Feb. 4, 2004

SEC-TV, Fox Sports Net’s live, weekly Southeastern Conference studio program, continues on – Thursday, 2/5 – at 6:30 p.m. EST (re-airs on Friday, 2/6 at 1 a.m.). Dave Neal hosts this week’s live, half-hour show from FSN’s Atlanta studio, where he is joined by reporter Jenn Hildreth.

SEC-TV reporter Jenn Hildreth spotlights South Carolina senior guard Mike Boynton, Jr. Hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y., Boynton went through quite an adjustment moving to the South and becoming a Gamecock. He seems to have had few problems adapting to his new environment and has taken it upon himself to step up his leadership role and work ethic. Boynton believes the Gamecocks’ team chemistry is solid because everyone believes in each other.

This season, Boynton leads the Gamecocks in assists (82), steals (32), and three-point field goals made (41). He has helped Carolina to an 18-3 record (5-2 in SEC) and a 24th ranking in this week’s AP national poll.

The Boynton feature will include interviews with Carlos Powell, Tre’ Kelley, Head Coach Dave Odom and Boynton himself. In addition, a number of players went bowling with Boynton – including Rolando Howell, who bowled a 157, and Josh Gonner, who bowled an 89.

Also featured on SEC-TV is Florida center Vanessa Hayden, who is enjoying an outstanding season as she leads the SEC in blocked shots (68) and rebounding (11.9 rpg) as well as ranks second in the conference in scoring (19.4 ppg). Spending the summer of 2003 in Gainesville, Hayden dedicated herself to serious conditioning and strength training in order to have the best season of her career in ’04.

SEC-TV basketball analyst Barry Booker goes one-on-one with Georgia senior guard/forward Damien Wilkins. The nephew of former Bulldog All-American and NBA legend Dominique Wilkins and the son of NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins, the 6-foot-7 Damien ranks first on the team with free-throws made (73) and second in scoring (13.4 ppg). He spent his first two seasons at NC State, where he was a team captain in ’00-01. And, in his first game as a Wolfpack freshman (’99-00), NC State opened its new arena against . . . Georgia!

Thursday’s “Homecourt Presented by BC Powder” is Florida’s O’Connell Center – home of Gator basketball. Also referred to as the “O’Dome,” the arena has gained a reputation for itself – enthusiastic and friendly if you are a Gator…noisy and deafening if you are the opposition. The recently renovated (’98), $14 million arena is capable of seating 12,000 fans and covers more than three acres. Since the Lady Gators started calling the O’Connell Center home in ’81, they have since fashioned a 205-84 (.709 winning percentage). The men, meanwhile, have posted a 228-83 (.733) mark.

Other SEC-TV highlights for Thursday include – (1) “Speed Read,” which tackles the up-to-the-minute happenings around the 12-member SEC family; (2) the “BC Powder Quick Question of the Week,” which queries conference men’s and women’s head coaches and players -“What is your favorite television show?” (3) and the Advance Auto Parts Player of the Week – which this week is Florida forward Natashia Morehead. (4) “Toyota’s Moment of the Week,” – which was Vanderbilt’s men’s basketball upset (66-60)