Gamecocks Back In Action Monday Night Against Wofford

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina will host two games at home this week, beginning Monday night when Wofford travels to Colonial Life Arena.  Tip time versus the Terriers is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the matchup will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

STARTING FIVE
> After playing five games in a 13-day span to open the season, Carolina is set to face Wofford on Monday night in its first game since a 90-55 win vs. George Washington on Nov. 18.  
> Rookie guard A.J. Lawson earned the first weekly honor of his career in the Garnet and Black when he was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week on Nov. 19 after averaging 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists against Norfolk State, Providence and George Washington the previous week.  The honor marked the first Freshman of the Week award for Carolina since Sindarius Thornwell earned the accolade on March 10, 2014.
> South Carolina hit 13 3s in the big win over George Washington, including a stretch of hitting its first seven 3s to open the contest.  The 13 makes from beyond the arc tied for the second-most all-time under the direction of head coach Frank Martin.
> George Washington connected on just 16-of-58 attempts from the field in the Nov. 18 matchup with the Gamecocks, including just four makes in the opening half.  GW’s mark of 27.6 percent from the field in the matchup was the lowest by an opponent this season, and the lowest since Limestone connected on just 25 percent (13-52) of its attempts in a Carolina win on Dec. 27, 2017.
> Senior forward Chris Silva struggled in Carolina’s Nov. 17 matchup vs. Providence, in foul trouble for most of the contest, but he came back to post his 17th-career double-double with team highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds in the win vs. GW the following day.  Silva is averaging 10.8 points and a team high 6.0 rebounds per game this season.

THROUGH THE FIRST FIVE GAMES…
> Following a big contest vs. GW, rookie guard A.J. Lawson continues to pace the Gamecocks in points (15.8) and assists (4.6) per game … It’s been a balanced offensive attack thus far, as seven different Gamecocks average at least 7.4 points per game … Rookie guard T.J. Moss made his Gamecock debut in the matchup vs. Norfolk State (Nov. 13) after missing the first two games of the season due to a foot injury; in those three contests, he has hit 6-of-11 from 3-point range (54.5%) … Silva’s 13 total offensive rebounds pace the Gamecocks … Sophomore forward Felipe Haase’s 78.6% at the free throw line – 11-of-14 – is a team best … Seven different Gamecocks average at least 20 minutes per game, led by Lawson’s 27.8 minutes per contest … Junior forward Maik Kotsar’s 1.6 steals per game are a team high.

FRANK MARTIN
> South Carolina head coach Frank Martin is in his seventh season leading the Gamecocks and 12th season overall as a head coach in 2018-19.  Martin, the 2017 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year (CollegeInsider.com), led South Carolina to its first Final Four and a school record 26 wins in 2016-17.  In his 11 complete seasons as a head coach, Martin has led his teams to at least 21 wins seven times.  Martin is a native of Miami, Fla., and a graduate of FIU.

QUICK HITS
> South Carolina is in its 111th season of varsity basketball in 2018-19.
> Gamecock head coach Frank Martin is joined on the sidelines by assistant coaches Perry Clark (6th season), Bruce Shingler (3rd season) and Chuck Martin (2nd season).  Andy Assaley is in his seventh season as the director of operations.
> South Carolina is one of 13 DI schools nationally that have two or more former DI coaches serving as an assistant coach.  Perry Clark served as the head coach at Tulane, Miami (Fla.) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, while Chuck Martin was the head coach at Marist for five campaigns.
> South Carolina advanced to its first Final Four in 2016-17, which included posting its first NCAA Tounament win since the 1973 campaign when it talied a 93-73 win over Marquette in the First Round.
> Rookie guard A.J. Lawson’s eight makes from the floor vs. Stony Brook (Nov. 9) marked the most made field goals in a game by a Carolina freshman since then-rookie guard Sindarius Thornwell connected on nine made field goals in a Carolina win at Mississippi State on March 8, 2014.
> The Gamecocks are 24-14 (.631) in neutral-site contests under the direction of head coach Frank Martin, including a 3-3 mark last season.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
> Carolina returns home for a pair of non-conference matchups this week, first against Wofford, before hosting Coastal Carolina on Friday.  Up next for the Gamecocks is a two-game road swing at Wyoming (Dec. 5) and at No. 9/8 Michigan (Dec. 8).
> Rookie guard A.J. Lawson was named to the Hall of Fame Tip-Off All-Tournament Team (Naismith Bracket) after posting double-figures in both contests at Mohegan Sun Arena.  He tallied 10 in the loss to Providence, before a 19-point, 9-rebound, 5-assist effort in the big win vs. George Washington.  He paces Carolina with 15.8 points per game this season.
> Senior forward Chris Silva has hit 22-of-29 (75.9%) attempts from the free throw line through his first five games of the season.  To compare, through his first five games of last season, he was 32-of-41 (78.0%) from the stripe.
> Sophomore forward Justin Minaya has been very active around the rim early this season.  He is averaging 5.6 rebounds per outing, +1.2 on his career average, and he has connected on 13-of-18 (72.2%) of his 2-point attempts this season.
> South Carolina returns seven letterwinners from last season’s 17-16 squad, including senior guard Hassani Gravett and senior forward Chris Silva.
> Carolina welcomes eight newcomers to its roster this season, including a pair of transfers and six freshmen student-athletes.  Jair Bolden (transfer/George Washington/guard), graduate transfer Tre Campbell (transfer/Georgetown/guard), Keyshawn Bryant (freshman/guard), Jermaine Couisnard (freshman/guard), Alanzo Frink (freshman/forward), A.J. Lawson (freshman/guard), T.J. Moss (freshman/guard) and Nathan Nelson (freshman/forward) join the Garnet and Black this fall.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
> Wofford is led by head coach Mike Young in his 17th season at the helm of the Terrier program.  
> Wofford finished last season with a 21-13 overall record, and the Terriers return four starters from last year’s squad that advanced to the CIT Postseason Tournament.
> Leading the pack is senior guard Fletcher Magee.  Magee paces the Terriers this season with 18.5 points per game.  He has already attempted 64 3-point baskets, making 26 for a mark of 40.6% from beyond the arc.
> Magee was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year last season, when he led the NCAA in total 3s made (148), which was fifth all-time in NCAA DI history for 3s in a single season.
> Senior forward Cameron Jackson leads the Terriers with 8.4 rebounds per game, including 3.0 on the offensive glass per game.
> Wofford is averaging 81.5 points per game on the season, holding opponents to just 59.9.

COMING UP NEXT
The Gamecocks conclude the brief homestand when they host Coastal Carolina on Friday night.  The matchup will tip at 7 p.m., and be broadcast on the SEC Network with Kevin Fitzgerald (pxp) and Dane Bradshaw (analyst) on the call.