South Carolina-Mississippi State basketball: How to watch, what to watch for
Who: Mississippi State (15-6, 3-5 SEC) at South Carolina (13-8, 4-4)
When: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
KenPom prediction: South Carolina 66, Mississippi State 63
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
Series: Mississippi State leads, 19-14
Last meeting: Feb. 27, 2017 – South Carolina won 63-57 in Columbia
Streak: South Carolina’s won two straight and five of six
MISSSISSIPPI STATE
Coach: Ben Howland (446-245 in 22 seasons overall; third season at Mississippi State – 45-39). Howland is 1-3 against South Carolina.
Projected starters: G Nick Weatherspoon (10.4 ppg), G Lamar Peters (7.8), G Quinnardy Weatherspoon (15.0), F Abdul Ado (7.3), F Aric Holman (11.7)
RPI: 63
KenPom: 71
Last game: Beat Missouri 74-62 on Saturday at home
Notes: The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 65.2 points per game. USC is second in the league, allowing 66.0 ppg. … MSU is 12th nationally in Ken Pomeroy’s defensive efficiency ratings, ranking only behind Texas A&M (No. 6) and Tennessee (10) among SEC teams. … Mississippi State (0-5), joining Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, is one of three SEC teams without a road win this season.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Coach: Frank Martin (226-136 in 11 seasons overall; sixth season at USC — 109-82). Martin is 6-3 against Mississippi State.
Projected starters: G Wes Myers (7.9 ppg); G Evan Hinson (3.5); F Justin Minaya (8.4); F Chris Silva (14.7); F Maik Kotsar (8.5)
RPI: 53
KenPom: 70
Last game: Lost to Tennessee 70-63 on Saturday at home
Notes: Minaya has reached double figures in scoring twice in the last three games. He went an eight-game stretch – from Dec. 10 to Jan. 16 – without scoring more than eight points. … Myers either set or tied SEC season-lows in points (two), minutes (22), field goals (zero) and rebounds against Tennessee. … Silva totaled 30 points and 13 rebounds in last season’s two wins over Mississippi State.
STORYLINES
1. First to 60 wins?
South Carolina has been held under 60 points just once this season, the 64-48 loss to Clemson on Dec. 19. Mississippi State is 1-3 when failing to reach 60.
Wednesday’s game presents the SEC’s top two scoring defenses – and Nos. 10 (MSU) and 13 (USC) in scoring offense.
2. Block party
A key to MSU’s defensive success is an USC offensive weakness.
The Bulldogs rank 13th nationally in blocked shot rate, swatting 15 percent of their opponents’ attempts. The Gamecocks have had 13 percent of their FG attempts blocked this season. That ranks them No. 348 out of 351 Division I teams.
3. Protect CLA
South Carolina, coming off home downers to Texas Tech and Tennessee, hasn’t lost three straight at CLA since February 2013, Martin’s first season.
The Bulldogs are 0-5 on the road this season, losing games by an average of 11.4 points.
This story was originally published January 30, 2018 at 1:34 PM with the headline "South Carolina-Mississippi State basketball: How to watch, what to watch for."