What we learned from the South Carolina men’s exhibition win over Benedict
College men’s basketball is back in Columbia with a whole new feel.
Frank Martin’s revamped South Carolina Gamecocks hosted Benedict in a Thursday night exhibition, defeating the Tigers 101-76. Playing in front of a lively crowd, an energetic Benedict band and a new in-house DJ, USC matched the energy with high-flying, dunk-filled basketball.
After a difficult 6-15 season last year that featured multiple COVID-19 shutdowns, Martin and the Gamecocks are looking to return the program to its winning ways.
Here are three things we learned about the Gamecocks in Thursday’s win.
James Reese came to play
A graduate transfer from North Texas who once starred locally at A.C. Flora High School, Reese put on a show in his first action for his hometown Gamecocks. Reese was hands down the most productive player on the court for USC, especially in the first half, when he scored 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting, 3-for-4 from the 3-point line and recorded two steals on the defensive end. Reese finished with 21 points.
Martin said Monday that Reese is “an elite defender” with the potential to be one of the best defenders he’s ever coached, and Reese showed Thursday that he can shoot the ball as well. Adding to his 3-pointers, Reese electrified the crowd with a put-back dunk early in the contest and an alley-oop later in the first half.
The Gamecocks have size around the rim
USC’s frontcourt was perilously thin a year ago, especially after forward Alanzo Frink was ruled out for the season due to medical reasons. Adding size was one of the priorities for Martin and his staff this offseason, and those big men smothered Benedict at times Thursday night. In particular, 7-foot LSU transfer Josh Gray played every bit as big as his listed size, racking up three blocks, four offensive boards and 12 rebounds overall to go along with his 10 points for a double-double.
Transfer A.J. Wilson, known as a defensive maven at George Mason, also tallied a pair of blocks and showed some scoring feel in the low post. Returner Wildens Leveque caught fire at the end of last season and scored with efficiency Thursday, making all four of his field goals, but he did draw the ire of Martin at times with turnovers and fouls.
The starters are unclear
Leveque, Wilson, Erik Stevenson, Reese and Chico Carter Jr. comprised Thursday’s starting lineup, but that group might not necessarily be the starting five for the season opener Nov. 9 against USC Upstate. Martin said this week that he would use the exhibition as an opportunity to mix and match.
The Gamecocks were also somewhat short-handed Thursday. Veterans Jermaine Couisnard and Keyshawn Bryant didn’t play due to minor injuries. (Martin said they could have played in a regular season game.) Forward Tre-Vaughn Minott also didn’t play due to strep throat. All three of those players could conceivably start in the regular season, with Couisnard and Bryant being the most likely.
With the additions of Reese, Stevenson, Carter Jr. and the freshmen Jacobi Wright and Devin Carter, the Gamecocks have a diverse group of guards who bring different skill sets to the table. Stevenson and Reese both displayed their shooting acumen Thursday, while the freshman Carter showcased an explosive slashing ability toward the basket.
South Carolina Benedict box score
BENEDICT 76 — Timothy Bing 4-9 1-2 11; Tajh Green 5-12 5-7 16; Tyrese Mapp 2-6 2-2 6; Brandon Smith 4-9 2-4 12; Malachi McCoy 5-10 3-4 13; Calvin McCuthceon 1-9 2-4 4; Marshaun West 3-5 0-0 6; Brandon Biedleman 0-4 2-2 2; Zach Butler 1-4 0-0 3; Nigel Green 0-1 0-0 0; Dylan Glover 1-2 0-0 3; Kyle Abdi 0-2 0-0 0
SOUTH CAROLINA 101 — James Reese V 9-11 0-0 21; Chico Carter Jr. 3-7 2-2 8; Erik Stevenson 5-12 0-0 14; AJ Wilson 4-6 1-1 9; Wildens Leveque 4-4 0-0 8; Jacobi Wright 4-9 0-0 9; Brandon Martin 1-4 0-0 2; Ja’Von Benson 3-5 0-0 7; Devin Carter 6-11 1-2 13; Ta’Quan Woodley 0-0 0-0 0; Josh Gray 4-5 2-2 10; Ford Cooper Jr. 0-1 0-0 0; Mike Green 0-1 0-0 0
HALFTIME—South Carolina 54-39. 3-Point Goals—Benedict 7-21, South Carolina 9-26. Assists—Benedict 12 (Bing 3, McCutcheon 3), South Carolina 19 (Wright 6). Rebounds—Benedict 36 (Green 9), South Carolina 49 (Gray 12).
South Carolina basketball schedule: next game
Who: South Carolina vs USC Upstate
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
Watch: Streaming on SEC Network Plus
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 8:54 PM.
