How Jermaine Couisnard’s Kentucky heroics could have long-lasting effects on USC
In a move normally reserved for the coach following a game, Jermaine Couisnard delivered an opening statement.
Before reporters could ask him about the biggest shot from the best game of his young South Carolina career, Couisnard on Wednesday settled behind a microphone and took command.
“First of all,” he said, “we want to thank all the Gamecock fans for coming out tonight.”
An announced crowd of 18,000 — good for Colonial Life Arena’s 16th sellout in building history — saw the home team knock off No. 10 Kentucky, 81-78, when Couisnard’s 30-footer banked in at the buzzer. The shot — producing points 24, 25 and 26 of Couisnard’s night — led to chaos.
Couisnard ran to one corner of the floor while his teammates chased him, caught him and mobbed him while USC students tried their best to get by security and join in on the celebration. Everyone wanted a piece of the redshirt freshman, a 6-foot-4, 211-pound guard who was suddenly Big Man on Campus. When Couisnard wrapped a courtside interview with SEC Network, a row of students hung over chair-back seats to slap him five. He dapped up all of them.
A star was born? Maybe. A team leader emerged? That’s more like it.
Frank Martin’s season-long quest for a player to take ownership of the Gamecocks and guide them through adversity could be nearing its end. Couisnard, though low in experience, proved publicly Wednesday what Martin’s long known he’s been capable of.
“Jermaine’s becoming the heartbeat of our team,” Martin said.
Such a statement is the kind Martin makes when he senses a player showing the toughness and aggressiveness he demands. Past Gamecocks to earn that description include Chris Silva, Sindarius Thornwell and Michael Carrera.
Couisnard is now trending toward that honored company after turning the corner on an inconsistent beginning to his year. Good games like Garnder-Webb (16 points) and UMass (16 points) were mixed in with spotty performances as seen against Houston (1 of 11 shooting) and Wichita State (six turnovers).
“Jermaine is learning how to play college basketball,” Martin said. “His feelings were hurt in November because it’s harder than he thought it was going to be. And then the ball wasn’t going in for him. So he got a little timid and passive.
“Leading into Christmas, he was really starting to play better. … I probably should have started him at Tennessee.”
Since missing the Florida loss with a back strain, Couisnard has 41 points and five assists. The Tennessee performance — he scored six of USC’s final 11 in a one-point loss in Knoxville — earned him the first start of his career.
It was Couisnard — not A.J. Lawson or Jair Bolden — who was the point guard on one end against Kentucky and drawing the Ashton Hagans assignment on the other.
In what could be South Carolina’s most physical matchup of the year, Couisnard lasted 34 minutes — more than any other Wildcat or Gamecock. He saved 14 points of his points for the final 11 minutes, showing the kind of offensive potential he teased at last summer’s SC Pro-Am event.
Couisnard took 22 shots, the most by a South Carolina player this season. He made nine, none more important than the last. The heave from beyond the top of the key came after Kentucky’s Immanuel Quickley had knotted the game at 78 with 4.1 seconds left.
Martin said it was the “right guy” taking it. Carolina forward Keyshawn Bryant said there was no doubt it was going in.
“He was hot the whole game,” Bryant said.
South Carolina’s next game is Saturday at Texas A&M (8-7, 2-2 SEC). How can the Gamecocks (9-7, 1-2) avoid reverting back to the team that entered Wednesday on a three-game skid?
Perhaps they just follow Couisnard. He’s been preparing for this challenge.
“I feel like it’s my job,” he said. “Because last year, I was sitting out and I was just watching Chris Silva and learning from him and seeing what he was doing in giving players confidence. So that’s why I try to do.”
Martin just has one regret.
“Jermaine’s taking ownership of our team,” Martin said. “As a coach, I probably should have given him more ownership a little sooner than I did.”
NEXT
What: South Carolina at Texas A&M
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Reed Arena in College Station, Texas
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game
South Carolina Kentucky basketball box score
KENTUCKY (12-4): Quickley 6-9 6-7 20, Hagans 2-10 9-11 13, Maxey 5-8 1-2 13, Montgomery 1-4 4-5 6, Richards 5-6 5-8 15, Sestina 3-6 0-1 7, Brooks 0-5 0-0 0, Whitney 1-4 0-2 2, Juzang 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 24-56 25-36 78.
SOUTH CAROLINA (9-7): Couisnard 9-22 4-7 26, Minaya 4-9 1-2 11, Lawson 1-9 3-6 5, Bryant 6-11 3-5 15, Moss 4-9 1-1 10, Frink 1-4 4-5 6, McCreary 3-4 0-1 6, Kotsar 0-1 0-0 0, Hannibal 0-2 0-0 0, Leveque 1-2 0-3 2. Totals 29-73 16-30 81.
Halftime—Kentucky 33-25. 3-Point Goals—Kentucky 5-15 (Maxey 2-2, Quickley 2-4, Sestina 1-3, Juzang 0-1, Whitney 0-1, Brooks 0-2, Hagans 0-2), South Carolina 7-19 (Couisnard 4-5, Minaya 2-5, Moss 1-2, Bryant 0-2, Lawson 0-5). Fouled Out—Hagans, Montgomery, Minaya, Kotsar. Rebounds—Kentucky 40 (Richards, Brooks 7), South Carolina 38 (Minaya 7). Assists—Kentucky 10 (Hagans 7), South Carolina 13 (Couisnard 4). Total Fouls—Kentucky 27, South Carolina 28.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 8:46 AM.
