The Gamecocks head to Athens, Georgia tomorrow to face an improving Bulldogs basketball team. Coach Fox will have Dawg’s ready, after their last meeting in Columbia back on January 30th. Many have questioned Fox’s coaching in that game, as the Gamecocks pulled out the one point win, after Fox elected to pull all of his players off the free throw line while Dustin Ware was on the line with 3.5 seconds left to go on the game. Ware who was a 83 % free throw shooter at the time ended up missing the front of a one and one, leading to a rebound by the gamecocks to run out the clock.
Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins lead the way the last time the Gamecocks and Dawgs played, and should be much of the same. Fox went away from Thompkins in the second half, allowing the Gamecocks to stay in the game . Stegeman Coliseum might not be one of the toughest places to play in the SEC, but Georgia has been tough this year at home. Winning big games against Vandy and Tennessee.
Carolina holds a one game lead in the all time series 47-46 and has won three straight.
Records: USC 14-9, 5-4 SEC. Georgia 10-12, 2-7
Of Georgia’s 12 losses this year, 11 have come against teams with winning records. Georgia (10-12, 2-7) has the ninth toughest schedule in the country. The Bulldogs lead the SEC in FG percentage, 3-point FG percentage and assists during the conference schedule.
UGA could be without starting center Albert Jackson, who was arrested Friday morning on a warrant stemming from a misdemeanor charge of hit and run of a parked vehicle, the Athens Banner-Herald reported. He failed to appear for arraignment for a June 6, 2008, crash at the Foley Field parking lot.
What will happen: Georgia will look to try to contain Downey, after he dropped 33 on the Dawg’s back in January. Galloway and Raley-Ross must step up, when the opportunity comes. Georgia is big and athletic on the post, so Carolina will have to hit the boards hard (ie box out). Look for the Gamecocks to press early to take the away crowd out of the game. USC’s slow starts on the road this season, and low shooting percentages, has really hurt the team. If Carolina shoots 27 % from the field like they did last Saturday against UT, look for UGA to win big.
If Muldrow can collect another double-double, and Downey can score 30 again, I feel confident the Gamecocks can steal a win on the road. Which can only help there resume for the NCAA tournament. USC needs to win tomorrow as the schedule will get a lot tougher next week with an away game against the Hogs and a home game against Tennessee.
There might be snow on the ground in Athen’s tomorrow, but that won’t slow down Downey and the Gamecocks. Spreading the ball around and scrappy play will be the key to the Gamecock victory, look for a fast paced game that will allow Downey to get his 30 points.
Prediction: USC 69 UGA 62
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