South Carolina Basketball: Pregame Prognostications and How to Watch

Coming off four straight losses (and 6 of 7) in conference, South Carolina basketball desperately needs a win if there is any hope for turning around what has been a disappointing year one for Lamont Paris in Columbia. Next up on the schedule is a road tilt against the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia is riding its own three-game losing streak but returns home where they have only fallen once this season. The game can be watched at 6:00 on the SECNetwork.

While Georgia is not having its best year on the hardwood, they are still the favorite to win the evening matchup in Stegeman Coliseum. For South Carolina to pull the upset, they must find a way to get consistent production from their two most dynamic players on players on offense, former five-star recruit GG Jackson and Ohio State transfer Meechie Johnson. This may be a tall task for the CourtCocks as their overall offensive woes allow for teams to often focus their defensive efforts on slowing down Jackson and Johnson, as is evident by their lower-than-expected shooting percentages on the season. Missed shots play right into the Bulldogs’ hands (paws?) as they are one of the SEC’s top defensive rebounding teams, so getting clean looks for Jackson and Johnson, as well as Chico Carter—the SEC’s leader in 3P%—will be the key to victory for the Gamecocks.

The Bulldogs rely heavily on senior guard Terry Roberts. Leading the team in both points per game and assists, guarding Roberts on the perimeter should be South Carolina’s focus on defense. If the rest of the season is any indication of what will happen on Saturday, South Carolina’s perimeter defense will not have an easy time hindering Roberts and the Bulldogs, as the Gamecocks are ranked 268th in the country in scoring defense. In contrast, Georgia ranks 87th. Carolina will need a reversal of those defensive performances to pull off the win in Athens.

Prediction:

South Carolina gets a good game from GG Jackson, but they cannot stop the Bulldogs’ offense, especially at the free throw line where Georgia ranks in the top-5 in the conference in free throws attempted, made, and percentage. Final score: Georgia—81 72—South Carolina.