GAME LOCATION: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Mississippi
GAME TIPOFF: Reporting time is 6:00 am Central Time, Wednesday, February 24
TV: SEC / ESPN network. DirecTV: Ch. 611, Prato: Ch. 404/408, AT&T U-Verse: Ch. 1607, MaxxSouth: ch. 1026, C Spire: ch. 220. Online: Watch ESPN app & Watch ESPN online (Cable subscription required)
RECORD 2020/2021 OF SOUTH CAROLINA: 5-11 overall, 3-9 at the SEC
SOUTH CAROLINA REGISTRATION 2019/2020: 18-13 overall, 10-8 at the SEC
SOUTH CAROLINA CHIEF COACH: Frank Martin is the head coach of South Carolina. This is his 9th season as a boss. He has an overall record of 147-119 and 66-78 in the SEC during his first eight seasons. He took one of his first eight teams to the NCAA postseason tournament.
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SOUTH CAROLINA’S 2020-2021 ROSTER: The list of 16 men includes a veteran, five juniors, eight sophomores and two freshmen. The list includes a four star, 12 three star and three unrated players.
LOST SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYERS (ppg-points per game, rpg-rebounds per game): South Carolina lost just two key players from last year’s team, one starter and another part-time. The initial is Malik Kotsar (31-31, 11.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and the reserve is Jair Bolden (30-15, 8.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg).
RETURN DEPARTURES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks returned four games, including 6-6 junior redshirt striker Justin Minaya (22-21, 7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-6 junior guard AJ Lawson (31-31, 13.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-6 junior striker Keyshawn Bryant (22.20, 9.1 ppg. 4.4 rpg) and red-shirted 6-4 year old guard Jermaine Couisnard (30-16, 12.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg). Minaya, Lawson and Couisnard are starting again this season, while Bryant is an important reserve that also starts on occasion. A veteran redshirt from last season, Seventh Woods (who played in North Carolina) is also a starter this season.
RETURN TO THE MAIN RESERVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA: Five key reserves returned – 6-8 junior striker Alanzo Frink (30-12, 5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-8 striker Jalyn McCreary (27-0, 4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) , 6-3 second year guard Trae Hannibal (26-0, 4.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg), 6-10 second year forward / Wildens Leveque center (30-8, 2.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and 6-4 redshirt TJ Moss of the second year (30-0, 2.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg) McCreary, Hannibal, Leveque and Moss are the main reserves this season, while Frink played very little.
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NEW ARRIVALS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina has three rookies this season, a transfer and two freshmen. The transfer is 6-3, second year guard Ford Cooper Jr. (Missouri) and the two freshmen are 6-7 striker Ja’Von Benson and 6-9 center Tre-Vaughn Minott. Cooper is out this season, while the two freshmen have played very little this year.
SEASON 2020/2021 OF SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina was chosen 8th in the SEC’s pre-season media survey. They are currently 5 to 11 overall and 3 to 9 in the SEC. They played at Mississippi State earlier in the season and lost to them 75-59 at home. The defeat for MSU was the start of what is currently a streak of five consecutive defeats. Gamecocks are led in scoring by AJ Lawson, who averages 18.3 points per game. Also in double digits is Keyshawn Bryant with 14.6 points per game.
