Gamecocks Travel To Georgia On Wednesday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (14-9, 6-4 SEC) travels to face Georgia (12-11, 2-8 SEC) on Wednesday night at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.  The meeting, scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip time, is the first between the two schools this season.

GAME INFORMATION
Arena: Stegeman Coliseum (10,523)
Broadcast: SEC Network
  Play-By-Play: Mike Morgan
  Analyst: Jon Sundvold
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network
  In Columbia: 107.5 The Game
  Play-By-Play: Derek Scott
  Analyst: Casey Manning
  SIRIUS: – | XM: 380 | INTERNET: 970
Watch: WatchESPN/ESPN App
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Tickets: Arena box office
Series: Georgia leads 58-55
  In Athens: UGA leads 33-19
  Trend: Carolina has won six straight
  Last Game: 66-46 Carolina win on March 9, 2019, in Columbia

TIPOFF NOTABLES
> South Carolina posted is sixth win in its last eight games with a dominant 74-54 home victory over the visiting Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday.  Three were in double figures for Carolina, led for the second straight game by R-freshman Jermaine Couisnard who scored 19.  Sophomore guard AJ Lawson (18) and senior forward Maik Kotsar (10) were also in double figures.
> For his efforts last week vs. Ole Miss, when he scored a season high 28 points, and his 19-point performance in the win over A&M, Couisnard was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.  He paces the Gamecocks in league contests with 16.4 points per game.  Over the last three games, he is averaging 20.6 per contest.
> Senior forward Maik Kotsar continues his career year in 2019-20.  The Tallinn, Estonia, native registered his 14th double-figure scoring contest of the season, and posted his 11th game this season with a team high in steals with 10 points and four steals vs. A&M.
> Kotsar is the only player in the SEC (conference games only) to be ranked in the top 10 in both rebounds (team high 7.3 per game/t-8th in the SEC) and steals (team high 1.8 per outing/t-6th).
> South Carolina saw its three-game win streak come to an end on when it suffered an 84-70 loss on the road at Ole Miss last Wednesday.  Breein Tyree led the Rebels with 38 points on 12 made baskets in the win.  
> R-freshman guard Jermaine Couisnard continued his hot streak on the offensive end, scoring a season high 28 vs. Ole Miss.  It was his second 20-point game of the year.  He connected on eight field goals, one shy of matching his season high, and hit a season best nine free throws.  He made six of his eight field goals in the second half.  Couisnard paces the Gamecocks in SEC action with 16.1 points per game.  
> Kotsar had a strong outing against the Rebels as well, especially in the first half when he scored 12 of his 19 points.  Kotsar also led the Gamecocks in rebounds (8), blocks (3) and steals (3) on Wednesday.
> In home games this season, Carolina is averaging 73.2 points per outing and 42.5 percent from the field.
> Since the beginning of the 2016 SEC campaign, Carolina is 30-11 (.731) in conference home contests.
> In its 14 wins, the Carolina defense is holding opponents to just 35.3 percent from the field and 26.0 percent from 3-point range.
> Martin is 33-45 (.435) against ranked opponents as a head coach. His teams have four wins over opponents ranked in the top five, and two wins over opponents who are ranked No. 1.
> The Gamecocks are 5-3 on the road this season, and are 27-36 (42.8%) in road contests dating back to the 2014-15 campaign.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
> Carolina is 4-1 (3-0 at home, 1-1 on the road)
> Couisnard’s 14.8 points per game are a team high
> Lawson has hit 13-of-32 (40.6%) attempts from 3-point range
> Kotsar has a team high 6.6 rebounds, and also 12.4 points, 2.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 2.0 steals per game
> Opponents are averaging just 36.3% from the field

THROUGH 23 GAMES …
> Sophomore guard AJ Lawson paces the Gamecocks with 13.7 points per game.  Lawson also has a team high 44 3-pointers on the year and is dishing out 1.9 assists per game.
> Senior forward Maik Kotsar has scored 235 points through the first 23 games, and is just 85 points away from 1,000 for his career..  
> The Gamecocks are holding opponents to just 38.3 percent from the floor, which is first in the SEC and 16th nationally.
> Carolina has dished at least 13 assists in 18  games, including an SEC season high 22 in the Jan. 18 road win at Texas A&M.
> R-freshman guard Jermaine Couisnard is averaging a team high 2.9 assists per game.  He has 18 games this season with two or more assists.
> Carolina has held its opponent to less than 40 percent from the field on 11 occassions, including holding Wyoming to 23.1 percent and only nine made field goals.
> The Gamecocks are 13-2 in games in which they lead at the half.
> Carolina is 10-2 in games in which Jair Bolden scores in double figures.

THE DEFENSE SHINES
> Frank Martin teams are known for their tenacious defense and the 2019-20 team is on the mark.  The Gamecocks lead the league and rank 16th nationally, holding opponents to just 38.3% from the field.  From 3-point range, opponents have hit just 148-of-500 attempts (29.6%/5th in the SEC/32nd nationally), and Carolina is forcing 15.35 turnovers per contest, second in the SEC and 57 in the nation.

COUPLE MORE NOTES ON THE DEFENSE
> Carolina has held 11 opponents to under 40% from the field and five of those under 30%
> 12 Gamecock opponents were held to under 30% from the field from 3-point range
> 10 opponents have been held to under 20 made field goals
> 12 opponents have committed 15+ turnovers
> Carolina is sixth in the SEC (overall games) with 4.4 blocks per game, second with 7.7 steals and second with a +1.8 turnover margin

KOTSAR CONTINUES STRONG SENIOR CAMPAIGN
> Senior forward Maik Kotsar is such a strong component for the Gamecocks on the defensive end, but during his senior campaign, his offense and rebounding have been key.  
> Kotsar has led or shared the team lead in scoring seven times this season, including in three of Carolina’s SEC games.  He has also scored in double figures a career high 14 times.
> Earlier in non-conference play, Kotsar scored in double figures in a career-best five-straight contests.  
> As the Gamecocks enter action vs. Georgia, Kotsar has currently scored in double figures in four-straight, averaging 15.0 points per game in the stretch, 64.7% (22-34) from the field, 16-of-20 (80.0%) at the foul line and 7.8 rebounds per contest.
> In SEC games, Kotsar is averaging 10.9 points, and 7.3 rebounds (t-8th in the SEC), and a team high 1.8 steals per game (t-6th in the SEC).
> Kotsar continues to be the SEC’s active leader with 622 career rebounds.

MINAYA STRONG  IN LEAGUE PLAY
> Prior to suffering a hand/wrist injury in the Feb. 1 Missouri contest, r-sophomore forward Justin Minaya was playing strong on both ends of the court for the Gamecocks in SEC action.  In his eight league games, Minaya is averaging 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per outing.  He has four double-figure outings in SEC action, including a career high 18 points in the Jan. 18 road win at Texas A&M.  Additionally his 31.1 minutes played in SEC games is a team high.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
> Georgia is 12-11 overall and 2-8 in SEC action entering Wednesday’s matchup vs. Carolina.
> Head coach Tom Crean is in his second season leading the Bulldogs.
> Both of UGAs conference wins have come at home, an 80-63 victory over Tennessee on Jan. 15, and more recently a 63-48 win over Texas A&M (Feb. 1).
> In home games, UGA is 10-3 and holds a +11.9 scoring margin.
> The Bulldogs are led by freshman Anthony Edwards, who averages 19.7 points per outing.  Edwards was recently named to the 20-member late-season Wooden Award Watch List as the nation’s top scoring freshman.
> Rookie guard Sahvir Wheeler paces the team with 4.5 assists per game.  
> In the SEC stats (overall games), Georgia is fourth in scoring offense (76.8 ppg), fourth in field goal percent (45.1%), but 13th in field goal percent defense (45.0%).

FRANK MARTIN
> South Carolina head coach Frank Martin is in his eighth season leading the Gamecocks and 13th season overall as a head coach in 2019-20.  Martin, the 2017 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year (CollegeInsider.com), led South Carolina to its first Final Four and a school record 26 wins in 2016-17.  In his 12 complete seasons as a head coach, Martin has led his teams to at least 21 wins seven times.  Martin is a native of Miami, Fla., and a graduate of FIU.
> Prior to his time on the sidelines in the college ranks, Martin spent 15 years in high school coaching in Miami, Fla., including the last seven as a head coach. He was part of five state championships as an assistant at Miami Senior High School (1985-93), before earning two titles as the program’s head coach (1995-98). Highlighting Martin’s stint as the head coach of the program were consecutive 30-win seasons and consecutive Florida 6A State Championships in 1996 and 1997, with his 1997 squad earning a 36-1 overall record and ranking No. 4 in the USA Today Top 25 Poll. He also served as the head coach at North Miami Senior High School (1993-95) and one season at Booker T. Washington High School (1999-2000).
> Among active Division I head coaches, South Carolina’s Frank Martin holds the eighth-highest (tied with Villanova’s Jay Wright) NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.667) behind only Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Texas Tech’s Chris Beard, Kentucky’s John Calipari, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Kansas’ Bill Self and Virginia’s Tony Bennett.

NOTES TO KNOW
> South Carolina is led by eighth-year head coach Frank Martin.  Martin, the 2017 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year, owns a 260-169 record in his 13th season as a head coach, and a 143-115 record in his eighth season at Carolina.
> Joining Martin on the sidelines is a veteran staff, including assistant coaches Perry Clark (seventh season), Chuck Martin (third season) and Bruce Shingler (fourth season), director of basketball operations Andy Assaley (eighth season) and strength and conditioning coach Scott Greenawalt (eighth season), and several support staff members.
> South Carolina returns a core group from last season’s squad, while welcoming seven newcomers to Columbia, including five freshmen – Trey Anderson, Jalyn McCreary, Trae Hannibal, Wildens Leveque and Mike Green, transfer Seventh Woods (North Carolina/not eligible this season due to NCAA transfer rules) and graduate transfer Micaiah Henry (Tennessee Tech/immediately eligible).
> Carolina’s top returning scorer, and 2019 SEC All-Freshman Team honoree, is sophomore guard AJ Lawson, who scored 13.4 points per outing last season, while dishing 2.9 assists per game.  Over the summer, Lawson competed for Team Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece, leading the Canadians with 16.7 points per outing, including an event-high 31 points vs. Senegal.
> South Carolina returns 43.9 percent of scoring from a year ago, 48.3 percent of its made field goals, and 45.7 percent of its rebounding, following the graduation of All-SEC forward Chris Silva, who led the Gamecocks with 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and 150 made field goals last season.
> Sophomore guard AJ Lawson is Carolina’s top returning scorer after contributing 13.4 points per outing last season.  Lawson, who was named to the Jerry West Award Watch List in October, posted 18 double-figure scoring games last season, including six 20-point performances.
> Sophomore guard AJ Lawson posted his fourth 20-point game of the season with a game-high 24 on eight bade baskets and six made free throws in the win at UMass.  
> The Gamecocks suffered a home loss to Houston on Dec. 8.  The Carolina offense hit just 32.3 percent from the field, and the Cougars claimed the road win.  Senior forward Maik Kotsar led Carolina with 12 points, and sophomore guard AJ Lawson added 10 in the loss.  Carolina hit six 3s vs. Houston, it’s highest output from beyond the arc since hitting 7-of-19 attempts from range vs. Northern Iowa.  
> Carolina claimed a Palmetto Series point with a big road win over instrastate rival and ACC opponent Clemson Dec. 15 at Littlejohn Coliseum.  The 67-54 victory snapped a three-game Tiger win streak in the series, and was Carolina’s first at Littlejohn since 2011.  
> In that Clemson victory, sophomore guard AJ Lawson scored a team high 20, along with 11 from senior forward Maik Kotsar and 10 from r-junior guard Jair Bolden to round out the Gamecocks in double figures.  The 20-point effort was the fifth of its kind this season for Lawson, who is 11th in the SEC and leads the squad with 16.3 points per outing thus far.
> Prior to the break for the holidays, Carolina upset No. 9 Virginia in Charlottesville with a 70-59 victory on Dec. 22.  The win improved the Gamecocks to 3-0 on the road this season, and it snapped a 22-game home non-conference win streak for the Cavaliers.
> R-junior guard Jair Bolden led four Gamecocks in double figures vs. UVA with a season high 22 points on eight made field goals, including four makes from 3-point range.  AJ Lawson (14), Justin Minaya (12) and Keyshawn Bryant (10) also posted double figures in the win.
> Bolden was named the SEC’s co-Player of the Week following his standout performance vs. Virginia.  It marked Bolden’s first weekly award as a Gamecock.
> The victory on the road vs. the Cavaliers was Carolina’s first on the road over a top 10 opponent since an 81-78 victory at No. 8/8 Texas A&M on Feb. 6, 2016.
> Carolina suffered a 63-56 loss to Stetson in the non-conference finale on Dec. 30.  Only Maik Kotsar (11 points) registered double figures, and the Gamecocks connected on just 20-of-54 (37.0%) attempts from the floor and only 12-of-24 (50.0%) attempts at the free throw line.
> The Gamecocks suffered an 80-67 road loss at No. 16/16 Auburn on Jan. 22.  R-freshman guard Jermaine Couisnard led the Gamecocks with 16 points, while Justin Minaya (14), AJ Lawson (11) and Jair Bolden (10) were also in double figures.  Carolina hit 47.5 percent (29-61) from the field vs. the Tigers, but were just 3-of-9 from the free throw line, compared to an 18-of-21 mark at the line from Auburn.
> The Gamecock offense was on fire in Carolina’s 90-64 win over Vanderbilt at home on Jan. 25.  Eleven different Gamecocks marked the scoring column, with five of those in double figures led by 14 from both AJ Lawson and Justin Minaya.  Minaya pulled down a career best 12 rebounds – six on the offensive glass – for his second-career double-double.  As a team, Carolina hit 33-of-61 from the field (54.1%) and 17-of-24 (70.8%) at the free throw line.
> Rookie forward Jalyn McCreary posted the first double-figure scoring game of his career with 11 in the win vs. Vanderbilt.  In SEC action, McCreary has hit 15-of-22 attempts – 68.2% – and is averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per contest.
> South Carolina picked up its third quadrant one win of the season with a 79-77 road victory at Arkansas on Jan. 29 night.  The Gamecocks never trailed in the contest, and led by as many as 11 in the opening half.  Arkansas pulled to within a point with 28 seconds remaining on a Mason Jones free throw, before Jermaine Couisnard hit one of his two attempts from the line to push the Carolina lead back to two with 26 seconds to play.  
> Sophomore guard AJ Lawson was big on both ends of the court vs. the Razorbacks, scoring a team high 19 points, while also picking up a steal.  He also defended Arkansas’ final 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
> Guard Trae Hannibal played 15 minutes during the second half of the win at Arkansas, and the rookie scored a season high 11 points to help lift the Gamecocks in the win.  He was 4-of-7 from the floor, and made 3-of-6 attempts at the foul line.
> South Carolina extended it’s winning streak to three straight when it posted a convincing 76-54 home victory over Missouri Feb. 1.  Three were in double figures for Carolina, led by Kotsar’s 21 points.  It marked Kotsar’s first 20-point outing of the year and his second career.

MORE NUMBERS
19 – R-freshman guard Jermaine Couisnard posted his 11th double-figure scoring game of the season and his seventh in 10 SEC games with a team high 19 in the win over Texas A&M on Saturday.
4 – Sophomore guard AJ Lawson sank four 3-pointers in the win over the Aggies, marking his 15th game this season with 2+ makes from beyond the arc in a game.  
4 – Senior forward Maik Kotsar collected four steals in the win over A&M.  It marked his 11th game this season with two or more steals, and his sixth in SEC games with two +.
85 – Kotsar is just 85 points away from becoming the 46th member of the Gamecock 1,000 point club.
10+ – Depth is a strength for Carolina this season, and 11 different Gamecocks are averaging at least 10 minutes per contest.
70+ – SC is 12-3 this season when it scores 70+ points.

THROWBACK JERSEYS
> South Carolina debuted its throwback jerseys for the first time this season for the Dec. 8 matchup vs. Houston.  Fans can visit the official online store at GamecocksOnline.com to purchase the full line of throwback gear.  
> The uniforms are inspired by the look of the uniforms from the 1970’s era of Gamecock basketball.  
> The Gamecocks got their first win in their throwback uniforms in the upset victory over No. 10/12 Kentucky on Jan. 15 and posted wins in the uniforms vs. Vanderbilt on Jan. 25 and Missouri on Feb. 2.

COMING UP NEXT
> The Gamecocks return to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday for a 6 p.m. matchup vs. Tennessee.  The contest will be Carolina’s Mike Slive Foundation game.  Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Pat Bradley (analyst) will have the call for the SEC Network broadcast from Colonial Life Arena.