South Carolina-Tennessee basketball: How, what to watch as USC tries to keep rolling
South Carolina (15-9, 7-4 SEC) hosts Tennessee (14-10, 6-5) on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena. Tip-off is 6 p.m., broadcast on the SEC Network.
Here are some storylines to watch for the game.
1. The last meeting
When these teams last met, the proceedings literally went down the the final play. Down a point, USC’s A.J. Lawson was called for a charge after a collision with one second left.
Since then, South Carolina has gone 7-2 with wins against Arkansas and Kentucky. USC projects to be favored against a squad that plays a slower style and will make their presence known on defense.
“This is a team, they come after the ball when you try to score at the rim,” Frank Martin said during his weekly appearance on Carolina Calls. “They don’t stand there and watch. ... They play completely different than Georgia.”
2. A few options to handle
The Vols have had some instability with lineups, as guard Lamonte Turner was lost for the season with an injury and Santiago Vescovi joined the team mid-season. But they have options.
Four available players are averaging 10 or more points a game. The Volunteers are one of the rare teams on the schedule that play two bigs — and one, the springy and efficient John Fulkerson, presents a different kind of challenge.
“He’s a good big man,” Gamecocks center Maik Kotsar said. “He moves well, he finishes around the rim well. He has good pump fakes and everything just overall. The improvement I’ve seen from him, from his freshman year to now is tremendous.”
3. A familiar face
South Carolina put in a lot of work trying to bring five-star Josiah-Jordan James into the fold in Columbia. Instead, he’s on track to make his debut in Tennessee orange in Colonial Life Arena.
Injuries cost James the past four games, but he’s averaging 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. His size at 6-foot-6 presents its own set of issues for a defense.
“He’s a big guard,” Gamecocks point guard Jermaine Couisnard said, “maybe the biggest guard in our conference. He’s got long arms, so he’s really active on the perimeter.”
TENNESSEE
Coach: Rick Barnes (706-374 in 32 seasons overall; fifth season at Tennessee — 101-57)
Projected starters: G Santiago Vescovi (11.6 ppg), G Jordan Bowden (13.2), G Jalen Johnson (3.4), F Yves Pons (11.2), F John Fulkerson (12.3)
Last game: Beat Arkansas 82-61 on Tuesday at home
KenPom ranking: 58 (No. 95 in offense efficiency, No. 51 in defense efficiency)
NET: 65
SOUTH CAROLINA
Coach: Frank Martin (261-169 in 13 seasons overall; eighth season at USC — 144-115)
Projected starters: G A.J. Lawson (14.0), G Jermaine Couisnard (11.9), F Alanzo Frink (4.7), F Keyshawn Bryant (7.6), C Maik Kotsar (10.3)
Last game: Beat Georgia 75-59 on Wednesday in Athens
KenPom ranking: 72 (No. 129 in offense efficiency, No. 52 in defense efficiency)
NET: 66
Game info
Who: Tennessee (14-10, 6-5) at South Carolina (17-9, 7-4)
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV channel: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 FM in Columbia area
Series: South Carolina leads 6-4
Last meeting: Jan. 11, 2020 — Tennessee 56, South Carolina 55
KenPom prediction: South Carolina 69, Tennessee 66
