South Carolina (18-6, 7-4 SEC) will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (13-11, 1-10 SEC) at home tonight after the baseball game. Play begins at 7pm and the gamecocks look to overcome the MSU loss.

Arkansas leads the all-time series with South Carolina, 12-8. The series is tied at 4-4 in games played in Columbia. USC is 14-1 at home and Ark-Kansas is 1-6 on the road.

The gamecocks must focus on this game and not let this one turn into a loss as this team has showed signs of good play, granted it was to start the season with wins over OU and Texas. Nonetheless, USC come out fighting and play the entire game. MSU they started out hot but came out slow in the 2nd half. Can not do that again. SC must slow the play of Preseason All-SEC forward Michael Washington as he can be a beast. Another area that USC must control is the Hogs backcourt as junior guard Stefan Welsh (12.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and freshman guard Rotnei Clarke (11.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg) join Fortson in a backcourt that contributes nearly 38 points per game. So Zam and Devan time to play some serious D and don't give up open looks. Contest each shot.

I feel USC can win this game if they continue to play as a team, be aggressive on D but limit the hogs on easy baskets. Also USC needs to cut out the TOs! Also it would be nice to see some FTs being made and a hot hand behind the arc today.

I put this game on the shoulders of Archie, Muldrow and Holmes. Devan and Zam will get theirs but the other 3 must step up today to ensure a letdown is not given to the gamecock nation.

I say SC by 9 today....?

News related links -

• Gamecocks host lowly Razorbacks
• USC tries to bounce back

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Cold start to the 2nd half mixed in with some poor defense and numerous mental errors like not guarding 3 pt shots by msu and missed free throws....well all that leads to a loss for the gamecocks by 5 points to the bulldogs. MSU seemed to want it more at the end. no comments

Starting Lineups

Gamecocks

F 6-7 Dominique Archie 11.7 ppg
F 6-7 Mike Holmes 11.3ppg
C 6-9 Sam Muldrow 6.3ppg
G 5-9 Devan Downey 19.9ppg
G 6-0 Zam Fredrick 15.6ppg

Bulldogs

C 6-9 Jarvis Varnado 13.4ppg
G 6-7 Ravern Johnson 12.1ppg
G 6-2 Barry Stewart 11.4ppg
G 6-2 Dee Bost 11.0ppg
G 6-3 Phil Turner 8.2ppg no comments

Holmes with a tip at the end of the game to lift USC over Bama. Another closing seconds win for Carolina, who has aged the fan base this year with so many close victories this year. Horn's boys came back from 10 down at half.... this was a big time win and a much needed 'W.'

Downey, Archie, Ross and Holmes all in double figures. Great Job and Go Cocks! no comments

Time for the gamecocks to 'man-up' as they enter mid Februay tied for the SEC East division lead, the Gamecocks enter a two-game road stretch that could prove crucial to their championship chances and a berth in the NCAA tourney.

It starts today for South Carolina (17-5, 6-3 SEC) at Alabama (13-10, 3-6) then continues Wednesday night at Mississippi State. South Carolina is 1-10 all-time at Alabama, the lone victory coming in the Gamecocks’ 1997 SEC championship season. Bama has a 11-3 record in Tuscaloosa this season.

Carolina must slow Bama Senior guard Alonzo Gee today and I hope Bama Freshman forward JaMychal Green will not play today. For USC, Downey has to score as last game he was not the scoring force he has been which was okay as the team stepped up. I feel again that it will take the entire USC team playing togther, rebounding, eliminating TOs and making some FTs to win. I think they will do just that by making it a 7 pt victory today.

Related story
--Horn, Gamecocks race toward new ground

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As many of you know by now LOHD is part of the SEC Power Poll Blog Network. From time to time a round table is conducted amongst the group to share insight on their perspectives of the SEC. This is the first round table for the basketball season and here are LOHD's thoughts -

1. What were the biggest surprises in the SEC over the first half of the season?

I feel the biggest surprise has been how the SEC East is wide open. I really thought going into the season that that UT would walk away with it. But the surprise has been that the play of USC, stepped up game of UF and weaknesses shown by UK and UT. Never would have thought that in mid-February that the SEC East would be a 4 horse race. I do hope that USC can win it all in the East.

2. Who is the SEC Player of the Year over the first part of the season?

Not just because we are a USC blog but I have to say Devan Downey gets my first place vote. He is 5th in scoring, 4th in assists and 1st in steals. Besides that he has made clutch shots and been the leader that USC needs. If I get to say who is my second place vote getter I am going to have to say Korvotney Barber at Auburn. Averaging a double double and has improved his team over that last few weeks.

3. Is the SEC really this down? Why or why not? What can the conference do in the postseason? Is there any hope for a Final Four team? Where does the conference go after this year?

I would have to say that the SEC is down when you compare it to prior years but the league is not soft by any means. Talent has moved on to the NBA and made a lot of teams level in playing ability which has made for a see-saw kinda year so far. I think 1 or 2 teams will make the NCAA tourney interesting but I don't see a final 4 team amongst the bunch as of right now. I feel this conference will improve and next year be stronger. Lots of young kids earning their stripes right now.

4.Which teams will make the Big Dance?

I would say LSU, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Mississippi State has an outside shot if they keep 2nd place in the SEC West locked down. Ole Miss, Auburn, and Vandy make the NIT.

Make sure to check on the complete wrap up of the round table at The Garnet and Black Blog no comments

SEC Basketball Power Poll is up at http://www.garnetandblackattack.com/ so check it out by clicking HERE.

This was my ballot for week 6 -

1. LSU
2. UT
2. UK
2. UF
2. USC
6. MSU
7. Vandy
8. Auburn
9. Ole Miss
10. 'Bama
11. Arkansas
12. UGa no comments

Georgia holds a close 46-44 all-time advantage over South Carolina in basketball. Either the Bulldogs or Gamecocks have finished last in the SEC East in eight of the last 10 seasons.
This time, when Georgia (9-13, 0-7 SEC) travels to Columbia today to face South Carolina (16-5, 5-3) at 5 p.m. on Fox Sports South the teams are going in two different directions. SC on the upswing with Horn and a team that is playing with no fear. UGa is quickly becoming the joke of the SEC basketball circle. USC is in the mix for the SEC East lead while UGa has a lock on last place. Let's hope this trend continues....

The Gamecocks have already eclipsed their overall win total from each of the past two seasons and stand a chance of earning the school’s first 20-plus win regular season since 2003-04. In today’s game, USC will look to improve upon its 13-1 home record.
The Bulldogs have lost nine consecutive games, their longest stretch since 1973. Georgia’s seven SEC losses have been by an average of nearly 14 points per contest. The gamecocks can not look past them! So don't take the game too easy and stick to playing aggressive basketball. Oh and make some dang FTs!

Other links -
Downey, Gamecocks look for a sellout against Georgia
USC's free throw woes
Gamecocks Host Georgia On Operation Sellout Saturday

Going to say gamecocks by 12 today.......thoughts? no comments

Make sure to check out the results of Week 5 which are on "The Ghost of Chucky."

Here is my ballot -

1. LSU
2. UT
3. UF
4. USC
5. MSU
6. UK
7. Ole Miss
8. Vandy
9. 'Bama
10. Aub
11. Ark
12. UGa

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