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If all conference tournaments ended Friday, South Carolina would be a No. 6 seed in the NIT.
At least that’s the prediction from dratings.com, one of the few outlets that offers “bracketology” for college basketball’s second-tier postseason event.
That wouldn’t be a bad outcome for a Gamecocks team that was 5-7 entering January. USC (12-12, 7-4 SEC) has rallied in conference action and now has a legitimate chance to be playing past the SEC Tournament for a third time in four years.
After Carolina’s 85-73 loss at No. 1 Tennessee on Wednesday, the hard part seems over. There’s not a ranked opponent left on USC’s schedule.
The Gamecocks host Texas A&M (10-13, 3-8) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“We gotta win out these games,” said senior guard Hassani Gravett. “We got real opportunities in front of us and we look forward to them.”
While the Volunteers (11-0), LSU (10-1) and Kentucky (9-2) will fight for the title, there’s another race in the SEC where the Gamecocks sit in a favorable spot.
South Carolina enters the weekend tied with Ole Miss for fourth place in the league standings. No. 4 is a coveted position because it means a double-bye in the conference tournament. The Gamecocks and Rebels, though, hold just a one-game lead on Alabama and a two-game lead on Mississippi State, Auburn, Arkansas and Florida.
Of that group of seven, USC has the most favorable schedule. The combined SEC record of its final opponents is 28-49. Arkansas has the hardest final stretch of games, facing teams with a combined SEC record of 46-31.
Team (SEC record)Combined SEC record of final seven opponents
South Carolina (7-4)28-49
Ole Miss (7-4)39-38
Alabama (6-5)35-42
Mississippi State (5-6)35-42
Auburn (5-6)37-40
Arkansas (5-6)46-31
Florida (5-6)39-38
South Carolina has been consistent in beating the SEC opponents it should and falling to the league’s best this season, as all four losses have been to Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky.
Should the Gamecocks stick with that pattern, they’re in good shape for this final month. Potential hurdles include three road games — at Mississippi State on Feb. 23, at Missouri on March 2 and at Texas A&M on March 5 — a flip in close game results and overall fatigue.
USC, 5-1 in games decided by six points or fewer since Jan. 1, is down to an eight-man rotation after Evan Hinson’s departure.
“(Alanzo Frink) and Felipe (Haase) both have to play some more,” Carolina coach Frank Martin, speaking on the impact of Hinson’s decision, told the Gamecock IMG Sports Network on Thursday night. “They both got to be available. And the guy that’s going to have to do more now is Maik Kotsar because that means Maik becomes an option at small forward for us.”
Six Gamecocks logged at least 23 minutes Wednesday, including a career-high 39 for Chris Silva.
GAME INFO
Who: Texas A&M (10-13, 3-8 SEC) at South Carolina (12-12, 7-4)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
Series: Texas A&M leads 4-3
Last meeting: Feb. 3, 2018 — Texas A&M 83, South Carolina 60
KenPom prediction: South Carolina 75, Texas A&M 71
TEXAS A&M
Coach: Billy Kennedy (358-290 in 21 seasons overall; eighth season at Texas A&M — 147-111)
Projected starters: G Savion Flagg (11.7 points per game), G Wendell Mitchell (12.5), G Chris Collins (0.8), G Brandon Mahan (6.9), F Christian Mekowulu (8.2)
Last game: Beat Georgia 73-56 on Tuesday at home
KenPom ranking: 95 (No. 122 in offense efficiency, No. 100 in defense efficiency)
NET: 81
SOUTH CAROLINA
Coach: Frank Martin (242-156 in 12 seasons overall; seventh season at USC — 125-102)
Projected starters: G Tre Campbell (6.8), G A.J. Lawson (13.5), F Keyshawn Bryant (9.2), F Chris Silva (13.9), F Maik Kotsar (7.8)
Last game: Lost to No. 1 Tennessee 85-73 on Wednesday in Knoxville
KenPom ranking: 93 (No. 97 in offense efficiency, No. 107 in defense efficiency)
NET: 97
**February 16, 2019 - Saturday, 1:00 p.m.** 
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Texas A&M 
View attachment 161 Here you go free to listen if not near a radio or TV
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Texas A&M View attachment 161 Here you go free to listen if not near a radio or TV
If all conference tournaments ended Friday, South Carolina would be a No. 6 seed in the NIT.
At least that’s the prediction from dratings.com, one of the few outlets that offers “bracketology” for college basketball’s second-tier postseason event.
That wouldn’t be a bad outcome for a Gamecocks team that was 5-7 entering January. USC (12-12, 7-4 SEC) has rallied in conference action and now has a legitimate chance to be playing past the SEC Tournament for a third time in four years.
After Carolina’s 85-73 loss at No. 1 Tennessee on Wednesday, the hard part seems over. There’s not a ranked opponent left on USC’s schedule.
The Gamecocks host Texas A&M (10-13, 3-8) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“We gotta win out these games,” said senior guard Hassani Gravett. “We got real opportunities in front of us and we look forward to them.”
While the Volunteers (11-0), LSU (10-1) and Kentucky (9-2) will fight for the title, there’s another race in the SEC where the Gamecocks sit in a favorable spot.
South Carolina enters the weekend tied with Ole Miss for fourth place in the league standings. No. 4 is a coveted position because it means a double-bye in the conference tournament. The Gamecocks and Rebels, though, hold just a one-game lead on Alabama and a two-game lead on Mississippi State, Auburn, Arkansas and Florida.
Of that group of seven, USC has the most favorable schedule. The combined SEC record of its final opponents is 28-49. Arkansas has the hardest final stretch of games, facing teams with a combined SEC record of 46-31.
Team (SEC record)Combined SEC record of final seven opponents
South Carolina (7-4)28-49
Ole Miss (7-4)39-38
Alabama (6-5)35-42
Mississippi State (5-6)35-42
Auburn (5-6)37-40
Arkansas (5-6)46-31
Florida (5-6)39-38
South Carolina has been consistent in beating the SEC opponents it should and falling to the league’s best this season, as all four losses have been to Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky.
Should the Gamecocks stick with that pattern, they’re in good shape for this final month. Potential hurdles include three road games — at Mississippi State on Feb. 23, at Missouri on March 2 and at Texas A&M on March 5 — a flip in close game results and overall fatigue.
USC, 5-1 in games decided by six points or fewer since Jan. 1, is down to an eight-man rotation after Evan Hinson’s departure.
“(Alanzo Frink) and Felipe (Haase) both have to play some more,” Carolina coach Frank Martin, speaking on the impact of Hinson’s decision, told the Gamecock IMG Sports Network on Thursday night. “They both got to be available. And the guy that’s going to have to do more now is Maik Kotsar because that means Maik becomes an option at small forward for us.”
Six Gamecocks logged at least 23 minutes Wednesday, including a career-high 39 for Chris Silva.
GAME INFO
Who: Texas A&M (10-13, 3-8 SEC) at South Carolina (12-12, 7-4)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
Series: Texas A&M leads 4-3
Last meeting: Feb. 3, 2018 — Texas A&M 83, South Carolina 60
KenPom prediction: South Carolina 75, Texas A&M 71
TEXAS A&M
Coach: Billy Kennedy (358-290 in 21 seasons overall; eighth season at Texas A&M — 147-111)
Projected starters: G Savion Flagg (11.7 points per game), G Wendell Mitchell (12.5), G Chris Collins (0.8), G Brandon Mahan (6.9), F Christian Mekowulu (8.2)
Last game: Beat Georgia 73-56 on Tuesday at home
KenPom ranking: 95 (No. 122 in offense efficiency, No. 100 in defense efficiency)
NET: 81
SOUTH CAROLINA
Coach: Frank Martin (242-156 in 12 seasons overall; seventh season at USC — 125-102)
Projected starters: G Tre Campbell (6.8), G A.J. Lawson (13.5), F Keyshawn Bryant (9.2), F Chris Silva (13.9), F Maik Kotsar (7.8)
Last game: Lost to No. 1 Tennessee 85-73 on Wednesday in Knoxville
KenPom ranking: 93 (No. 97 in offense efficiency, No. 107 in defense efficiency)
NET: 97
