Gamecocks bolster postseason hopes with big SEC win over Bulldogs. What we learned
Four in a row.
With their postseason hopes hanging by a thread just weeks ago, the South Carolina Gamecocks (17-10, 8-7 SEC) have rallied to win four straight games and keep their names in the conversation.
The fourth of those wins came Wednesday at Colonial Life Arena in a dominant, confident 66-56 victory over visiting Mississippi State. The Gamecocks never trailed.
“This team is full of fighters,” senior forward Keyshawn Bryant said. “Most importantly, though, we know our back’s against the wall. We know what’s at stake. It’s just up to us to bring it each and every day and that’s what we’re doing right now.”
The last time South Carolina played the Bulldogs, on Feb. 1, Mississippi State snapped USC’s three-game winning streak, and the Gamecocks went on to lose their next two games.
USC found a measure of revenge Wednesday. Here’s what we learned.
Gamecocks climb SEC standings
The SEC men’s basketball standings couldn’t be tighter.
Heading into Wednesday night, the Gamecocks were tied with LSU and Mississippi State at 7-7 in the conference. Wednesday’s win pushes USC into a tie with Alabama — who just so happens to be USC’s next opponent on Saturday on the road. As the Gamecocks climb up the standings, they improve their seeding in next month’s SEC tournament and bolster their resume for the postseason.
Of course, the NCAA selection committee looks at various metrics beyond conference performance, with NET rankings serving as a crucial component. Even after a Quadrant I win Saturday over LSU, the Gamecocks came into Wednesday ranked 94th in the NET, compared with 46th for the Bulldogs. As it stands, USC remains out of NCAA tournament projections, but the Gamecocks’ chances aren’t dead.
The NIT still seems like the safer bet, with the Gamecocks projected to make the cut there as a bubble team.
“I don’t know what the next 10 days have in store for us,” Martin said. “I really don’t care. I’m happy today. And we’re gonna have a really good workout tomorrow, because that’s what these guys have done all year. And we’ll go Saturday to Alabama and lay it on the line again and see what happens.”
USC ball movement stands out
Wednesday’s game represented one of the crisper offensive performances we’ve seen from the Gamecocks this season, as the Gamecocks consistently spread the ball around to create open looks and operated at a fast-paced tempo.
That was especially the case in the first half as USC built its lead. Seven of USC’s 15 first-half field goals came on assists, and seven different Gamecocks scored.
As is often the case, the team’s point guards were crucial in facilitating. Both freshman Devin Carter and starter Jermaine Couisnard — coming off a career-high 33 point game — played with confidence and decisiveness. Carter tallied five assists and Couisnard recorded four, once again pacing the offense with 22 points.
In all, 14 of USC’s 25 field goals came off of assists. Martin said that he had made some adjustments to the team’s offensive approach after noticing the team struggling in its half-court offense. The result is a different kind of spacing that makes room for the team’s quick-twitch guards and athletes like Couisnard, Carter and Bryant to cut toward the rim and score.
Lockdown defense, rebounding from USC
The Gamecocks led for the entirety of the game in large part due to their pestering defense and their control of the glass. USC led Mississippi State in rebounding 38-29.
That was a reversal from USC’s performance in Starkville, where the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Gamecocks by a 41-24 margin.
True to Martin’s style of defense, USC made life difficult for the Bulldogs in the passing lanes, by forcing 13 turnovers. And they were especially stingy on the perimeter, where MSU made none of its 14 attempts.
Next USC men’s basketball game
Who: South Carolina at Alabama
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Watch: SEC Network
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 8:35 PM.
