[COLOR= rgb(1, 1, 1)]GAMECOCK-GAMEDAY THREAD: South Carolina vs.[/COLOR]UMASS[COLOR= rgb(1, 1, 1)] [/COLOR]***Dec. 04, 2019 at 7:00pm.***
View attachment 829
**Dec. 01, 2019 - Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.**
View attachment 1504 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. UMass Minutemen
Here you go free to listen if not near a radio or TV
Carolina Travels To UMass For Midweek Matchup
It’s been nearly three weeks since South Carolina basketball experienced its last winning streak. So excuse Frank Martin — and his language — for not getting overly excited Sunday after the Gamecocks held off George Washington, 74-65, at Colonial Life Arena.
“I really like our team,” Martin said. “It’s just like our children. I really love them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t (tick) me off on a regular basis. My team has been aggravating me for three weeks.”
After a 3-0 start — in which USC was beating team by an average of 28 points — the Gamecocks are 2-3. They snapped a two-game skid against GW, but not before allowing the Colonials (3-5) to whittle a 19-point deficit down to eight in the second half.
It wasn’t a complete performance, but it was enough to give Martin’s team a little momentum heading toward a real challenging part of the schedule. USC travels to UMass (5-3) on Wednesday before facing Houston (3-2), Clemson (5-2) and No. 5 Virginia (7-0) on consecutive Sundays.
The Minutemen figure to provide the lightest of these tests, but it’s still Carolina’s first true road game of the season — and the Gamecocks are still trying to find consistent footing.
Here are four things to watch:
1. DOES KEYSHAWN BRYANT PLAY?
Keyshawn Bryant’s practice load was expected to increase Monday in anticipation of a game appearance this week. Chance No. 1 for the injured swingman comes Wednesday.
Bryant had knee surgery last month and has yet to debut in 2019-20. A return would be timely as Martin is struggling with frontcourt depth. Asked how he decides on the No. 3 “big” after Maik Kotsar and Wildens Leveque, Martin acted like he was flipping a coin between Alanzo Frink and Jalyn McCreary, a pair that combined for four points in 11 minutes against GW.
An available 6-foot-5 Bryant can bump Justin Minaya down to the “four” or power forward position alongside Kotsar or Leveque.
“When we get Keyshawn back, it gives us the ability to play Justin more at the four (power forward) and not lose the size and athleticism at the three,” Martin said. “We’ll figure that out.”
2. CAN LEVEQUE CONTINUE GOOD PLAY IN HIS QUASI-HOMECOMING GAME?
Leveque has started the last four games, progressing in Martin’s eyes with each opportunity.
The 6-11, 230-pound freshman had six points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the GW win.
“They went to a really small lineup and they put Wildens in a ball-screen and Wildens did exactly what he was coached to do,” Martin said. “I’m so happy with that kid right now.
“You learn about people when you’re in crisis. And in our business, any time you lose two in a row, you’re in some kind of crisis. Losing a game happens. When you lose two in a row, three of four, your team is in a little crisis. Why? Because negative habits are hard to break. Losing becomes the cancer of the sport. And you learn about the kids you’re coaching in difficult moments.
“And for Wildens to come in and play (Saturday) in practice and then shoot-around today and then what he did for us on the court today, for a kid that’s (eight) games into his college career, I’m really, really excited about him.”
Leveque is from Brockton, Massachusetts, a two-hour drive from Amherst and UMass. He was recruited by the Minutemen.
3. CAN THE GAMECOCKS STRING TOGETHER SHOTS?
South Carolina is averaging 71.3 points per game, a number typical of a Martin-coached team. But where does that number go when (if?) the Gamecocks snap out of this shooting funk?
USC is now 22 for its last 84 on 3-pointers (26.1%) and 24 for its last 46 (52.2%) from the foul line.
“Offensively, we’re a work in progress,” Martin said. “Eventually those guys are going to make 3s. And we’re scoring 74,70, we’re always around that number, without making 3s — and missing free throws.”
UMass enters Wednesday 43rd nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.7%).
4. EXPERIENCE EDGE
Kotsar aside, South Carolina has relied pretty much on freshmen, sophomores and Jair Bolden, a junior in his first season playing at South Carolina after transferring from George Washington.
All the inexperience is a big reason for the early struggles, Martin has said, particularly when faced with older teams.
The Gamecocks won’t have such an excuse Wednesday. UMass starts two freshmen and plays seven of them. The Minutemen rank as the 345th-least experienced team in the country, according to KenPom.com. USC is No. 325 on that list.
T.J. Weeks is the best of the UMass rookies. The 6-4 guard is averaging over 15 points and shooting better than 54% from 3-point range.
View attachment 829
**Dec. 01, 2019 - Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.**
View attachment 1504 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. UMass Minutemen
Here you go free to listen if not near a radio or TV
Carolina Travels To UMass For Midweek Matchup
------------------------------------------
It’s been nearly three weeks since South Carolina basketball experienced its last winning streak. So excuse Frank Martin — and his language — for not getting overly excited Sunday after the Gamecocks held off George Washington, 74-65, at Colonial Life Arena.
“I really like our team,” Martin said. “It’s just like our children. I really love them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t (tick) me off on a regular basis. My team has been aggravating me for three weeks.”
After a 3-0 start — in which USC was beating team by an average of 28 points — the Gamecocks are 2-3. They snapped a two-game skid against GW, but not before allowing the Colonials (3-5) to whittle a 19-point deficit down to eight in the second half.
It wasn’t a complete performance, but it was enough to give Martin’s team a little momentum heading toward a real challenging part of the schedule. USC travels to UMass (5-3) on Wednesday before facing Houston (3-2), Clemson (5-2) and No. 5 Virginia (7-0) on consecutive Sundays.
The Minutemen figure to provide the lightest of these tests, but it’s still Carolina’s first true road game of the season — and the Gamecocks are still trying to find consistent footing.
Here are four things to watch:
1. DOES KEYSHAWN BRYANT PLAY?
Keyshawn Bryant’s practice load was expected to increase Monday in anticipation of a game appearance this week. Chance No. 1 for the injured swingman comes Wednesday.
Bryant had knee surgery last month and has yet to debut in 2019-20. A return would be timely as Martin is struggling with frontcourt depth. Asked how he decides on the No. 3 “big” after Maik Kotsar and Wildens Leveque, Martin acted like he was flipping a coin between Alanzo Frink and Jalyn McCreary, a pair that combined for four points in 11 minutes against GW.
An available 6-foot-5 Bryant can bump Justin Minaya down to the “four” or power forward position alongside Kotsar or Leveque.
“When we get Keyshawn back, it gives us the ability to play Justin more at the four (power forward) and not lose the size and athleticism at the three,” Martin said. “We’ll figure that out.”
2. CAN LEVEQUE CONTINUE GOOD PLAY IN HIS QUASI-HOMECOMING GAME?
Leveque has started the last four games, progressing in Martin’s eyes with each opportunity.
The 6-11, 230-pound freshman had six points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the GW win.
“They went to a really small lineup and they put Wildens in a ball-screen and Wildens did exactly what he was coached to do,” Martin said. “I’m so happy with that kid right now.
“You learn about people when you’re in crisis. And in our business, any time you lose two in a row, you’re in some kind of crisis. Losing a game happens. When you lose two in a row, three of four, your team is in a little crisis. Why? Because negative habits are hard to break. Losing becomes the cancer of the sport. And you learn about the kids you’re coaching in difficult moments.
“And for Wildens to come in and play (Saturday) in practice and then shoot-around today and then what he did for us on the court today, for a kid that’s (eight) games into his college career, I’m really, really excited about him.”
Leveque is from Brockton, Massachusetts, a two-hour drive from Amherst and UMass. He was recruited by the Minutemen.
3. CAN THE GAMECOCKS STRING TOGETHER SHOTS?
South Carolina is averaging 71.3 points per game, a number typical of a Martin-coached team. But where does that number go when (if?) the Gamecocks snap out of this shooting funk?
USC is now 22 for its last 84 on 3-pointers (26.1%) and 24 for its last 46 (52.2%) from the foul line.
“Offensively, we’re a work in progress,” Martin said. “Eventually those guys are going to make 3s. And we’re scoring 74,70, we’re always around that number, without making 3s — and missing free throws.”
UMass enters Wednesday 43rd nationally in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.7%).
4. EXPERIENCE EDGE
Kotsar aside, South Carolina has relied pretty much on freshmen, sophomores and Jair Bolden, a junior in his first season playing at South Carolina after transferring from George Washington.
All the inexperience is a big reason for the early struggles, Martin has said, particularly when faced with older teams.
The Gamecocks won’t have such an excuse Wednesday. UMass starts two freshmen and plays seven of them. The Minutemen rank as the 345th-least experienced team in the country, according to KenPom.com. USC is No. 325 on that list.
T.J. Weeks is the best of the UMass rookies. The 6-4 guard is averaging over 15 points and shooting better than 54% from 3-point range.
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