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Gamecocks v KY
- Subject: Gamecocks v KY
- From: bocelts@scsn.net (R. Bentz Kirby)
- Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 03:05:15 -0500
Attention: Unless you actually want to read what the ESPN web site had
to say to promote the game they televise tonight, please delete this
email as it is rather lengthy and you can get it from ESPN. It has been
edited to take out as much as possible about Kentucky.
Well, I know that this is the Celtic list and all, but people keep
talking about Pitino. So, while I do not have confidence in my home
boys, it is exciting to see that they are in the limelight playing KY
tomorrow. If they win, which I doubt, I will be back to crow.
Peace,
Bentz
Spotlight: Kentucky at South Carolina
By Howie Schwab
ESPNET SportsZone
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surging Gamecocks look to tame Wildcats
The balance of power in the SEC is shifting. While Tennessee remains a
few years away and injury-riddled Kentucky fondly remembers last
season's glorious title run, South Carolina is atop the SEC.
Sporting an unblemished league record and a No. 21 national ranking, the
Gamecocks have an awesome backcourt and a hunger for national
prominence. Their next challenge comes Tuesday night at 9:30 on ESPN,
when South Carolina hosts No.3 Kentucky, perhaps not yet ready to give
up their stranglehold on the SEC.
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET Saturday
TV: ESPN
Site: Frank McGuire Arena, Columbia, S. C.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Kentucky (20-2) South Carolina
(15-5)
Pos. Player Ht. Pos.
Player Ht.
F Scott Padgett 6-9 F William
Gallman 6-7
F Ron Mercer 6-7 G B.J.
McKie 6-2
C Nazr Mohammed 6-9 C Ryan
Stack 6-11
G Allen Edwards 6-5 G Larry
Davis 6-3
G Anthony Epps 6-2 G Melvin
Watson 6-1
Players to Watch: South Carolina
Larry Davis, senior guard: After playing two
seasons at North Carolina, Davis transferred to South
Carolina. He led the Gamecocks in scoring last
season (18 ppg).
Davis has scored 20 or more points on nine
occasions this season, including 26 against Florida
(six-of-11 from three-point range) and 22 against
LSU on Saturday. He has struggled at home,
averaging 13.3 ppg while shooting 40.4 percent from
the floor at McGuire Arena.
B.J. McKie, sophomore guard: His given name is
Bjorn, but his cousin could not pronounce it, so it
has stuck as B.J. McKie averaged 14 points against
Kentucky in two meetings last season, but he
shot eight-of-23 from the field.
McKie is trying to break out of a recent slump; he
has shot below 50 percent from the field in
five of the last six outings, including eight-of-22
in the last two contests.
William Gallman, sophomore forward: He was meant to
be a Gamecock, making his future intentions
known during his junior season of high school.
After a slow start (4.4 ppg in the first five games
of the season), Gallman has developed into a factor
(10.6 ppg in last 12 outings).
He's been a force on the boards, reaching double
figures in that category three times this season.
Gallman's best game came against Auburn
(eight-of-nine field goals,
19 points and 13 rebounds).
ESPN Expert Analysis
Dan Bonner
This is the kind of game that's going to tell the
Gamecocks what kind of team they have.
This is a funny South Carolina team; they lost to
UNC-Asheville and Charleston Southern, so nobody knows if they are this
good or not. The Gamecocks have real good guards, but one of the things
that has made them a little bit better is that they have guys inside
whom you have to respect. Ryan Stack and Bud Johnson are among a group
of guys who are pretty athletic, who can run the court, block shots and
score if they get the opportunity.
Obviously, if you're playing South Carolina you
have to be worried about Larry Davis, B.J. McKie and Melvin Watson, so
opponents concentrate on its backcourt. But the Gamecocks have guys in
the frontcourt who can play a little bit. And against Kentucky,
particularly because the Wildcats come out and get after you, you cannot
simply rely on your backcourt to carry you through. Because if your
backcourt's able to handle the pressure, they're going to have to be
able to kick the ball ahead to people who can convert. And I think South
Carolina has the big guys who can do that.
Series history
Kentucky has clearly dominated, winning 17 of the
19 prior meetings. The only two Wildcats losses came in 1933 and 1994,
the latter by just one point. South Carolina has been soundly beaten in
the last four series meetings, losing by an average margin of 26 ppg.
None of those four contests were closer than 18 points.
Inside info
The Gamecocks actually have a better road record
this season (8-2) than at home (7-3) ... South Carolina is shooting 43.6
percent from the floor at home in 1996-97 ... After a 5-5 start (which
included losses to Charleston Southern and NC-Asheville), the Gamecocks
have won 10 straight ...
South Carolina's 9-0 start is the school's best
league start since 1969-70, a 14-0 stretch in the ACC ... The last time
the Gamecocks won more than 10 consecutive contests was a 12-game streak
in 1970-71 ... South Carolina is 10-15 in February under Eddie Fogler
... The Gamecocks have held 10 straight opponents below 50 percent
shooting from the field ... South Carolina is 0-4 this season when
allowing opponents to shoot over 50 percent (Virginia, North Carolina,
Charleston Southern
and UNC-Asheville).