Crunch Time! Gamecocks Host Gators

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — The Gamecocks return to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday to host Florida in front of a sellout crowd. Game time is set for Noon against the Gators in what is the lone meeting between the two squads this regular season.

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 Clarkand Lamont Evans and director of men’s hoops operations, Andy Assaley.
– South Carolina is receiving votes in the Associated Press’ Top 25 Poll this week, while Carolina is No. 23 in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Gamecocks have been receiving votes or have been ranked for the past 12 weeks in the Coaches Poll, rising to as high as 15th, and also for 12 straight weeks in the AP poll, rising to as high as 19th.
– South Carolina lost its second-straight game earlier this week, falling at Missouri, 72-67. Junior guard Duane Notice matched a career high with five 3s in the game, leading Carolina with a season high 21 points, but Mizzou had five reach double-figures, and out-rebounded the Gamecocks for the win.
– Senior forward Michael Carrera notched his eighth double-double of the season against Missouri. His eight double-doubles mark the most in a season for a Gamecock since Sam Muldrow had seven during the 2010-11 campaign.
– South Carolina looks to break a seven-game Florida win streak in the series on Saturday. Carolina’s last win in the series came in a 72-69 road win on Jan. 15, 2011.
– The Gamecocks are 3-1 this season after a loss, out-scoring their opponents by an average of 7.3 points per game in those victories.
– After averaging a combined 50.4 percent from the floor in wins vs. Texas A&M and LSU, the Gamecocks have hit just a combined 33.1 percent in the losses to Kentucky and Missouri.
– Through 13 league games, Sindarius Thornwell and Michael Carrera have led the Gamecocks in scoring in all but one SEC game, each pacing Carolina in scoring six times.
– South Carolina is 34th in the most recent NCAA RPI (Feb. 18), and the Gamecocks are 8-3 against teams in the top 100 of the RPI.

AUTISM SPEAKS

The Gamecock coaching staff will be wearing purple puzzle pieces on their lapels during the game vs. Florida as part of the Third Annual Coaches Powering Forward for Autism benefitting Autism Speaks initiative. Coaches Powering Forward for Autism was created in 2014 after NCAA Coaches Pat Skerry and Tom Herrion embarked on a mission to raise awareness of autism. Inspired by their sons, both diagnosed with autism. Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

GAMECOCKS IN THE POLLS

South Carolina is receiving votes in the Associated Press’ Top 25 Poll this week, while Carolina is No. 23 in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Gamecocks have been receiving votes or have been ranked for the past 12 weeks in the Coaches Poll, rising to as high as 15th, and also for 12 straight weeks in the AP poll, rising to as high as 19th.

SCOUTING FLORIDA

– Florida enters Saturday’s matchup vs. the Gamecocks with a 17-9 overall record, which includes an 8-5 mark in league contests after posting a 57-53 win at Georgia on Tuesday. The Gators are tied for third in the SEC from a record standpoint with South Carolina and Texas A&M.
– The Gators have won two road SEC games this season, at Georgia on Tuesday and at Ole Miss on Jan. 16.
– The Gators have won three of their last five, and seven of their last 10 games.
– Led by head coach Mike White in his first season, three average double-figures for UF, led by redshirt-senior forward Dorian Finney-Smith’s 15.1 per outing. Freshman guard KeVaughn Allen adds 11.9 per game, and redshirt-sophomore John Egbunu averages 10.8 points per game.
– Six Florida players average at least 7.1 points per game in overall games this season.
– Finney-Smith also paces the team with 8.1 rebounds per game, which ranks fifth in the SEC.
– The Gators rank second in the SEC in scoring defense, with opponents averaging just 65.9 points per game, while UF also ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage defense (39.6%, 598-1,510), which is just one spot above South Carolina in fifth (39.6%, 593-1,497).
– Florida averages 62.2 points per game in road games this season.