March 10, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Gamecocks have earned the No. 11 seed in the 2015 SEC Tournament with a 6-12 mark in SEC games, and will face 14th-seed Missouri (3-15 SEC), on Wednesday night at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET, in the opening round from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Wednesday’s game will be the first postseason meeting between the Gamecocks and Tigers. Dave Neal (pxp), Darrin GAME INFORMATION
Game Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Game Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Arena: Bridgestone Arena (19,395)
Broadcast: SEC Network | ESPN3/WatchESPN
Talent: Dave Neal (pxp), Darrin Radio: Gamecock Radio Network
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Sirius: 93; XM: 190
Series: Missouri leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: 65-60 Carolina win on Feb. 10, 2015, in Columbia, S.C.

| Tickets | Game Notes | @GamecockMBB | SEC Tournament Bracket (printable)

GAME STORYLINES
– South Carolina is in its 107th season of varsity basketball in 2014-15.
– The Gamecocks are led by third-year head coach Frank Martin. His associate head coach is Matt Figger, his assistant coaches are Perry Clark and Lamont Evans, and his director of operations is Andy Assaley.
– The Gamecocks concluded the regular season with an 11-point victory on the road at Tennessee on March 7. The win, Carolina’s first in Knoxville since the 2002 campaign, broke a 15-game Volunteer win streak in the series between the two schools. Four Gamecocks recorded double-figures in that contest, including junior forward Michael Carrera who posted team highs with 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Tyrone Johnson and sophomore guard Duane Notice each dished a team high five assists.
– South Carolina’s six SEC wins in 2015 marked the most since the 2010 campaign (also six).
– South Carolina owns an 18-23 (.439) all-time record in the SEC Tournament, which includes two victories last season at the event in Atlanta. The first-round win versus Auburn in 2014 marked Carolina’s first tourney win since the 2008 campaign, and with its second-round win over Arkansas, Carolina clinched multiple tournament wins for the first time since 2006.
– The Gamecocks own an 0-2 record all-time in SEC Tournament games played at Bridgestone Arena, and a 4-4 mark in games played in Nashville (Carolina is 4-2 in games played at the Sommet Center). The Tournament was last held in the Music City in 2013.
– The Gamecocks are 2-2 in netural site games this season. Carolina was 1-2 in three games at the Charleston Classic in late November, posting a win vs. Cornell, and suffering losses to Charlotte and Akron. South Carolina rebounded with an impressive 64-60 upset win over then-No. 9 Iowa State at the Barclays Center on Jan. 3 in the non-conference finale.
– South Carolina has four victories this season over teams in the top 50 of the RPI (March 9) in Iowa State (12), Georgia (40, twice) and Oklahoma State (46).

SEC LEGEND – JACK THOMPSON
Former Gamecock point guard Jack Thompson is South Carolina’s 2015 SEC Legend. Thompson was an outstanding guard under legendary head coach Frank McGuire, playing from 1966 to 1968. He scored 686 points and finished his career with a 4.67 assists per game average. He was a two-time ACC All-Tournament Team selection (1967, 68) and was named second-team All-ACC in 1967. He also served as team captain for his final two seasons. Thompson is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and played professionally with the Indiana Pacers in the ABA following his collegiate career. In 1999, he was inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.

A LOOK AT THE OFFENSE
South Carolina shot very well in the non-conference portion of its schedule, hitting 45.7 percent from the field. That number fell during the early and mid portions of the SEC campaign. The Gamecocks hit just 37.2 percent from the field in league play overall, however, they found that offensive rhythm again in the final three games of conference play, averaging 49.3 percent from the field. Carolina registered two of their top three performances in league play, hitting 51.0 percent vs. Arkansas and an SEC season high 51.2 percent at Tennessee in the regular season finale.

A LOOK AT THE DEFENSE
During the non-conference portion of its schedule, the Gamecocks held opponents to just 33.8 percent from the field, a number that ranked fourth nationally at the conclusion of non-conference play. South Carolina did not allow an opponent to hit over 45 percent from the field in non-league action. That number rose to 42.7 percent from opponents in league play, however, entering SEC Tournament play, South Carolina still ranks in the top 20 in field goal percentage defense in the nation for overall games. (19th/38.8%).

SCOUTING MISSOURI
The Tigers are 9-22 overall this season in head coach Kim Anderson’s first campaign at Mizzou. The squad finished with a 9-22 mark in SEC games, but won two of their final five games, with home victories over Auburn and Florida. Sophomore forward Jonathan Williams III paces the team with 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. His 7.0 boards per outing are tied for sixth in the SEC this season. Senior guard Keith Shamburger ranks eighth in the SEC with his team high 3.9 assists per outing. The team is without sophomore guard Wes Clark who had become the sqaud’s go-to scorer in league play. He suffered an elbow injury in the Feb. 10 contest at South Carolina and is sidelined for the remainder of the season. Freshman guard Namon Wright recently scored 28 points in the Tigers’ home win over Florida. Missouri is 2-2 all-time in SEC Tournament games.

MISSOURI SERIES
Wednesday’s meeting between the Gamecocks and Tigers is only the fifth all-time between the two schools. The teams met twice in the 2013 league season and met last year in Columbia, Mo. South Carolina clinched its first win in the series with a 65-60 victory at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 10.

BY THE #’S
64.8 – South Carolina averages 64.8 points per game in neutral site matchups this season. Sophomore guard Sindarius Thornwell leads the Gamecocks with 15.0 points per game in those contests.
61.9% – The Gamecocks hit 61.9% from the field in the first half at Tennesse on Saturday, connecting on 13-of-21 attempts. It marked the highest mark in a half for Carolina since hitting62.5% (15-24) in the second half vs. Longwood in the 2013-14 season opener.
13-8 – South Carolina is 13-8 this season when forcing at least 12 turnovers.
73.9% – South Carolina ranks second in the SEC (overall games), hitting 73.9% (447-605) from the free throw line this season. That number currently ranks second all-time in Carolina history. The 1971 squad holds the school record, as it hit 74.3% (635-855) from the charity stripe.
18 – Junior forward Laimonas Chatkevicius posted a career high 18 points at Alabama on Feb. 24 and hit the same mark on Feb. 28 vs. Mississippi State. He hit 7-of-12 attempts from the floor and was a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line vs. the Crimson Tide, and connected on 8-of-13 attempts from the floor vs. the Bulldogs.
3.4 – Among freshmen in the SEC, Marcus Stroman ranks third in overall games with 3.4 assists per outing. In strictly league games, he ranks fifth with 2.6 per outing.
4th – South Carolina ranks fourth in the SEC in average home attendance, as an average of 11,520 fans attend Carolina home games this season.
62.0 – South Carolina ranks third in scoring defense in the SEC (overall games), as opponents average just 62.0 points per game.
20 – Sophomore guard Sindarius Thornwell has scored in double figures 20 times this season, which is a team high.
23 – Sophomore guard Duane Notice scored a then-career high 23 points vs. Auburn in the 2014 SEC Tournament. In three games last season at the event, Notice averaged 14.0 points per game.
6.0 – In four-career SEC Tournament games, junior forward Mindaugas Kacinas collects 6.0 rebounds per outing. He collected 10 rebounds in both Carolina wins last season, vs. Auburn and Arkansas.

CAROLINA TRENDS UNDER MARTIN
Gamecock trends under Frank Martin …
• South Carolina is 24-26 when posting at least six made 3s in a game.
– The Gamecocks hit a season high nine made 3s in the Feb. 17 victory at Georgia.
• South Carolina is 33-20 when scoring more points in the paint than its opponent.
– The Gamecocks average 28.6 points in the paint compared to 22.6 per game by opponents this season. Carolina is 13-7 this season when scoring more points in the paint than opponents.
• South Carolina is 35-25 when holding its opponents to under 45 percent from the field.
– South Carolina did not allow a non-conference opponent this season to hit above 45 percent from the field, as Baylor was the closest at 44.7 percent. The Gamecocks are 12-8 this season when holding their opponent below 45 percent from the floor.
• South Carolina is 33-25 when out-rebounding its opponent.
– The Gamecocks are 11-8 this season when out-rebounding their opponent.

UP NEXT
The winner of the South Carolina vs. Missouri contest on Wednesday will advance to the SEC Tournament Second Round to face the Ole Miss Rebels. That game will tip at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.