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!
WATCH: Frank Martin, Leonard Hamilton News Conference — 12/7/21
- Thread starter FeatheredCock
- Start date
doublea1971
GCF Top Poster
This one will be an interesting matchup. I have not yet had a chance to watch the presser, so I may be repeating things in the video...
Of note to me:
1.) Leonard Hamilton seems to be still feeling out his lineup/team, similar to what Coach Martin has been doing. In the last 5 games, Hamilton has only had two of his 5 guys stay in the starting lineup (6'5" G, Caleb Mills and 6'6" G, Anthony Polite). Mills, in no shock, is their leading scorer at 12.6 PPG
2.) Expect to see 6'7 G, Matthew Cleveland coming off of the bench early and often. Cleveland is their 3rd leading scorer (9.8 PPG), but has not started any of their 8 games. In most contests, he is one of the two leading scorers, but his coming off of the bench has limited his offensive numbers somewhat. He will be a challenge for us defensively.
3.) Coach Hamilton has a VERY tall squad, which includes four 7'0" or taller players. One of those 4 players includes a name familiar to USC fans - John Butler - a guy that Frank Martin and company pursued very hard, but I never had the sense Butler was very serious about playing here. Butler had cracked the starting lineup, but his minutes and production fell drastically against Syracuse, and I don't anticipate seeing him start vs. USC.
4.) Expect to see guard heavy lineups vs. USC, but don't be surprised if FSU goes "tree for tree" with our bigs. Our bigs have more meat on their bones, which gives them the advantage. BUT, their bigs are all finesse guys who like to shot block and like to shoot at the rim. Butler, for being as slender as he is, has good hands and can block well. He's already got 6 blocked shots in somewhat limited minutes this season, and has 3 steals to boot.
5.) FSU has a talented core of guards on their squad. Cleveland is listed as a guard, and handles the ball very well, is both a passer and shooter. Mills, Polite, Warley... all guys who are 6'5" and taller. FSU will have a distinct advantage over USC in rebounding as a result.
6.) And then there's Malik Osborne - currently their 2nd leading scorer. A 6'8" RS SR. forward. Guy has a great motor and chases the ball constantly. Averages 7.3 RPG, and has 58 total rebounds on the season so far (with 21 of those being offensive). We will need to find an answer for him defensively, as he's a load on anyone. On our side of things Wildens Leveque also has 58 total rebounds, but is averaging less/game (at 6.8)
7.) Lastly... FSU took a listless Mizzou to the woodshed a few games back. Mizzou is not a very good team right now, but the beatdown they received said a lot to me about the capability of FSU. FSU also has a win (in OT) over a scrappy Boston U. and a 3 point loss to a very good Syracuse team.
I'm intrigued by this game. If the same Gamecocks squad who showed up against Georgetown comes to play, expect fireworks. If the Coastal squad shows up... well, it will be interesting to say the least.
Of note to me:
1.) Leonard Hamilton seems to be still feeling out his lineup/team, similar to what Coach Martin has been doing. In the last 5 games, Hamilton has only had two of his 5 guys stay in the starting lineup (6'5" G, Caleb Mills and 6'6" G, Anthony Polite). Mills, in no shock, is their leading scorer at 12.6 PPG
2.) Expect to see 6'7 G, Matthew Cleveland coming off of the bench early and often. Cleveland is their 3rd leading scorer (9.8 PPG), but has not started any of their 8 games. In most contests, he is one of the two leading scorers, but his coming off of the bench has limited his offensive numbers somewhat. He will be a challenge for us defensively.
3.) Coach Hamilton has a VERY tall squad, which includes four 7'0" or taller players. One of those 4 players includes a name familiar to USC fans - John Butler - a guy that Frank Martin and company pursued very hard, but I never had the sense Butler was very serious about playing here. Butler had cracked the starting lineup, but his minutes and production fell drastically against Syracuse, and I don't anticipate seeing him start vs. USC.
4.) Expect to see guard heavy lineups vs. USC, but don't be surprised if FSU goes "tree for tree" with our bigs. Our bigs have more meat on their bones, which gives them the advantage. BUT, their bigs are all finesse guys who like to shot block and like to shoot at the rim. Butler, for being as slender as he is, has good hands and can block well. He's already got 6 blocked shots in somewhat limited minutes this season, and has 3 steals to boot.
5.) FSU has a talented core of guards on their squad. Cleveland is listed as a guard, and handles the ball very well, is both a passer and shooter. Mills, Polite, Warley... all guys who are 6'5" and taller. FSU will have a distinct advantage over USC in rebounding as a result.
6.) And then there's Malik Osborne - currently their 2nd leading scorer. A 6'8" RS SR. forward. Guy has a great motor and chases the ball constantly. Averages 7.3 RPG, and has 58 total rebounds on the season so far (with 21 of those being offensive). We will need to find an answer for him defensively, as he's a load on anyone. On our side of things Wildens Leveque also has 58 total rebounds, but is averaging less/game (at 6.8)
7.) Lastly... FSU took a listless Mizzou to the woodshed a few games back. Mizzou is not a very good team right now, but the beatdown they received said a lot to me about the capability of FSU. FSU also has a win (in OT) over a scrappy Boston U. and a 3 point loss to a very good Syracuse team.
I'm intrigued by this game. If the same Gamecocks squad who showed up against Georgetown comes to play, expect fireworks. If the Coastal squad shows up... well, it will be interesting to say the least.
Frank's teams over the years have been consistently inconsistent. LOL
If I am an opposing coach, I have the guys practice good defense, work on the ball screens, free throws, and 3-pointers.
Do all of those things and you have a good chance at beating us most of the time.
I would expect to see a lot of FSU fans from Charlotte area at the game, too, which would make it a hostile neutral court for us.
We have a lot of new guys this season, but I still like the team.
It will either be a close game or a blow-out for FSU. We'll see what we get.
If I am an opposing coach, I have the guys practice good defense, work on the ball screens, free throws, and 3-pointers.
Do all of those things and you have a good chance at beating us most of the time.
I would expect to see a lot of FSU fans from Charlotte area at the game, too, which would make it a hostile neutral court for us.
We have a lot of new guys this season, but I still like the team.
It will either be a close game or a blow-out for FSU. We'll see what we get.
doublea1971
GCF Top Poster
No problem, @kingofnerf. Always enjoy looking ahead and seeing what we're up against. I think we've got a very talented squad this season, and games like FSU will do the proverbial "iron sharpening iron" for the Gamecocks - win or lose. But because of the matchups, this game more than any other one we've played in will help our guys know what they will be facing/feeling vs. top-tier SEC opponents. I wish we had a couple other FSU matchups in pre-conference play this year, even if it meant a loss or two. Will give us the opportunity to peak at just the right time mid/late conference season.
Big things to look for in this contest, though...
1.) How Wildens Leveque is able to match up with Osborne. If he can manage to stay out of foul trouble (and get Osborne IN foul trouble), that will be HUGE for our chances at the "W".
2.) Stevenson/Cleveland matchup. I can only assume that Coach Martin will put his most experienced guy, and guy who seems to have picked up on the defense the best, on the Seminole who is going to be the hardest offensive player to contain. I don't expect Stevenson to get a whole lot of free 3 pointers on Sunday, simply because his "assignment" will be to keep Cleveland off of the ball the entire game. (Though I suppose if Jermaine Cousinard is back to full health, he could also take on the Cleveland duties). In that vein, look for a modified zone with man-to-man on Cleveland. (So 4 guys playing zone and pushing the ball to the outside, but Stevenson chasing Cleveland ANYWHERE he goes. Watch for "classic" Frank defensive pressure, turned up a notch higher).
3.) Keyshawn Bryant and AJ Wilson are going to be KEY players in this contest. If both win the battles on the glass offensively and defensively, we win this game. Leveque, Grey, Woodley will not be as big a factor as I would normally want them to be... they will have their hands full with Osborne and with whomever is playing C for the Seminoles. It's the OTHER guys moving well once the ball makes its way to the rim that are going to be key - Think the advantage Dennis Rodman used to give the Bulls.
As I said before... very much looking forward to this contest.
Wildens has started to make me think of Renaldo Balkman.