GAME LOCATION: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
GAME TIPOFF: Reporting time is 2:30 am, central time, Saturday, February 6
TV: SEC / ESPN television network. DirecTV: Ch. 611, Prato: Ch. 404/408, AT&T U-Versse: Ch. 1607, MaxxSouth: ch. 1026, C Spire: ch. 220. Online: Watch ESPN app and Watch ESPN online (cable subscription required)
RECORD 2020/2021 OF SOUTH CAROLINA: 5-6 overall, 3-4 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 4-star player, 12 3-star players and three unrated players.
THE LOST SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYERS: 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 6-4 second-year guard in red shirt 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. A senior redshirt from last season, Seventh Woods (he played in North Carolina) is one of the starters this season.
RETURN TO THE MAIN RESERVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA: Four major 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) and 6-10 second year advanced / Wildens Leveque center (30-8, 2.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg ). McCreary, Hannibal and Leveque are important 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, Ford Cooper, Jr (Missouri State), second-year guard, and the two freshmen are striker Ja’Von Benson 6-7 and Tre-Vaughn Minott 6-9. Cooper is out this season, while the two freshmen have played very little.
SEASON 2020/2021 OF SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina was chosen 8th in the SEC’s pre-season media survey. Currently, it’s 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the SEC. They are led by AJ Lawson, who averages 17.6 points per game. Also in double digits are Keyshawn Bryant with 14.6 points per game and Jermaine Couisnard with 11.8 points per game.
