's still got HS game tendencies (which would frustrate Coach Martin to no end).

But yes... 3 guard seems to be the way to go right now with this team and its makeup.  Like it or not, players like Bryant and Minaya need to be "team" players and make room for another guard on the court.  Those two (Bryant/Minaya) are great players, but the current starting 5 isn't going to win us the games we need.  I say that we play 3 guard and two bigs, with Kotsar (who has turned into a beast this season) and Leveque getting minutes.  Rotate Bryant in for offensive punch to pull away and Minaya in for defensive punch when needed.  Between Cousinard/Hannibal, Bolden, and Lawson, I think we can get the shooting power we need to pull off some upset victories in the league.

We shall see... Coach Martin seems to have found the way to adjust vs. Clemson and UVA, with tweaks to the lineup.  Hopefully that will be true over then next few weeks again.

 
Florida was just very good last night.  I have watched them play some and I have not seen them play as well as they did against us.   Of course it might have had something to do with our not playing as well as we should have, but nevertheless, I thought UF was outstanding in that game.   

Positives:  Kotsar played well.   We shot FT much better than we have been.   We were in the game with a chance to win until the last 3 minutes.  

Keep practicing and trying.

 
doublea1971 said:
I agree wholeheartedly with you.  3 guard lineup is the best for the way this team is built.  Frank's defensive system is made more difficult (due to size differences) with that lineup, but nonetheless Lawson is NOT the answer.  He's a "bull your way" to the basket kind of player - quick, with little to no decision making to pass the ball unless he's bottled up.  He's got the quicks to get by most defenders, and he's pretty accurate around the basket with his shooting.  But he's NOT a pass-first, decision making kind of guard.  Bolden, unfortunately, is inconsistent.  I think if Jair got his shot going the way he did against UVA, he could be a completely different player.  I like what I see from Cousinard though he's also a bit like Lawson in that he doesn't tend to pass first.    Hannibal needs to get more time on the court.  Frank is trying to ease him into the game, rather than putting pressure on him to produce as a Freshman.  He's showing lots of flashes of brilliance, but you can tell he's still got HS game tendencies (which would frustrate Coach Martin to no end).

But yes... 3 guard seems to be the way to go right now with this team and its makeup.  Like it or not, players like Bryant and Minaya need to be "team" players and make room for another guard on the court.  Those two (Bryant/Minaya) are great players, but the current starting 5 isn't going to win us the games we need.  I say that we play 3 guard and two bigs, with Kotsar (who has turned into a beast this season) and Leveque getting minutes.  Rotate Bryant in for offensive punch to pull away and Minaya in for defensive punch when needed.  Between Cousinard/Hannibal, Bolden, and Lawson, I think we can get the shooting power we need to pull off some upset victories in the league.

We shall see... Coach Martin seems to have found the way to adjust vs. Clemson and UVA, with tweaks to the lineup.  Hopefully that will be true over then next few weeks again.
Click to expand...
i prefer going with a 4 small lineup, id start bryant at the 4.  the issue i have with starting 2 bigs is we dont have any bigs that can shoot.  having said that bryant cant shoot from outside and minaya has shot poorly from outside as well so there is no perfect lineup.  ideally we'd be able to flex between 1 and 2 big lineups depending on how we want to attack the opponent and what theyre doing to grind our way to victories.  while you only end up with 2 shooters on the floor if you start hannibal and leveque why it could work is youve got another rim protector on the floor and a disruptive guy on the perimeter.  offensively you'd hope hannibal would create some easier opportunities for the rest of the guys and better decision making. 

 
crowcutta said:
i prefer going with a 4 small lineup, id start bryant at the 4.  the issue i have with starting 2 bigs is we dont have any bigs that can shoot.  having said that bryant cant shoot from outside and minaya has shot poorly from outside as well so there is no perfect lineup.  ideally we'd be able to flex between 1 and 2 big lineups depending on how we want to attack the opponent and what theyre doing to grind our way to victories.  while you only end up with 2 shooters on the floor if you start hannibal and leveque why it could work is youve got another rim protector on the floor and a disruptive guy on the perimeter.  offensively you'd hope hannibal would create some easier opportunities for the rest of the guys and better decision making. 
Click to expand...
I understand your point, and don't disagree with the overall logic.  The problem for me is the size of OTHER teams that we play against.  Going 4 small is going to create some serious mismatches against us.  But if we can figure out a way to make it work AND play good defense, then I guess... why not?

 
Defensively, one of our biggest problems is Kotsar is the only guy on the team that can keep his man from driving on him.  When the dribbler gets into the paint, one of our players has to help and that leaves someone open.   It happened many times last night.    I think Frank needs to adjust his defense to cut off drivers.   I'd rather give up an open three than to allow someone to drive the paint, get our guys out of position, and then give up an open shot.

It is my opinion that we would be better off if every shot our opponents take is a three.    Even if they made 20 threes, that's only 60 points.   Not enough points to beat you in most games.  And, we wouldn't foul nearly as much, which would mean they would get fewer points on FT, and keep our guys out of foul trouble.   

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top