Business trip awaits Gamecocks at Paradise Jam

There are enough upperclassmen on the team to know what to expect. Seniors have been to Hawaii, Mexico and Charleston over the past three years and this year’s trip to the Virgin Islands is a teaching moment for the youngsters.

Yes, it’s tempting to look out of the hotel resort window and see the blue seas and warm weather, palm trees waving in the breeze and all kinds of temptation beckoning on the beaches. It’s a lot more enticing than some rickety gym that might seat 4,000, with poor lighting and not much air-conditioning.

But South Carolina – along with everybody else in the eight-team Paradise Jam field – is there for business, not pleasure. The Gamecocks, 2-0 and playing well, want to keep playing well. This isn’t a vacation.

It’s work.

“That’s a testament to our leadership,” junior guard Duane Notice said. “I think our freshmen are focused. They’re going to do a good job of making sure we watch personnel, watch film, stay in tune when we’re on the road.”

USC departed for St. Thomas on Wednesday and takes on DePaul (1-1) Friday afternoon. A win gives the Gamecocks a bye until Sunday; a loss means they play Saturday evening. The tournament wraps on Monday.

Thus far, USC has beaten two strong teams led by their guards. Norfolk State and Oral Roberts each tried to zone the Gamecocks into forced outside shooting and deny Gamecock forwards their touches. It worked in small doses – the Golden Eagles discovered that senior center Laimonas Chatkevicius had apparently made up his mind to have an impact.

The big man had the best game of his career, scoring 27 points and relentlessly patrolling the paint. Frank Martin, who’s waited four years for a consistent inside game, was impressed.

“Michael (Carrera) kind of got the thing going, and Laimonas obviously became a huge presence around the rim,” Martin said. “Mindaugas (Kacinas), you can’t say enough, for how many extra possessions we get in games because of his relentless desire on the offensive rebound.”

USC has been controlling that aspect as well, hauling in 19 offensive rebounds in each game.

That needs to keep up in Paradise Jam Game 1. The Blue Demons are stocked with height.

“Some people try to trap and go for steals to get extra possessions, we believe in offensive rebounds for extra possessions,” Martin said. “After two games, it’s paid off.”