Gamecocks focused on MSU, not tournament resume

It should be definite. There aren’t a whole lot of instances where a team with South Carolina’s current resume hasn’t been invited to the big to-do at the end of the season.

But with Frank Martin’s words ringing – we have to earn everything we get, we don’t deserve to be ranked, we don’t have a history – the Gamecocks are leaving nothing to chance. They see themselves as in a decent spot, and the only way to make it assured is to keep winning.

“We’re sitting in a great place,” freshman P.J. Dozier said. “We’ve got to go handle business.”

The Gamecocks (23-5, 10-5 SEC), fresh off clinching just their fourth winning SEC season in 25 years, head to Mississippi State on Saturday trying to make everything as definite as possible. NCAA tournament bracketology continues to list the Gamecocks as safely in, but USC knows a lot can change over the next three games.

The tournament is not in mind right now. USC is thinking of position – tied for second, with the No. 2 SEC tournament seed if the season ended today, a game out of first. USC is thinking how nice it would be to go to the SEC tournament not having to play the first or the second day – if it holds serve and wins two tournament games like in each of the past two years, that would mean a championship game appearance this year.

Perform well there, and then worry about what’s coming. USC has played all year thinking only of the next game, and it’s paid off with a season that at present is only two wins off tying the winningest season in program history.

“I do want to make it there, but SEC tournament’s first,” center Laimonas Chatkevicius said. “I would love to win that one first.”

A win at MSU helps the Gamecocks get closer to solidifying a tournament double-bye, and means a winning streak before coming back home for the next game. USC beat the Bulldogs on Jan. 26 after Michael Carrera had his career-best game but MSU has revamped its approach since.

With Malik Newman ailing due to a back issue, Quinndary Weatherspoon has taken over as the Bulldogs’ main presence. MSU still has a slight chance to make the postseason if it has a strong finish; Saturday’s home game beckons as an opportunity to start it.

USC is playing well and hopes to have a full roster after Marcus Stroman and Raymond Doby sat out last game with flu-like symptoms. But the main focus is on USC’s strong position, and how it could be that much stronger with more victories.

“I feel like we have the team to win every game,” Dozier said. “We’re just focused on winning.”