Gamecock Gameday: Men's Hoops Travels To USF Saturday

Dec. 16, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina looks to start a new winning streak when it travels to USF on Saturday in its first true road contest of the season. The meeting is a return trip from last season’s home matchup against the Bulls, which Carolina won, 86-76. The game will feature Carolina head coach Frank Martin and Bulls head coach Orlando Antigua, two of the three Hispanic-American head coaches in Division I men’s basketball (Miami’s Jim Larrañaga is the third).

GAME STORYLINES

– South Carolina is in its 109th season of varsity basketball in 2016-17.
– On the sidelines, Frank Martin is joined by associate head coach Matt Figger, assistant coaches Perry Clark and Bruce Shingler, and director of operations Andy Assaley.
– The Gamecocks are ranked No. 16 this week in the Associated Press Poll and No. 15 in the Coaches Poll after a pair of wins last week vs. Vermont and FIU. The ranking in the AP poll is the highest for Carolina since the Gamecocks were ranked 14th in the final poll of the 1997-98 campaign.
– South Carolina suffered its first loss of the season on Monday in a 67-64 decision to Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden in the Under Armour Reunion. Carolina held the Pirates to just 34.5% from the floor, but Seton Hall was solid at the free throw line, hitting 26-of-36 attempts on the night, while also holding a 49-35 upperhand on the boards in the win.
– Sophomore guard PJ Dozier has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games, dating back to a career high 21 in the win over Vermont on Dec. 1.
– South Carolina enters Saturday’s matchup ranked in the top five in the country in both scoring defense (3rd, 56.8) and field goal percentage defense (2nd, 33.8%) (NCAA stats games through Dec. 14).
– South Carolina pushed its win streak to eight with a 70-54 home win over FIU on Dec. 4. Senior guard Duane Notice matched his career high with 27 points, while setting a new career mark with six made 3s in the game. Sophomore guard PJ Dozier marked the scoreboard for 20, his second-consecutive 20-point outing, while he also tied for the team lead in rebounds (7) and steals (4).
– South Carolina ranks second nationally in field goal percentage defense (games through Dec. 14), allowing opponents to hit just 33.8% from the floor this season. – South Carolina ranks 28th in the NCAA RPI (games through Dec. 14), which is fourth in the SEC behind Florida (5), Kentucky (15) and Arkansas (27).
– Sophomore guard PJ Dozier has scored at least 20 points in each of the last three games, including a career high 21 vs. Vermont. Dozier is averaging 13.6 points per game this season.

SCOUTING USF

– The Bulls are led by head coach Orlando Antigua in his third season. Antigua was an assistant at Kentucky prior to his time at USF.
– USF is 5-3 entering Saturday’s matchup with victories over Florida A&M, Rider, Kennesaw State, Troy and most recently an OT win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday. The Bulls are 4-1 in home games this season.
– Four average double-figure points for USF, led by sophomore guard Jahmal McMurray’s 18.0 per game. Geno Thorpe (13.9), Tulio Da Silva (11.5) and Troy Holston (10.7) also contribute double digits.
– Da Silva collected a double-double with 12 points and a game high 15 rebounds in the win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday. He also paces the team with 8.5 rebounds per game.
– In the NCAA stats, USF ranks 55th in field goal percentage defense, as opponents are averaging just 39.3 percent from the field.

HARDWOOD TO THE GRIDIRON

Following Saturday’s contest between the Gamecocks and Bulls on the basketball court, there is another much anticipated matchup between the two schools on the gridiron, as the Carolina football team will battle USF in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29. After winning four of its final six games, South Carolina heads into the contest with an overall record of 6-6, including a 3-5 mark in the Southeastern Conference. South Florida finished the regular season with a 10-2 mark, including a 7-1 league record, tied atop the American Athletic Conference.

USF SERIES

Carolina leads the all-time series with the Bulls, 4-1, after last season’s home win in Columbia. USF’s lone win in the series came in an 85-83 win in Tampa on Jan. 17, 1976. The Bulls won that contest despite 26 points from Nate Davis, and a 16-point, eight-assist effort from Mike Dunleavy.

UP NEXT

South Carolina returns to Columbia to host intrastate rival Clemson on Wednesday, Dec. 21, in the final game before the break for the Christmas holiday. The Gamecocks have won two straight in the series and three of the last five. Game time is set for 9 p.m. ET vs. the Tigers, with the matchup to be broadcast on ESPNU with Kevin Fitzgerald (pxp) and Chris Spatola (analyst) on the call.

BY THE NUMBERS

108 – Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell currently ranks tied for fourth all-time with 108 career games started in the Garnet and Black. He has started every game of his Carolina career. He is three starts away from tying Alex English for third all-time with 111 career starts.
9 – Over the course of the last two games, sophomore forward Chris Silva has nine blocks – five vs. FIU and four vs. Seton Hall. Only early in his sophomore year, Silva is just 59 blocks away from cracking the Gamecock top 10 for career blocks.
45.5% – Sophomore guard PJ Dozier is currently averaging 45.5% from the floor this season. He hit just 38.1 % from the floor during his rookie season.
14 – Dozier’s 14 made 3s this season are four more than his total of 10 from his rookie campaign.
13 – South Carolina’s 13 steals vs. FIU on Dec. 4 marked a season high in the category, surpassing the previous high of 12 vs. Syracuse.
23 – The 23 turnovers by FIU marked a season high for Gamecock opponents.