Gamecocks Basketball Preview: SC Vs. SC State

Gamecocks and Bulldogs on the harwood in the Colonial Center tonight as South Carolina State visits South Carolina. Tip-off is at 7:00EST and you can catch it on FSN-CAR. The Gamecocks come in at 8-4 overall. The Bulldogs have a record of 4-8.

The Gamecocks RPI is #122 and the Bulldogs are ranked at #342.

Here is a quick preview of the game…

South Carolina must execute these keys to the game –

1. Crash the boards and prevail.  SCSU is about the same as far as average rebounds per game.  USC can not afford to lose in this stat.
2. Play better on the inside and I am looking at you Sam Muldrow as zero points is not going to cut it going forward.
3. SC must take high percentage shots as the last few games USC seemed to just take shots on the outside.  Work the ball around and get the extra pass to the inside. 
4.  USC must shut down Darnell Porter.  He is SCSU’s leading scorer and second best rebounder.  He can not be allowed to be a factor.
5.  Get Harris and Cooke involved in the offense.  They average about 11 points between them  I want to see more from these two.

This is how the two teams compare –

PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG ORPG DRPG APG TPG SPG BPG FPG
South-carolina-state SCSU 69.2 44.6 68.0 28.2 35.1 11.6 23.5 12.5 17.0 6.7 3.8 21.8
South-carolina USC 71.3 42.3 61.1 35.8 39.8 14.1 25.8 12.4 15.1 7.6 5.4 18.3
South-carolina-state SCSU Opps   72.8 45.7 69.2 35.8 31.6 9.7 21.9 12.5 14.5 7.2 2.4 18.6
South-carolina USC Opps   68.4 40.7 66.5 33.1 37.8 12.6 25.2 14.2 15.8 6.6 3.2 16.7

Expect USC to win by around 14+ points, like a 73-59 type win.  Just my guess but what is for sure the Gamecocks can not lose this game.  This is a winnable game for the ‘Cocks and one they have no business even letting the Bulldogs think they have a chance.

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