Gamecocks Host Alabama On Legends Weekend
By USC SID
COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — South Carolina hosts Alabama on Saturday in Columbia, marking the second meeting between the two schools this season. Alabama won on its home court just over two weeks ago to give the Gamecocks their first loss of the season. The game is South Carolina’s second at home this week, as the Gamecocks posted an 84-74 win versus Mississippi State on Tuesday at Colonial Life Arena.
SUITS AND SNEAKERS
The week of Jan. 25-31 is the NABC’s Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Week, a nationwide event when basketball coaches across the country unite for a common cause — saving lives from cancer! Coaches and their staff are encouraged to wear sneakers with their suits while coaching games to raise awareness about the fight against cancer and to share the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing one’s risk of the disease, and to promote the American Cancer Society as a place for people facing cancer to turn for free information, help, and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition this season, coaches and teams will wear special laces in honor of Lacey Holsworth, an avid basketball fan. The laces can be purchased at Shoe Carnival, and will help in the fight against cancer, and to raise awareness about the disease.
GAME STORYLINES
– South Carolina is in its 108th season of varsity basketball in 2015-16.
– Carolina is led by fourth-year head coach Frank Martin. Alongside him are associate head coach Matt Figger, assistant coaches Perry Clark and Lamont Evans and director of men’s hoops operations, Andy Assaley.
– South Carolina is receiving votes in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, while Carolina is No. 22 in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Gamecocks have been ranked for the past six weeks in the Coaches Poll, rising to as high as 15th, and were ranked for five straight weeks in the AP poll before falling out of the Top 25 this week.
– South Carolina responded after just its second loss of the season with a solid performance at home versus Mississippi State on Tuesday. Led by a career night from senior forward Michael Carrera, who tallied a career high 34 points, and matched a career high with 15 rebounds, Carolina earned the 84-74 win. Junior guard Sindarius Thornwell was also in double-figures at 15 points on the night, while junior guard Duane Notice added 13 points, and senior forward Mindaugas Kacinas pulled down 10 rebounds.
– Carrera became the first Carolina player since the Gamecocks joined the SEC to score at least 30 points and collect 10 rebounds in a game.
– South Carolina is 26th in the most recent NCAA RPI (Jan. 29).
– The Gamecocks are in their 25th season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2016. Carolina owns a 149-248 (.375) all-time record in SEC play.
GAMECOCKS IN THE POLLS
South Carolina is receiving votes in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, while Carolina is No. 22 in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Gamecocks have been ranked for the past six weeks in the Coaches Poll, rising to as high as 15th, and were ranked for five straight weeks in the AP poll before falling out of the Top 25 this week.
LEGENDS WEEKEND
South Carolina is hosting its annual Legends Weekend this weekend in Columbia. The event begins on Friday with an evening reception at the Frank McGuire Club at Colonial Life Arena, and continues on Saturday morning with a Tip-Off Club brunch, followed by an opportunity for Legends to attend the team’s shoot around in advance of that night’s matchup versus Alabama. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., legends will be signing autographs on the concourse at the Arena before tip off versus the Crimson Tide at 6 p.m. Some of the Legends scheduled to attend include Alex English, Jamel Bradley, Jimmy Collins, Nate Davis, Chuck Eidson, Zam Frederick, Hank Martin and Bryce Sheldon.
