GoGamecocks.com
USC has its NCAA and SEC fates in hand
USC head coach Darrin Horn celebrates their victory over Kentucky at the Colonial Life Arena.
C. Aluka Berry/caberry@thestate.com
CommentsThe big names will be coming out for the latest big game for USC.
ESPN announced Thursday that Brent Musburger and Bob Knight will be the announcers for next week’s game between the Gamecocks and Tennessee.
The star power on press row is warranted, according to the coach of USC’s next opponent.
“They’re a very hot team right now and have turned into a very, very good team,” said Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, whose team hosts USC on Saturday. “It’s been impressive to watch from afar.”
The Gamecocks awoke Thursday in first place in the SEC East with three games to play. It is unfamiliar territory for USC: The team last won the division in 1997 and has placed higher than third once since joining the SEC for the 1991-92 season.
In fact, over the previous 10 seasons, the Gamecocks have finished last three times and fifth on five occasions. They tied for third in 2003-04, the last time they made the NCAA tournament.
This squad was preseason picked by the media to finish fifth, as coach Darrin Horn has taken to pointing out.
But on Thursday, the coach indicated that a beware-your-press-clippings moment would not be necessary. Or, at least, it would not be any more necessary than before.
“We’ve been doing that all year. Whether it was beware the people that say you can’t do it, or now whether (it’s) beware the people that tell you you’re better than you are,” Horn said. “That’s something we always approach with our guys, because as I continue to say over and over, part of the focus has to be keeping the main thing (as) the main thing and eliminating all distractions.”
There is reason to be careful, considering the Gamecocks (20-6, 9-4) have yet to clinch anything.
They could finish as low as fourth in the division, since Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee are one game behind. Tennessee, which beat USC last month, looms as the team with the best chance of derailing the Gamecocks’ division-title hopes.
Then there is the NCAA tournament picture. Jerry Palm, who projects the bracket for CollegeRPI.com and CBSSports.com, believes South Carolina would be in if the season ended today but has some work to do.
“Well, they’re hot, so that’s good, but Florida at home is their only (victory against a team in the top 50 of the RPI),” Palm said. “The Baylor win is fading in relevance as the Bears fade, and beyond that, they didn’t do much out of league. They also have a bad (nonconference strength of schedule). That makes their in-league performance more critical.”
If the Gamecocks win the East, it seems likely the NCAA tournament committee would put a lot of stock in that. And, as junior guard Devan Downey pointed out after Wednesday’s win, that is now under USC’s control.
Which has not been the case for this program in quite some time.
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
Most Viewed Stories
- USC fends off Bulls' charge
- Last-second goal ends USC's soccer season
- Miami coach had brief USC tie
- USC wary of Spiller on kickoffs
- Norwood among final five on Butkus list
- Barnes Has Good Visit With USC
- Lattimore Sticking With Visit Plans
- Emerson: Hold off on wait and see coaches
- Big Tackle To Check Out USC
- Gamecocks' bowl bid needs 1 for the road
@Nyx.CommentBody@