Gamecocks take on MSU

Yes it is them again, the Bulldogs won the lone regular-season meeting between the two schools in Starkville with a 75-70 win. But the Gamecocks have won three of the last five meetings between the two schools. I hope to make that 4 out of 6 today.

The second-seeded gamecocks come in with a 21-8 record (South Carolina reached double-digit victories in league play this season for the first time since the 1998 SEC campaign) and has a Mississippi State 20-12 record. MSU is the third seed from the West. Tip time for the contest is set for 3:15 p.m today.

Carolina owns a 16-17 (.485) overall record in SEC Tournament action, including a 2-4 (.333) record in six semifinal appearances. The Gamecocks have reached the Championship game twice – 1998, lost to Kentucky and 2006, loss to eventual national champion Florida. South Carolina owns a 6-5 (.545) record in the last five SEC Tournaments.

What does Carolina have to do today to win? Well 4 things….

1. Inside Play—Well the first is to have positive play versus SEC Defensive Player of the Year Jarvis Varnado. Varnado leads the NCAA in blocks per game not to mention he gets about 13 pts per game. So matching up with him down low is a key. Which means Carolina must Crash the boards just like in prior games. We have to hold our own in the rebounding stat.

2. SC shot selection — I hope Darrin Horn showed his tape to the crew going in. We need Carolina to be smart, play as a team and spread the wealth concerning scoring. I do not want to see Zam just throwing up prayers. Devan will get his pts but we really need Archie, Holmes and Muldrow to play great. Archie especially!

3. SC has to play lights out D — from playing great perimeter D to playing tough under the goal. No easy baskets for MSU so the pressure full court D has to be real tight today. USC has to bring their A game today vs MSU. MSU likes to score from the outside so that is a area that USC must stop today to get a win. Watch out for Dee Bost for MSU and Ravern Johnson.

4. USC must win the small battles — USC has to produce TOs on D, not make mistakes on offense, win loose balls, be scrappy, stay out of foul troblue and be hungry!

I do not have to mention how important this game is for USC despite a SEC East Co-Championship. I want USC to give it 110% for the entire 40mins! Do not give up if down!

I think USC wins a close, hard fought game by 4 points due to a late surge.