Gamecock Gameday: Nationally-Ranked Carolina Hosts Vermont Thursday

Nov. 30, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina returns home for two straight games, beginning on Thursday when Vermont travels to Columbia. The meeting versus the Catamounts marks just the second all-time for Carolina, and the first since the 1979-80 campaign. The Gamecocks look to capture their seventh-straight win to open the season for just the third time since the 2003-04 campaign.

GAME STORYLINES

– South Carolina is in its 109th season of varsity basketball in 2016-17.
– On the sidelines, Frank Martin is joined by associate head coach Matt Figger, assistant coaches Perry Clark and Bruce Shingler, and director of operations Andy Assaley.
– The Gamecocks are in the national rankings this week for the first time this season after posting wins over two ranked opponents last week in No. 25/24 Michigan and No. 18/16 Syracuse. The Gamecocks check in at No. 20 in the Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the Coaches Poll.
– South Carolina enters Thursday’s matchup ranked in the top five in the country in both scoring defense (5th, 56.7) and field goal percentage defense (32.3%) after holding both opponents last week, Michigan (19.2%) and Syracuse (31.8%) to their season low in the category.
– The Gamecocks posted their second-straight win over a ranked opponent when they defeated No. 18/16 Syracuse last Saturday at the Barclays Center in the final game of the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational. Carolina held Syracuse to just 31.8 percent from the floor, while out-scoring the Orange 30-8 in points in the paint. Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell and freshman big Maik Kotsar paced the Gamecock offense with 16 points each, while sophomore guard PJ Dozier picked up the first double-double of his career with 15 points and a career high 10 rebounds.
– Following the win over Syracuse, the Gamecocks are now 3-0 all-time at the Barclays Center.
– Carolina is one of just 19 unbeaten teams remaining in the country (as of Nov. 30).
– In the SEC stats the Gamecocks lead the league in scoring defense (56.7), field goal percentage defense (32.3%) and rebound margin (+10.2).
– For his play in the wins vs. Michigan and Syraucse, senior guard Sindarius Thornwell was named the Nov. 28 SEC Player of the Week. It was the second Player of the Week honor of his career.
– Paced by Sindarius Thornwell’s fourth 20-point game of the season, and a stifling defensive pressure throughout the game, South Carolina held No. 25/24 Michigan to just 19.2 percent (10-52) from the field en route to a 61-46 victory over the Wolverines at Colonial Life Arena on Nov. 23. The Wolverines finished with just two assists after averaging 14.3 in their first four games.
– The Gamecocks held Michigan to just 19.2 percent from the field on Nov. 23. It marked the fourth-straight opponent the Gamecocks have held under 40% from the field (Holy Cross: 37.8%; Monmouth: 30.8%; SC State: 30.8%; Michigan: 19.2%).

SCOUTING VERMONT

– The Catamouns are led by head coach John Becker in his sixth season.
– The 2015-16 Vermont squad posted its eighth-stragith season with at least 20 wins and advanced to the America East title game.
– Vermont advanced to the postseason in 2015-16, playing in the College Basketball Invitational, advancing to the semifinals.
– Vermont most recently defeated Yale on a last-second shot from sophomore Ernie Duncan.
– Duncan’s decisive shot marked the third time in the last four games where the outcome was decided on the last possession for Vermont. The Catamounts went 3-1 in the stretch.

BY THE NUMBERS

107 – Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell currently ranks tied for fifth all-time with 107 career game started in the Garnet and Black. He has started every game of his Carolina career. He is just one start away from tying Nate Davis for fourth all-time in the category.
12 – South Carolina’s 12 steals in the win vs. Syracuse marked a season high in the category.
2,493 – Senior guards Duane Notice and Sindarius Thornwell have combined to score 2,493 points during their time in the Garnet and Black.
505 – Sindarius Thornwell ranks third among active players in the SEC with 505 career rebounds.
1,398 – Entering Saturday’s matchup vs. Syracuse, senior guard Sindarius Thornwell ranks 16th all-time at Carolina with 1,398 career points. He needs just three points to pass Gamecock great Kevin Joyce for 15th all-time.
1,095 – Senior guard Duane Notice ranks 34th all-time at Carolina with 1,095 points entering Thursday’s matchup vs. Vermont. He is 10 points away from surpassing Ray Pericola for 33rd all-time.
37.7% – Senior guard Duane Notice ranks seventh all-time in Carolina history in career 3-point field goal percentage (37.7%, 162-429) entering Thursday’s matchup with the Catamounts.
26-1 – Over the course of the last two seasons, the Gamecocks are 26-1 in games when leading at the half. Carolina was 20-1 last season when leading at the half, and 6-0 this season when holding the edge at the break.

UP NEXT

South Carolina will host FIU on Sunday in a 2 p.m. ET matchup set to be broadcast on SEC Network+. Gamecock head coach Frank Martin is a 1993 FIU grad and owns a 1-0 all-time record vs. his alma mater.