Florida Gators Vs. SC Gamecocks Hoops Preview

The South Carolina basketball squad (10-5, 1-1 SEC) travels to the University of Florida (13-3, 2-0 SEC) to clash with them on the hardwood.  USC needs to rebound after a poor outing against Alabama and defeat the Gators.  Winning against UF would be a nice resume builder for South Carolina as UF is number 4 in the RPI Top 50 (SC is #110). 

Let’s break this game down a bit further and give you some USC keys to a Gator beating…

Keys to a USC win –

1.  USC Defense must shut down UF….the Gators average 71 points a game and I don’t think USC can get in a scoring match with UF.  USC will have to play good defense overall and not allow the UF guards to drive-and-dish at will.  Walker and Boynton are the drivers and USC must play solid defense on them.  If Carolina can limit these two players to a combine 20 points or less then it means good things.
2. USC Interior Play HAS to be better than UF’s…this means simply that USC must be better in the post, rebound more that UF and shut UF’s Macklin down.  Muldrow will have to step up big time and play the post swell.
3.  Richardson, Ellington and Galloway must make it rain….the 3 ball has to be effective for South Carolina.  Not saying they have to depend on it as USC must work the ball around but when the three ball is shot it needs to fall more that not.  Correct that…it has to fall.

Do those three things and I smell upset by 5 points.  It really boils down to IF USC can limit UF’s interior/post play.

Here is a team comparison –

		PPG	FG%	FT%	3P%	RPG	ORPG	DRPG	APG	TPG	SPG	BPG	FPG
	UF	71.4	47.1	65.6	35.5	37.9	13.4	24.5	14.8	13.6	6.4	4.1	13.7
	USC	71.8	42.3	61.5	36.2	40.3	14.4	25.9	12.4	15.1	7.1	6.7	17.8
	UF Opps	61.2	41.7	63.9	32.2	30.5	10.8	19.8	11.9	13.5	6.5	3.4	18.8
	USC Opps	67.3	40.3	66.7	32.2	37.9	12.7	25.1	13.2	15.5	6.6	3.3	16.8

Last season, the Gamecocks went 1-1 against the Gators. In four seasons, South Carolina has a record of 2-6 against Florida, including 0-4 at O’Connell Center.

Tip-off for this game is 1:30pm and is on the SEC network.  SC needs this win and I hope they get it.