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Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com/
Austin Steed vies for a rebound against Auburn.
GoGamecocks.com
Steed's play gives USC a reason to smile
A new frame helps keep former reserve off the bench
First, the nickname was “Pringles” because of a mustache that resembled the one worn by the guy on the chips canister. Then it was “Scratch,” after a mysterious mark found its way onto Austin Steed’s forehead during practice last season.
Sure, other players have nicknames, but Steed is the kind of person who earns them not by circumstance, but because of his personality. Call him whatever you want, because the guy with a constant smile will just laugh and play along.
“I don’t really let anything bother me,” Steed said. “I’m happy all the time. I always have a big smile on my face.”
That was even the case last season, when life on the USCmen’s basketball team was tough for freshman. He appeared in six games for the Gamecocks and finished the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
It is easier to smile this season. Not only is USC winning more — the Gamecocks go for win No. 15 tonight against Vanderbilt — Steed is contributing.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Steed has played in every game, averaging 14.8 minutes, 4.8 points and 3.9 rebounds. He started two games when Mike Holmes was benched.
“Austin took it personal last year,” Gamecocks guard Devan Downey said. “He didn’t get a whole lot of minutes. So he got in the gym this summer, got in the weight room, got a lot stronger, and now he’s one of the key parts.”
A fresh start with a new coach also helped. The previous staff had trouble finding a spot for Steed, whose wiry frame made him more suited to a wing role. But Darrin Horn decided Steed would play in the post, all 215 pounds of him.
As Downey said, Steed hit the weight room. Steed said he’s up to about 225 pounds and his goal is to add 5-10 more.
Steed admitted it’s been “pretty rough” banging inside against bigger players, especially in the SEC. While he had a couple of double-digit rebounding games against weaker, nonconference opponents, it would not have been surprising to see his minutes decrease once league play began.
But Horn keeps sending Steed out there, even after the return of sophomore center Sam Muldrow. And Steed has continued to perform. His numbers and playing time have gone down slightly the past three games, but he has at least three rebounds in each game.
“He has done a terrific job of coming in and just doing the little things,” Horn said, mentioning two “huge” putbacks against Mississippi that extended USC’s lead. “He’s a young man that brings a great attitude and work ethic every day. He’s a super person, and I think he’s a great asset to our team in a lot of ways.”
That includes his personality, which Horn described as “happy-go-lucky” and is an asset on the court.
“That’s something that, to us, is important because of the energy and emotion that we want to play with; having somebody with that mentality and attitude, it helps us,” Horn said.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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