Jan. 24, 2007

South Carolina hosts Arkansas Wed.. Jan. 24 at 7:30 pm in the Colonial Center. Arkansas, the first SEC Western Division team USC has played this year, leads the series 11-6, including a 4-3 record in Columbia. But, USC, 10-7 and 0-4 in the SEC, has won both games its played in Columbia under sixth-year head coach Dave Odom (64-52 on Feb. 2, 2005; 72-65 on Feb. 15, 2003). At 13-6 and 2-3 in the SEC, the Razorbacks are in search of their first road win (0-4).

Good seats remain for the non-televised game.

Carolina, which has now lost five straight, fell at No. 22 Tennessee on Sat., Jan. 20 64-61. It is the longest losing streak at Carolina since the Gamecocks dropped seven straight games in 2003 (Jan. 11 – Feb. 5). After that seven game losing streak, Carolina won four straight. Wednesday’s competitor, Arkansas, dismantled No. 16 LSU 72-52 in Fayetteville on Saturday after losing its last three (at Florida, at Ole Miss, vs. Georgia).

In the two’s last meeting, UA’s Jonathon Modica just about single-handedly dismissed the Gamecocks on his own last year, scoring a career-high 37 points in a 73-59 Arkansas win in Fayetteville on Feb. 4, 2006. USC’s Tarence Kinsey led USC with 14 points.

UA has three starters in double figures (Beverley, 13.5; Thomas, 12.3 and Weems, 11.8) and Carolina has two (USC: Kelley, 16.6 and Wallace, 10.9). Wallace paces USC with 9.2 boards per game and 2.8 bpg, while Charles Thomas (5.5 rpg) lead the ‘Backs on the boards and Steven Hill has collected 3.0 bpg.

The USC-UA game can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network with Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (color analyst). It can be picked up via the internet at www.uscsports.com.

Newest line-up

USC used its sixth different line-up this season and its fourth different line-up in a row at Tennessee last Saturday. The UT line-up included Tre’ Kelley, Brandon Wallace, Evka Baniulis, Bryce Sheldon and Dominique Archie.

The line-up for the Kentucky game on Jan. 16 included three freshmen and two seniors (seniors: Kelley, Wallace, Baniulis; freshmen: Baniulis, Raley-Ross and Archie). The last time USC started three freshmen in a game was seven years ago. On March 11, 2000 USC lost 77-72 in OT to Auburn in the SEC Tournament – the same line-up they used the last five games of the 2000 season and it included freshmen Chuck Eidson, Marius Petravicius and Tony Kitchings.

SEC

Tre’ Kelley is No. 3 in scoring in the SEC at 16.6 ppg and No. 4 in SEC games at 17.5 ppg. Kelley, who led the SEC in assists last year, is No. 7 on the list with 4.7 apg. Brandon Wallace leads the SEC with 37.2 mpg and Kelley’s second with 35.1 mpg.

Wallace is second with 2.5 bpg in the SEC and third in overall games with 2.7 bpg. In overall games he is second with 9.2 rpg and third in defensive rebounds (6.6 rpg). Wallace and Dominique Archie are both eighth in offensive rebounds (2.6 rpg).

Evka Banilius is No. 26 with 5.0 rpg in SEC games.

The RPI

On Thursday, USC’s RPI was No. 83 on the collegerpi.com. USC’s strength of schedule was ranked No. 42. Arkansas’ RPI was No. 30 and its SOS was No. 7.

Kelley and Wallace Moving On Up

Tre’ Kelley and Brandon Wallace are working on a number of career milestones this year. With their play in the Arkansas game, Wallace will move to No. 3 in career games played (123) and Kelley will move to No. 7 with 122 games played.

Braggin’

* Tre’ Kelley can score and dish it. He has scored double digits in all but two games this season (4 vs. CofC and 9 at Georgia). He leads the team with 16.5 ppg. In the UT loss Kelley scored in double figures for the 14th time this year and the 57th time in his career. He has 4.7 apg and has 4+ AST in 11 of 16 games this year.

* Kelley has attempted 20 or more shots in four games this season. (Southern Cal, Baylor, Princeton, Florida) Entering this season, Kelley took 20 or more shots in only one game. (March 21, 2006 NIT Game vs. Florida State).

* Kelley also leads the team with 75 assists on the season, averaging 4.7 apg. He is looking to become the fourth Gamecock to ever lead the team in assists in three consecutive seasons (Jack Gilloon, Michael Foster, Melvin Watson). He led the SEC in assists last season.

* Brandon Wallace is averaging 9.2 rebounds per game, snaring 8+ REB in 14 of 17 games this year, including 11+ in 5 games. He pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds at Tennessee on Jan. 20.

* Wallace is looking to lead the team in blocks for the third consecutive season. He would become the fifth Gamecock to accomplish that. (Alex English, Mike Brittain, Jeff Roulston, Tony Kitchings). He has blocked 49 shots, (2.8 bpg). On track to break the school record set by Danny Traylor (235, 1971-73), he would have to average about 2.0 bpg in the next 12 SEC games + one SEC Tournament game.

* Bryce Sheldon has 2+ 3’s in five games this year, including a career-high six 3’s in the Gamecocks win at Southern California on Nov. 16.

* Evka Baniulis. He has scored 3+ PT in 9 of the last 11 games, including a career-high 10 points in his second straight start at UT in a career-high 36 MIN. He also scored a then-career-high eight points at Georgia and vs. Kentucky. He yanked down a career-high 6 REB vs. UK. Mr. Basketball

Wondering where all of South Carolina’s Mr. Basketball’s are playing college ball? Look no further than the University of South Carolina. Senior Brandon Wallace (2003 Mr. Basketball) is joined by a host of Mr. Basketball’s as transfers this season, with all playing next year. Zam Fredrick was Mr. Basketball in 2004, Devan Downey was Mr. Basketball in 2005 and new Syracuse transfer Mike Jones was Mr. Basketball in 2006. And with five of USC’s 2007 signees coming from South Carolina (see later in notes), it’s a pretty good guess the 2007 South Carolina Mr. Basketball might be a Gamecock in the making as well.

Arkansas

USC and Arkansas have two common opponents this season with both opponents putting Ls on its resumes. USC (50-84) and Arkansas (72-79) both lost to Florida and to Georgia (USC: 56-80; Arkansas 64-67).

Leading

This season, Carolina has had six different players to lead in scoring. Leading the team in scoring two of the last four games, Dwayne Day was the Gamecocks’ fifth different leading scorer in the past nine games.

Turn this around!

USC is 2-4 after a loss this season. The Gamecocks were 8-6 following a loss last season, they were 8-3 in 2004-05 and 6-4 in 2003-04.