Nov. 22, 2005

South Carolina’s basketball team traveled to Anchorage, Alaska on Monday to play in the 28th annual Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 24-26. The Gamecocks will tip it off on Thanksgiving Day with a 10 pm (EST) nationally televised contest on ESPN2 against Alaska Anchorage. Senior Rocky Trice (RT), considered the most talented slam dunker on the team (by his teamates) talked about the last couple games, the trip to Alaska and what he thinks of the cold.

Have you ever been to Alaska before? If not, what’s the furthest you’ve been away from your hometown, Swainsboro, Georgia?

RT: No, this is my first time to Alaska. The furthest away I have been is Minnesota. I went on a visit there (an official visit). It was cold there, but it got kind of hot during the day. It was a great experience there.

What are you looking most forward to in Alaska, besides playing basketball?

RT: The scenery. We got a chance to see a couple of the mountains while we were on the plane on our way in today. I took a couple pictures of them.

Are you excited about seeing all the snow (there is about 6 inches on the ground)?

RT: Not too much (laughing). It’s cold up here, but I can manage.

How was the trip up here?

RT: We stayed in a hotel in Charlotte last night. We got up at 6 o’clock in the morning and we have been flying all day. I could barely sleep on the plane trips (which featured a six-hour plane ride from Minneapolis to Anchorage). I kept twisting and turning left and right. I could barely sleep. I had my laptop so I watched a movie on my laptop – Friday After Next.

On the court, what are you looking most forward to on this trip?

RT: I don’t know much about these teams. We came here together to play together and get better. It’s gonna be good.

After two wins – one at home, one away – how would you evaluate the team so far?

RT: I think we are pretty strong right now. We are still a little weak in some areas. We have to learn to finish games, too. The newcomers are playing really good, they are coming along good. They will be ready when we get ready to play in the SEC.