On the eve of the start of the South Carolina men’s basketball season, the ninth-year coach Frank Martin he couldn’t be more satisfied with the way his players handled the preseason. When his group – led by 12 players from last season’s team – entered the court to train last month, the job was done.
Now, a day away from taking down display opponent Coker and four days before the start of the regular season in Kansas City against Liberty in the Hall of Fame Classic, Martin himself has some work to do.
“They did their job,” said Martin. “They made my life very, very difficult by entering the first game of the week. Going to our Saturday game, they made it very difficult for me, because we have several guys over the age of five who deserve to start. I have to figure out how to manage this. “
Martin said he will play a variety of climbing combinations during Wednesday’s screening, but it will be the work he saw on the practice courts in October and November that will help him put together the five-piece puzzle on Saturday.
It’s safe to say junior guard AJ Lawson will be scored in just over a week after being named first team in the All-SEC preseason by the 14 league coaches. However, from the playmaker competition between players like Jermaine Couisnard, Seventh woods and Trae Hannibal for the duel of wings between Justin Minaya and Keyshawn Bryant for the battle in painting between Alanzo Frink, Wildens Leveque and Jalyn McCreary which are too many bodies for just a certain amount of starting points.
“Now we are in game mode and team mode,” said Martin. “The other day I told the guys that one thing that is going to be fun about this team is that I think that every game can be a different name that gets the credit for a positive result.”
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When asked what role he hopes to play on Saturday, Woods said he did not know. What the former North Carolina transferee knows is how many capable players this South Carolina roster has because they have been around this core since the summer of 2019.
“I personally feel like we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” said Woods. “We are almost 15 guys who can go out there and produce and play. I don’t think there are many teams that can say that. On paper, we look great, but now we have to produce on the court. Having these caliber games right away will only help us in the long run. We can see what kind of team we have right away. As soon as the ball goes up, we have to leave with full force. “
The tip against Coker at Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. The contest will be broadcast by SEC Network +. Tip against Liberty on Saturday at T- Mobile Center is at 4pm on ESPNEWS.