Late-Night Hoops: Gamecocks Host Vols

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — South Carolina looks to even the season series vs. Tennessee on Wednesday at 9 p.m. at the Colonial Life Arena, as the Vols posted a 78-69 victory in Knoxville in late January. The Gamecocks are fresh off an overtime victory over Florida last Saturday, and sit in second place in the SEC standings entering Wednesday’s matchup.

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 both the Associated Press’ Top 25 Poll and in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll this week. The Gamecocks have been receiving votes or have been ranked for the past 13 weeks in the Coaches Poll, rising to as high as 15th, and also for 13 straight weeks in the AP poll, rising to as high as 19th.
– The Gamecocks broke a seven-game Florida win streak in the series between the two schools with a 73-69 overtime thriller vs. the Gators at Colonial Life Arena last Saturday. The win improved the Gamecocks to 22-5 on the season, their most regular-season wins since the 1996-97 campaign. Senior forward Michael Carreraonce again led the offensive charge for Carolina, pacing four in double figures with a game high 20 points. Carrera also pulled down 15 rebounds to mark his ninth double-double of the year.
– With his 20-point, 15-rebound effort vs. Florida, Carrera becomes the first Gamecock to post multiple 20-point, 15-rebound performances in a season since Jimmy Foster hit the mark three times during the 1983-84 campaign.
– The Gamecocks are 4-1 this season in games decided by five points or less.
– Through 14 league games, Sindarius Thornwell and Michael Carrera have led the Gamecocks in scoring in all but one SEC game, Carrera leading the Gamecocks in scoring seven times, and Thornwell six.
– South Carolina is 31st in the most recent NCAA RPI (Feb. 23), and the Gamecocks are 8-3 against teams in the top 100 of the RPI.
– The Gamecocks are in their 25th season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2016. Carolina owns a 153-251 (.378) all-time record in SEC play.
– Frank Martin owns a 74-76 (.493) all-time record in conference games.
– Senior forward Mindaugas Kacinas was named CoSIDA Academic All-District on Feb. 11, as he holds above a 3.3 cumulative GPA. The honor is the first of his career, and Kacinas now moves onto the national ballot for Academic All-America honors.

GAMECOCKS IN THE POLLS

South Carolina is receiving votes in both the Associated Press’ Top 25 Poll and in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll this week. The Gamecocks have been receiving votes or have been ranked for the past 13 weeks in the Coaches Poll, rising to as high as 15th, and also for 13 straight weeks in the AP poll, rising to as high as 19th.

SCOUTING TENNESSEE

– The Vols enter Wednesday’s contest with a 13-14 overall record, which includes a 6-8 mark in SEC games.
– Tennessee is 1-9 in away games this season, the lone win coming in a 80-75 win at Mississippi State on Jan. 16.
– In its last game, Tennessee posted an 81-65 win over LSU in Knoxville. Senior forward Armani Moore led the Vols with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and junior guard Robert Hubbs III posted a team high 19 points in the win.
– Versus LSU, UT shot 49.2 percent from the floor and out-rebounded the Tigers 42-35.
– Senior guard Kevin Punter ranks second in the SEC in scoring with 22.2 points per game in overall games this season, however, he missed the LSU contest due to a foot injury and is listed as day-to-day entering Wednesday’s matchup.
– The Vols lead the SEC and rank 32nd nationally in fewest turnovers per game (11.0 tpg).
– Moore (11.8) and Hubbs (11.2) also score in double-figures in overall games this season.
– UT is led by head coach Rick Barnes in his first season in Knoxville.