Dec. 30, 2003

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South Carolina continues its six-game homestand with the second straight Bulldog team calling Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 pm in the form of Yale University. USC’s 11-1 start is the best start for the Gamecocks since USC started 18-1 in 1969, losing only the second game of the year to Tennessee (54-55) during that stretch.

The Yale Bulldogs, 4-5, are coached by fifth-year Head Coach James Jones. Yale was 14-13 in 2003, finishing fourth in the Ivy League with an 8-6 record. They return two starters and seven letterwinners.

USC is 1-0 all-time vs. the Bulldogs. The series dates back to 1975, with USC winning the only match-up in Columbia, 100-66, Dec. 22, 1975.

USC is 10-5 against the Ivy League, defeating every school at least once, but falling twice to Penn and three times to Princeton.

Not a bad seat in the house

USC’s win over South Carolina State last Monday tied the longest winning streak ever at the Colonial Center. Currently, the Gamecocks have won seven in a row at the Colonial Center (Gardner Webb – S.C. State). USC won seven straight last year in the buildings opening year.

With USC scoring 86 points in the win over SCSU, it also marked the highest point total for the Gamecocks at the new facility. Kentucky holds the facility record with 87 points to USC’s 69 Feb. 1, 2003.

USC is undefeated in non-conference play at The Colonial Center. Since its opening last November, the Gamecocks have a perfect 14-0 record. In fact – USC has only dropped four games at The Colonial Center (known last year as the Carolina Center). The losses last season to: Auburn, No. 6 Florida, No. 6 Kentucky and No. 25 Georgia.

Another career high

Mike Boynton, Jr. scored a career-high 21 points in the win over SC State. It was the second time in four games he has topped his career high, scoring 16 points at Temple two weeks ago.

Boynton scored in double figures for the 12th time in his career and has scored in 15 straight games. He also set a career high in free throws made with nine and tied his career high with nine against the ‘Dogs.

Half-time

This year there have been six halves where USC’s defense has kept opponents to 20 or less points. They are as follows: 1. 18 by Navy in the second half on Nov. 21, 2003; 2. The Citadel scored 18 in the first half and 3. 20 in the second half on Dec. 3, 2003; 4. Charleston Southern scored 18 in the first and 5. 18 in the second on Dec. 17, 2003; and 6. South Carolina State scored 18 points in the first half on Dec. 22, 2003.

Last year, there were only two halves where Carolina held opponents to 20 points or less scoring. (19 by Temple in first half on Dec. 2, 2002 and 15 by Ole Miss in the first half on Jan. 8, 2003)

Five Times

In Carolina’s 11 wins this season, five have been by 21 points or more. USC’s largest win all of last season was 19 points against Temple on December 2, 2002. (66-47). The Gamecocks had nine of their 12 wins last year by 10 points or more.

Tops in the SEC, NCAA

Senior Mike Boynton, Jr. is in the top 10 of four categories this week among the SEC leaders. He is seventh in assists (4.0 pg), second in three point field goal percentage (45.8%), sixth in three pointer made per game (2.3) and eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.92). Carlos Powell is in the top 20 of both points per game (17th with 14.3 ppg) and rebounding (No. 9 with 7.1 rpg).

As a team USC is No. 1 in four categories. USC is No. 1 in scoring defense (55.3) No. 1 in turnover margin (+6.58 pg), No. 1 in field goal defense (34.9 %) and No. 1 in three-point field goal defense (24.0%). USC is No. 2 in steals (11.2 spg) and blocked shots (5.8 bpg).

Nationally USC is in the top 25 in three categories (from Dec. 15): scoring defense (ranked No. 21), field goal percentage defense (ranked No. 10) and steals per game (ranked No. 10).

Rankings

USC is ranked No. 39 in the latest Sagarin ratings (12-28-03).

On collegerpi.com, USC is ranked No. 114. On Sportsline.com, USC’s RPI is No. 101 but its strength of schedule is rated at 313.

In both polls this week USC received votes.

No babies

USC brought in five newcomers this year – four freshmen (Renaldo Balkman, Brandon Wallace, Paulius Joneliunas and Tre Kelley) and one JUCO transfer, Josh Gonner. Thus far in the 2003-04 campaign USC is averaging 72.9 ppg. The Fab Five are averaging almost 38 percent of the Gamecocks points with 27 ppg. The five have also scored in double figures 14 times this year (Balkman six times, Gonner four times, and Kelley and Wallace twice).

Balkman leads the team with nine dunks. Wallace has the Fab Fives only double-double of the year, collecting 10 points and 11 rebounds against The Citadel on Dec. 3. Gonner has the highest point total in one game, collecting 19 against N.C. State.

And the point is …

Last year, the Gamecocks were 1-4 in games decided by six points or less. So far this season, USC is 2-0 with wins over Richmond and N.C. State.

This season at least three players have scored in double figures every game. Last season, USC only had four games where they failed to have three players reach double figures. All four of those games resulted in a Carolina loss. The games were they had just two players in double figures: Florida (2/25/03); Georgia (2/22/03); LSU(2/5/03) and Wyoming (12/19/02).

The Gamecocks had five players score in double figures against SMS. It marked the second time this year at least five players score in double figures. (Carolina had six players against Gardner Webb on November 17, 2003).

Not once last season did USC have five or more players in double figures in a single game.

State Champions III

Under Coach Dave Odom, USC is 13-0 against other schools from the state of South Carolina. S.C. State marked the last state school on the Gamecocks schedule this year.

48 and counting

Junior Carlos Powell has scored in 48 straight games. He has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season and has a string of 13 straight double-digit scoring games.

In games that Powell scores in double digits, the Gamecocks are 28-13. This year, USC is 11-1. In 2002-03 USC was 10-8 and in 2001-02, USC was 7-4 when Powell racked up 10 or more points.

Powell had a career-best 23 points against Clemson. Powell added the fifth double-double of his career against Richmond when he scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. He also tallied five blocks and one steal.

He posted a double-double against Gardner Webb in the first game of the year this season.