Jan. 28, 2005
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THE BASICS
South Carolina (6-14 overall; 0-6 Southeastern Conference) heads to Lexington to take on Kentucky (13-8 overall; 2-4 SEC) at 2 p.m. EST Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.
ON THE AIR
The game will be broadcast live on WISW 1320 AM Columbia, with Andy Demetra handling play-by-play and Robin Muller providing analysis. For listeners outside of Columbia, the live broadcast will also be aired worldwide via the internet on the official web site of South Carolina athletics, www.uscsports.com.
ACCESSING THE WEB BROADCAST
To access the internet broadcast, go to www.uscsports.com, then click the “Audio/Video” link at the top of the screen. Follow the prompts from there to select the game you want to listen to.
THE COACHES
Susan Walvius is in her eighth year at the helm of the South Carolina women’s basketball program and her 15th year overall as a head coach. Prior to USC, she coached at Virginia Commonwealth and West Virginia. The 2002 SEC Coach of the Year led the Gamecocks to consecutive top-20 national finishes and NCAA tournament appearances in 2002 and 2003. Her 2002 squad advanced to the Elite Eight. Longtime Tennessee assistant Mickie DeMoss is in her second season at the helm of the Kentucky program, where she has compiled a 24-25 overall record. DeMoss, who served as head coach at Florida from 1979-83, owns a 69-93 career record as a head coach. A former standout point guard during her playing years at Louisiana Tech, DeMoss joined Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols in 1985 and was Summitt’s top assistant for 18 years. During her time in Knoxville, she helped Tennessee win six national titles and make 13 trips to the Final Four.
COACHING QUICK HITS
SOUTH CAROLINA
Susan Walvius
Alma Mater Virginia Tech, 1986
USC Record 112-110/8th year
Overall Record 210-211/15th year
Of Note: Walvius was selected as the 2002 SEC Coach of the Year after guiding the Gamecocks to a 25-7 finish and a trip to the Elite Eight.
KENTUCKY
Mickie DeMoss
Alma Mater Louisiana Tech, 1977
UK Record 24-25/2nd year
Overall Record 69-93/6th year
Of Note: DeMoss spent 18 seasons as Pat Summitt’s top assistant at Tennessee, picking up six national championships along the way.
A CAROLINA WIN WOULD:
* Mark the Gamecocks’ fifth win in their last seven meetings with the Wildcats and USC’s third win in its last four trips to Lexington.
* Mark Susan Walvius’ eighth win over Kentucky as head coach at South Carolina, her most against any opponent.
* Improve South Carolina’s record to 14-19 in the all-time series history with Kentucky, which is the Gamecocks’ best record vs. any SEC opponent. * Snap South Carolina’s 12-game losing streak against teams from the SEC. The Gamecocks’ last win over an SEC opponent was a 77-51 victory over Alabama on Feb. 12, 2004.
* Snap the Gamecocks’ 10-game road losing streak against SEC opponents. South Carolina’s last road win over an SEC opponent was a 79-64 victory over Ole Miss on March 2, 2003.
* Be the Gamecocks’ first road win against any opponent this season. Carolina has lost to Washington, Middle Tennessee State, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Alabama and Arkansas in its six true road games this year. Dating back to last season, the Gamecocks have lost 11 consecutive road games, with the last win an 84-61 triumph over the College of Charleston on Jan. 28, 2004.
A CAROLINA LOSS WOULD:
* Mark the Gamecocks’ third consecutive defeat against Kentucky. The Wildcats claimed two wins over Carolina last season.
* Move the Gamecocks to 0-7 this year in conference play and extend the Carolina’s losing streak against SEC opposition to 13 games, with the last win a 77-51 victory over Alabama on Feb. 12, 2004.
* Extend the Gamecocks’ road losing streak against SEC opponents to 11 consecutive games. South Carolina’s last road win over an SEC opponent was a 79-64 victory over Ole Miss on March 2, 2003.
* Keep the Gamecocks winless on the road this season. Carolina has lost to Washington, Middle Tennessee State, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Alabama and Arkansas in its six true road games this year. Dating back to last season, the Gamecocks have lost 11 consecutive road games, with the last win an 84-61 triumph over the College of Charleston on Jan. 28, 2004.
* Mark the Gamecocks’ ninth loss in their last 10 games this year.
CAROLINA’S KEY NUMBERS
* 20:00 – The Gamecocks are yet to win a game in which they trailed at the half. Conversely, Carolina is 6-3 when leading after the first 20 minutes of play.
* 3/10 – South Carolina is 4-2 in games this season when three or more players score at least 10 points in the same game. The Gamecocks are 1-12 when two players or less hit double-figures.
* 40% – Carolina is 0-11 this year when shooting less than 40 percent from the field. Conversely, the Gamecocks’ opposition is 7-1 when shooting 40 percent from the field.
* 66 – Dating back to a 65-54 win over Auburn on Feb. 23, 2003, USC has lost its last 28 games when scoring less than 66 points.
* 16 – Carolina is 5-0 this season in games in which it distributes 16 assists as a team.
* 10 – The Gamecocks are 0-6 this year in games decided by 10 points or less, and are 0-12 in their last 12 games decided 10 points or less, dating back to an 81-79 win over Southern Utah on Dec. 5, 2003.
* 23 – …as in the jersey number of Melanie Johnson. In South Carolina’s six wins, Johnson averages 14.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 4.8 steals per game. In Carolina’s 14 losses, Johnson averages 4.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. South Carolina is 6-1 when Johnson scores in double figures.
A GLIMPSE OF HOPE FROM THE YOUNGSTERS
South Carolina made things difficult for No. 5/6 Tennessee on Jan. 27, leading for the bulk of the first half and continuing to lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game. However, a 10-minute field goal drought by the Gamecocks opened the door for the Lady Vols to make a run behind the senior leadership of Brittany Jackson and Shanna Zolman, who sparked a 21-2 Tennessee run that put the game out of reach. Carolina trailed Tennessee at the half, 27-24, which marked the smallest halftime deficit for the Gamecocks all year in the 10 games in which they trailed at the half.
POINTS ARE HARD TO COME BY
South Carolina ranks last in the SEC with 61.5 points per game. With the exception of Carolina’s 67-37 win over the College of Charleston on Jan. 13, the Gamecocks have scored 62 points or less in each of their last eight games. Included in that span are five games of less than 50 points.
