With coveted SEC seed on line vs. Ole Miss, Frank Martin has a message for home fans
Game info
Who: Ole Miss (18-7, 8-4 SEC) at South Carolina (13-12, 8-4)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
Series: Ole Miss leads 20-19
Last meeting: March 7, 2018 in SEC Tournament — South Carolina 85, Ole Miss 84
KenPom prediction: Ole Miss 78, South Carolina 75
STORYLINES
1. Coveted No. 4 seed on the line
Tennessee-LSU aside, this is the SEC’s most important game this week.
South Carolina and Ole Miss enter tied for fourth place in the league standings, a game ahead of four teams. The winner here takes a significant step in securing a double-bye at next month’s SEC Tournament.
“I’m real proud of them,” Frank Martin said of the Gamecocks, “and I hope our fans are, too. And I hope they show up because we need them. We’re getting to that point of the season where every game gets really hard. Our kids need all the help we can get right now.”
2. A chance for hot shooting to continue
USC has made 58 percent (40 of 69) of its 3-pointers over the last three games. It’s not something Martin wants to rely on for wins, but the Gamecocks have a good chance to keep the perimeter success going against Ole Miss.
The Rebels are last in the SEC in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to make 36.8 percent of their attempts. USC is 8-3 this season when shooting 36 percent or better from beyond the arc.
“We’re not as bad or not as good,” Martin said. “I mean, we’re not a 60 percent 3-point shooting team. That’s not who we are. But we’ve learned to take good shots, we’ve learned to play inside-out.”
3. Shuler’s homecoming
Irmo’s Devontae Shuler is Ole Miss’ third leading scorer, first in steals and is second on the Rebels in assists and 3-point field goal percentage.
The sophomore guard, who attended Irmo High School but graduated from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, picked Ole Miss over USC, among others, in October 2016.
“I recruited him real hard,” Martin said. “I’m a big fan of Devontae. His sister, Donnella, and I stay in touch to this day. I’d rather him speak about his recruitment. I don’t think it’s my place to be speaking about guys who don’t sign with us.
“But I’m a big fan of Devontae. Always have been, always will be. He’s a great kid.”
OLE MISS
Coach: Kermit Davis (421-245 in 21 seasons overall; first season at Ole Miss — 18-7)
Projected starters: G Devontae Shuler (9.7 points per game), G Breein Tyree (18.4), G Terence Davis (15.6), F Blake Hinson (8.7), C Dominick Olejniczak (5.8)
Last game: Beat Missouri 75-66 on Saturday at home
KenPom ranking: 34 (No. 29 in offense efficiency, No. 51 in defense efficiency)
NET: 33
Notes: Hinson, a former top 150 recruit, is the younger brother of now ex-Gamecock basketball player Evan Hinson. ... After four straight losses from Jan. 22-Feb. 2, the Rebels have rebounded to win four straight, most notably a 60-55 result at Auburn on Feb. 13. ... Tyree is second in the SEC in scoring during conference games, averaging 19.2 points per game.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Coach: Frank Martin (243-156 in 12 seasons overall; seventh season at USC — 126-102)
Projected starters: G Tre Campbell (7.1), G A.J. Lawson (13.8), F Keyshawn Bryant (8.8), F Chris Silva (14.2), F Maik Kotsar (7.4)
Last game: Beat Texas A&M 84-77 on Saturday at home
KenPom ranking: 93 (No. 92 in offense efficiency, No. 119 in defense efficiency)
NET: 95
Notes: The Gamecocks have scored 80 or more points 10 times this season, already matching what they did over 37 games in 2016-17. They’re 9-1 when hitting such a benchmark. ... In conference games, South Carolina leads the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage, but is next-to-last in free throw percentage. ... Silva hasn’t committed four or more fouls in three straight games, the best stretch of his season.
This story was originally published February 19, 2019 at 8:10 AM.
