After a long and fun football season (well, not for Gamecocks), there is now a new sport that we should turn our attention to: basketball.
Although the season has been underway for some time, games across the NCAA have been canceled or postponed because of COVID-19.
The Cocks were definitely not immune to the coronavirus, as the team has only completed four games outside the conference (ranging from 2 to 2) and two SEC competitions so far (winning Texas A&M and losing to LSU).
It would be fair to say that the season really started for the Gamecocks on January 2nd, when they defeated Florida A&M 78-71 with an exhausted squad. With that being his first game in almost a month, expectations were not yet there.
Surprisingly, the Gamecocks crushed the Aggies in their first taste of real competition since the New Year’s 78-54 turn with Lawson being the star on that one.
Going to the next game with all that positivity, the team received terrible news: coach Frank Martin tested positive for the coronavirus a second time.
I don’t care that they lost to LSU. Having to play without their leader after all of that must have been difficult, and I’m sure the USC would have played the ball better if coach Martin was still on the bench. They had a fantastic fight against one of the best teams in the SEC, and things are looking up as the season continues.
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As for women, they did a little better in terms of COVID. They played 11 games, six games outside the conference and five SEC games.
Throwing away the shocking defeat for NC State, this team played the basketball brand that many expected it to play.
Seven of their victories went by 16 points or more, as the Gamecocks continue to dominate college basketball.
The recent beating of the USC at Vanderbilt, the last game I will discuss this week, was a game in which things got so out of control that the players were barely able to play in the second half.
Considering how fun this team is, I thought it would be great to include your players in my column of players of the week.
Let’s start!
Player of the week: Keyshawn Bryant
Welcome back to the team!
This LSU game was Bryant’s first since December 5 against Houston, and he played as well as ever.
He lost his career record with 26 points out of 10 out of 18 shots. It was also his third 20-point career game.
Defensively, he added four blocks.
Yes, Bryant may have missed his last three shots, as well as failing to hit two free throws in the final stretch, but the team didn’t do much better in the same period. They failed to make a basket in the final 7:47 am of the regulation!
Altogether, Bryant helped carry the offensive charge with Lawson in a game in which Couisnard was MIA.
His athletic build was something the team also missed.
Runner-up: AJ Lawson
To be completely honest, I didn’t know where the hype came from after seeing his game for the past few seasons.
Those last few games have changed my opinion of him dramatically.
Lawson went from being a guy that coach Martin would take off the ground because he was SO disadvantaged in defense to a guy who at least became more competent on that side, in addition to being an elite basketball scorer.
His shot percentage may not have been as great against LSU (8 of 19) compared to other games, but he is still the team’s most valuable offensive piece.
Lawson scored 22, had five dimes and was able to steal the ball an impressive five times.
His three-point percentage was also missing from this one (4 out of 14), but I still thought he played a solid game.
Honorable Mention: Victaria Saxton
Honestly, the women’s game against Vanderbilt was more of a practice than any kind of real competition, but it was nice to see Saxton succeed in this, when it’s usually Cooke and Boston stealing the show.
Saxton scored 20 points, the best of the team and career, with 90% of shots (!) In just 21 minutes.
She is definitely known as a Swiss Army knife because she can do anything, but it was nice to see her being more of a gunner in this one.