Don't Look Now, But. . .
posted by Scott Hood, Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Saturday’s thrilling 80-77 victory at Ole Miss, a place where USC had never won in eight previous contests, was as dramatic as it was surprising. The Rebels had lost just once at home under head coach Andy Kennedy in 1-1/2 seasons entering the game.
But it also showed what the Gamecocks are capable of when they play well and play together. In truth, they can beat most teams in the SEC when they clicking on all cylinders.
Had they played this well at key times in the first half of the regular season, they would probably have three or four more wins on their resume.
What’s been the difference?
There’s no question the Gamecocks have been a better basketball team since Dave Odom starting using a smaller and quicker lineup featuring Devan Downey and Zam Fredrick at guard and Evaldas Baniulis, Dwayne Day and Dominique Archie at forward.
That lineup is 3-1 since Odom initially rolled the dice for the first time against Arkansas. USC won that game, 70-66, in Fayetteville and hasn’t looked back.
Sam Muldrow started for Baniulis against Florida but the Baltic Bomber was back among the starting five when USC traveled to Kentucky.
USC has played well for the most part in five consecutive games. Of course, two of those contests were defeats to Florida and Kentucky, but USC fought hard throughout both games and held second half leads before fading down the stretch.
Does Odom’s retirement announcement get some of the credit for motivating his players to play better? Maybe. But remember, the Arkansas win came before the emotional press conference 18 days ago.
Right now, it’s all about energy, effort and enthusiasm. All three of those things appear to be in abundant supply at the present time.
In the four games with the new, smaller lineup, USC is shooting 45.1 percent (106-235) from the floor, including a scorching 52.7 percent in the win over Ole Miss.
The Gamecocks are also shooting 38.9 percent (35-90) from 3-point range. The biggest triple, of course, was Archie’s game-winner against the Rebels Saturday with just under six seconds left.
It may have been the most dramatic game-winning shot by a USC player since Tarence Kinsey’s 3-pointer at the buzzer beat St. Joseph’s in the NIT Final in 2005.
What made Archie's trey more impressive was that it was an all-or-nothing proposition since USC trailed by a point at the time. Had he missed, the Gamecocks would have likely lost.
But he made it. In doing so, he may have reversed the course of USC's season.
By going with the smaller lineup, Odom knew he would have to give something up and that’s rebounding. USC is being out-rebounded by an average margin of 10.5 per game in the four games.
But, when you’re hitting a higher percentage of shots, rebounding becomes less of a concern.
USC has been successful in drawing some of the opponents’ big players away from the basket and out of their comfort zone. As a result, Devan Downey has discovered more space driving to the basket.
Whatever the reason, the bottom line is it’s working. Whatever you think of Odom, you have to give him credit for recognizing that going with a lineup based more on speed and less than brawn might give USC’s a better chance at success.
Now USC has entered a favorable stretch of the schedule. They face Vanderbilt at home Saturday afternoon followed by a road contest at Georgia and a home game against Alabama on Feb. 16.
USC has a good chance to win all three games. If they do, they’ll be 6-4 in the SEC heading to Gainesville on Feb. 20. At worst, they should win two of three.
Vanderbilt is certainly more talented than USC, but the enigmatic Commodores have been horrendous on the road since conference play began.
Vandy has been beaten by an average margin of 19.3 points in its last three league road games and are 0-4 overall away from Nashville against SEC foes.
I watched USC beat Georgia fairly handily on Jan. 30, so I’m confident the Gamecocks are capable of dispatching the Bulldogs again.
In fact, considering how USC has played better on the road than at home this season, I’ll predict the Gamecocks will beat Georgia by a wider margin than the 62-56 score in the previous meeting.
Finally, Alabama is 2-5 in the league, including 0-2 on the road. The Crimson Tide gave Tennessee fits recently at home but, quite frankly, they’re not very good.
Could USC actually carry a five-game winning streak into the Feb. 20 meeting with Florida in Gainesville? Don't look now, but it could happen.
Remember, USC also has games remaining against LSU (2/27) and Auburn (3/1), possibly the two worst teams in the Western Division.
Do the math. Thanks to the unexpected road wins at Arkansas and Ole Miss, its possible USC could finish .500 or better in the SEC, a ludicrous thought after the blowout loss to Tennessee on Jan. 12.
But, USC has to take care of business starting this Saturday against the very beatable Commodores.
If they do, they’ll be playing somewhere in the post-season.
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You know, the South Carolina men’s basketball team has looked pretty good lately.
Saturday’s thrilling 80-77 victory at Ole Miss, a place where USC had never won in eight previous contests, was as dramatic as it was surprising. The Rebels had lost just once at home under head coach Andy Kennedy in 1-1/2 seasons entering the game.
But it also showed what the Gamecocks are capable of when they play well and play together. In truth, they can beat most teams in the SEC when they clicking on all cylinders.
Had they played this well at key times in the first half of the regular season, they would probably have three or four more wins on their resume.
What’s been the difference?
There’s no question the Gamecocks have been a better basketball team since Dave Odom starting using a smaller and quicker lineup featuring Devan Downey and Zam Fredrick at guard and Evaldas Baniulis, Dwayne Day and Dominique Archie at forward.
That lineup is 3-1 since Odom initially rolled the dice for the first time against Arkansas. USC won that game, 70-66, in Fayetteville and hasn’t looked back.
Sam Muldrow started for Baniulis against Florida but the Baltic Bomber was back among the starting five when USC traveled to Kentucky.
USC has played well for the most part in five consecutive games. Of course, two of those contests were defeats to Florida and Kentucky, but USC fought hard throughout both games and held second half leads before fading down the stretch.
Does Odom’s retirement announcement get some of the credit for motivating his players to play better? Maybe. But remember, the Arkansas win came before the emotional press conference 18 days ago.
Right now, it’s all about energy, effort and enthusiasm. All three of those things appear to be in abundant supply at the present time.
In the four games with the new, smaller lineup, USC is shooting 45.1 percent (106-235) from the floor, including a scorching 52.7 percent in the win over Ole Miss.
The Gamecocks are also shooting 38.9 percent (35-90) from 3-point range. The biggest triple, of course, was Archie’s game-winner against the Rebels Saturday with just under six seconds left.
It may have been the most dramatic game-winning shot by a USC player since Tarence Kinsey’s 3-pointer at the buzzer beat St. Joseph’s in the NIT Final in 2005.
What made Archie's trey more impressive was that it was an all-or-nothing proposition since USC trailed by a point at the time. Had he missed, the Gamecocks would have likely lost.
But he made it. In doing so, he may have reversed the course of USC's season.
By going with the smaller lineup, Odom knew he would have to give something up and that’s rebounding. USC is being out-rebounded by an average margin of 10.5 per game in the four games.
But, when you’re hitting a higher percentage of shots, rebounding becomes less of a concern.
USC has been successful in drawing some of the opponents’ big players away from the basket and out of their comfort zone. As a result, Devan Downey has discovered more space driving to the basket.
Whatever the reason, the bottom line is it’s working. Whatever you think of Odom, you have to give him credit for recognizing that going with a lineup based more on speed and less than brawn might give USC’s a better chance at success.
Now USC has entered a favorable stretch of the schedule. They face Vanderbilt at home Saturday afternoon followed by a road contest at Georgia and a home game against Alabama on Feb. 16.
USC has a good chance to win all three games. If they do, they’ll be 6-4 in the SEC heading to Gainesville on Feb. 20. At worst, they should win two of three.
Vanderbilt is certainly more talented than USC, but the enigmatic Commodores have been horrendous on the road since conference play began.
Vandy has been beaten by an average margin of 19.3 points in its last three league road games and are 0-4 overall away from Nashville against SEC foes.
I watched USC beat Georgia fairly handily on Jan. 30, so I’m confident the Gamecocks are capable of dispatching the Bulldogs again.
In fact, considering how USC has played better on the road than at home this season, I’ll predict the Gamecocks will beat Georgia by a wider margin than the 62-56 score in the previous meeting.
Finally, Alabama is 2-5 in the league, including 0-2 on the road. The Crimson Tide gave Tennessee fits recently at home but, quite frankly, they’re not very good.
Could USC actually carry a five-game winning streak into the Feb. 20 meeting with Florida in Gainesville? Don't look now, but it could happen.
Remember, USC also has games remaining against LSU (2/27) and Auburn (3/1), possibly the two worst teams in the Western Division.
Do the math. Thanks to the unexpected road wins at Arkansas and Ole Miss, its possible USC could finish .500 or better in the SEC, a ludicrous thought after the blowout loss to Tennessee on Jan. 12.
But, USC has to take care of business starting this Saturday against the very beatable Commodores.
If they do, they’ll be playing somewhere in the post-season.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.