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Post game report: USC-Jacksonville State
Posted on 11.15.08
CommentsKEY MOMENT: Brandis Raley-Ross went down clutching his knee with 32 seconds left in the first half, after going after a loose ball on the offensive end. Raley-Ross has a sprained knee and could miss up to a month, the team said Saturday. The injury, and foul trouble to the other two starting guards, meant that for some time USC’s backcourt consisted of both players who were rewarded scholarships by Horn in what many viewed as a move to help the team’s Academic Progress Rate.
STAR OF THE GAME: Zam Fredrick only played 21 minutes and fouled out with 7:41 left. But he made good use of his time, tying Mike Holmes for the team high with 17 points, and scored his first four baskets on drives. It was a sign that the senior is going to expand his offensive game beyond just being a 3-point specialist.
POINT OF EMPHASIS: The bench players played fairly well, especially forwards Austin Steed and Evka Baniulis. Steed, who played rarely as a freshman, made all five of his shots, whiel Baniulis hit three 3-pointers. Branden Conrad, one of the former walk-ons, played most of the game and looked to be getting comfortable.
INJURIES: Both starting forwards also got nicked up. Dominique Archie appeared to cramp up in the second half, and Mike Holmes received treatment after the game on his left leg. Neither injury looked serious.
The Buzz
South Carolina went to a zone defense in the second half, which could be a preview of things to come if depth continues to be an issue.
On Friday night, it resulted in less steals and more made 3-pointers for Jacksonville State.
The zone would appear to run contrary to Horn’s up-tempo, pressure-defense style of play. But the coach said it was far from a last resort.
“Our style of play is not just about pressing and trapping for 40 minutes. We want to make our opponents uncomfortable,” Horn said. “And sometimes it’s gonna be personnel driven or foul trouble, like it was tonight.”
Technically speaking. Devan Downey was called for a technical at the 14:06 mark, after seeming to give a Jacksonville State player a little backward slap before a timeout.
Downey said the JSU player slapped the ball out of his hands. Horn argued the call vociferously during the game, and afterwards referred questions to the official.
Back in Kentucky. South Carolina figures to be favored in its next 10 games. But Horn, who came from Western Kentucky, can now point his players to what happened on Friday night to Kentucky, which lost to VMI.
“It happens all the time,” Horn said. “I think there’s a misconception that the conference affiliate or the name on the front of your jersey automatically means that it’s going to go your way. There’s a lot of kids out there that can play.”
— Seth Emerson
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