Feb. 9, 2007

The Gamecocks return home to host Georgia on Sat., Feb. 10 at the Colonial Center (7 pm, FSN) as part of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend. Prior to the game and up until the end of halftime fans will have a chance to bid on silent auction items in the concourse of the Colonial Center (see list on www.uscsports.com).

The game will be shown on Fox SportsSouth (FSN) with Dave Neal and Barry Booker making the call. The match-up can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network with Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (color analyst). It can also be picked up via the internet at www.uscsports.com and on Sirius Channel No. 125.

USC, 12-10 and 2-7 in the SEC, plays a 13-9 Georgia team that has posted a 5-5 record in the SEC this year. This season the Bulldogs are 4-1 at home in the league, but 1-4 in SEC road games with their lone SEC win coming at Arkansas (1-17-07, 67-64).

Georgia has four starters in double figures (Brown, 14.0; Mercer, 13.7; Stukes, 12.1; Gaines, 10.0), while USC has two scoring double digits (Kelley, 17.7 and Wallace, 10.4). Wallace paces USC with 9.6 boards per game, while Brown (5.7) and Gaines bang for the Bulldogs on the boards.

Georgia got the best of the Gamecocks in Athens in the two team’s last meeting on Jan. 10, 2007, coming away with an 80-56 victory. The season series between Georgia and South Carolina has been swept each of the last four seasons (Georgia won 79-66 in Athens and 60-55 in Columbia during 2002-03, South Carolina won 84-63 in Athens and 63-47 in Columbia during 2003-04, then 74-54 in Columbia and 60-53 in Athens during 2004-05, with Georgia winning 64-61 (OT) in Columbia and 48-47 in Athens last season.

STILL on the verge

Joining the SEC in 1991-92, USC is on the verge of its 100th SEC win in the league – sitting at 99 ‘career’ wins in the SEC.

SC vs. UGA

Last season UGA got its first series sweep over USC since the 2002-03 season (2003 – 66-79 in Athens, 65-60 in Columbia). The 60-55 overtime Bulldog win in Columbia on March 9, 2003 was televised nationally on CBS and it Jim Harrick’s final game at Georgia.

Dave Odom is 4-7 against Georgia since coming to South Carolina, and 5-8 versus Georgia all-time (1-1 while at Wake Forest). He has a career record of 4-3 against current Georgia head coach Dennis Felton. Felton was an assistant coach at Clemson under Rick Barnes from the 1994-95 season through 1997-98. The Tigers went 4-0 against South Carolina during that time when Odom was still at Wake Forest.

Since joining the SEC, the two teams have racked up seven series sweeps: UGA in 1994, 2003 and 2006 and USC in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005. USC has played more games against the Bulldogs than any other SEC opponent – 87.

Thumbs up, Thumbs Down

Dwayne Day has scored in double figures two of last three games against Georgia. He hit three 3-point shots in both of those games.

On the positive side Brandon Wallace has averaged 11 rebounds per game in his last four games against Georgia. He has also averaged 2.2 blocks in his last five games versus the Bulldogs. But, Wallace has also struggled shooting against Georgia, hitting 16 of 37 from the field, and just 2-11 behind the 3 point line, 6-11 from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures one time in seven games.

In seven career games versus Georgia, Tre’ Kelley has struggled shooting 15-45 from the field, including 5-20 from behind the 3 point line and 9-17 from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures only once and has averaged just over six points and one steal per game. He has 24 assists, with 18 turnovers, in his seven career games against the Bulldogs. Kelley has made only one 3 point basket in each of his last five games against the Bulldogs.

Protect the ball

Protecting the ball will be a key for South Carolina as Georgia’s three starting guards have combined for 28 career steals in 19 games against the Gamecocks. Levi Stukes tallied 11 steals in seven games, Sundiata Gaines scooped up 10 steals in five career games, while Mike Mercer, Jr. has seven steals in his seven games against South Carolina.

In addition, Stukes has gone 17-51 from behind the 3 point line in seven games against South Carolina.

Kelley leads SEC in scoring after 36-point performance at UK

Do Gamecock fans need another reason to make South Carolina senior point guard Tre’ Kelley one of their favorite Gamecocks ever?

While Kelley continues to lead South Carolina this season, he is now the leading scorer in SEC action as well. Kelley is averaging 19.6 ppg in SEC play this season. In overall play in the SEC, Kelley is No. 3 with 17.7 ppg and he is fourth with 5.1 apg.

In Wednesday night’s 89-95 loss at No. 18 Kentucky (Feb. 7), Kelley scored a career-high 36 points. The 36 points are the most-ever scored in a regular season SEC game by a Gamecock, topping Larry Davis’ 35 points vs. LSU on Feb. 10, 1996. It was the most points a Gamecock has scored since BJ McKie scored 37 points in the SEC Tournament semi-final win over Ole Miss on March 7, 1998 to put USC in its first-ever SEC Tournament Championship final.

Kelley is only the fifth player to score 36 or more against UK in Rupp Arena and only the third SEC player in Rupp history to hit that mark. It’s the most an SEC opponent has scored individually in 17 years in Rupp. Ironically, all five opposing players have lost.

36 Plus at Rupp Arena

1. David Robinson (1/25/1987) Navy, 45 points

2. Chris Jackson (2/15/1990) LSU, 41 points

3. Freeman Williams (12/16/1977) Portland State, 39 points

4. Tre’ Kelley (2/78/07) South Carolina, 36 points

Reginald King (2/10/1979) Alabama, 36 points

At Kentucky Kelley was 13-25, including 4-10 from 3 point land and 6-7 from the free throw line. Playing every second of the game he picked up three rebounds and six assists as well. Kelley has scored 20+ points this season eight times and he topped his previous career-high of 29 points at Vanderbilt last season.

The 13 field goals made are the most-ever made by a Gamecock in SEC play. (topping Emmett Hall in 1994 and LeRon Williams in 1998). The 25 attempts top five players 22 attempts.

Kelley’s 1312 career points are No. 19 all-time. He is No. 3 in all-time games played (126), No. 3 in all-time assists (467), No. 3 in all-time 3 point field goals attempted (461), No. 6 in all-time minutes played (3646) and No. 4 in three point field goals made (150).

61!

USC scored 61 points in the second half at UK on Feb. 7 and that was the most USC has ever scored in an SEC game in one half. It tops the 58 points USC scored in the second half vs. LSU on Feb. 10, 1996. South Carolina came up on the winning end that night against the Tigers 106-68.

The 89 points USC scored were the most points its scored this season, but unfortunately the 95 points posted by Kentucky are the most by an opponent as well.

Kelley and Wallace Moving On Up

Tre’ Kelley and Brandon Wallace continue to climb the career record paths as both are working on a number of career milestones this year. With their play vs. Georgia, Wallace will have played in 128 career games (No. 2 all-time) Kelley is No. 2 with 127 games played. Carlos Powell has the school record with 132 games played (2001-05). Both Wallace and Kelley could top Powell’s record before the end of the year.

High Notes

• Tre’ Kelley has scored double digits in all but two games this season (4 vs. CofC and 9 at UGA). He leads the team with 17.7 ppg. At Kentucky, Kelley scored in double figures for the 19th time this year and the 62nd time in his career. His 36 points at UK were the most for a Gamecock in SEC regular season play, only topped by BJ McKie’s 37 in the SEC Tournament semi-finals in 1998. He has 4+ AST in 15 games this year, including a season-high eight assists four times.

• Kelley has attempted 20 or more shots in five games this season. (Southern Cal, Baylor, Princeton, Florida, Kentucky) Entering this season, Kelley took 20 or more shots in only one game. (March 21, 2006 NIT Game vs. Florida State).

• Kelley also leads the team with 106 assists on the season, averaging 5.1 apg. He is looking to become the fourth Gamecock to ever lead the team in assists in three consecutive seasons (Jack Gilloon, Michael Foster, Melvin Watson). He led the SEC in assists last season.

• Brandon Wallace is averaging 9.6 rebounds per game, snaring 8+ REB in 18 games this year, including 11+ in nine games. He pulled down a career-best 16 rebounds at Mississippi State and a career-high 10 offensive rebounds vs. Arkansas.

• Wallace is looking to lead the team in blocks for the third consecutive season. He would become the fifth Gamecock to accomplish that. (Alex English, Mike Brittain, Jeff Roulston, Tony Kitchings). He has blocked 61 shots, (2.8 bpg). On track to break the school record set by Danny Traylor (235, 1971-73), he would have to average about 1.3 bpg in the next seven SEC games + one SEC Tournament game.

• Bryce Sheldon has 2+ 3’s in nine games this year, including a career-high six 3’s in the Gamecocks win at Southern California on Nov. 16. He has scored 20+ points twice this season.

• Evka Baniulis. He has scored 3+ PT in 12 of the last 16 games, including a career-high 21 points in the game against Auburn where he went 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. He yanked down a career-high 6 REB vs. UK and in the Arkansas win.

3s Carolina’s shot 20 or more 3 pointers in a game 15 times this year. The 31 three-point attempts vs. Auburn were a season-high and tied for fourth-most in USC history in a game and the 30 at Kentucky are eighth all-time in school history. The previous season-high was 29 at SoCal. USC made 13 three-pointers out of 31 3-pt attempts against AU. That mark is tied for sixth-most in USC history in a game.

In the Alabama game USC shot 12 of 26 from beyond the arc with half of its made field goals (24 of 52) coming from three-point land.

Brandon’s Blocking

Make your plan, work your plan. Brandon Wallace set out this year to break the career blocked shots record this season and he’s on track to do it. The record is 235 by Danny Traylor (1971-73). Wallace will need about 1.3 bpg if you figure nine games at the minimum left on the schedule as he has tallied 224 career blocks prior to the Georgia game.

To get to Traylor at 235, Wallace will have to pass Jeff Roulston (No. 3, 226, 1989-92) and Alex English (No. 2, 230, 1973-76).

Wallace has 61 on the season. The 61 are the ninth most in a season for a Carolina player. Wallace passed his 2005 total of 55, Ryan Stack’s 55 blocks (1998) and Jeff Roulston’s 59 (1992). Wallace’s 73 blocks in 2006 were the fourth most in Carolina history.

With at least nine games remaining, if he could average two blocks a game he would have two of the top five spots in most blocked shots in a season.

The most blocked shots in a season are Danny Traylor with 122 in 1972 and his 1973 total of 113 is the second most. If Wallace does average two blocks a game over the next 10 games Wallace and Traylor would hold four of the five top spots for most blocked shots in a season and it would also make Wallace the all-time career record holder in blocked shots with Traylor falling to second.