South Carolina Basketball: 6 thumbs up (0 thumbs down) for demolition of Clemson

South Carolina basketball fans are beyond lucky to get to witness four seasons of MiLaysia Fulwiley in garnet and black. She filled up the box score again on Thursday night, scoring 18 points, securing 9 rebounds, dishing 3 assists, and grabbing a steal in just 16 minutes on the floor. She also made four 3-pointers and had a couple of highlight reel-worthy plays as both a scorer and as a passer. Her 47 points through three games in the fastest-scoring start in the history of the Gamecock program, besting A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston (who were tied with 37 points through 3 games).. . South Carolina Gamecocks. MILAYSIA FULWILEY . Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up. The Gamecocks jumped out on the Tigers and crushed early any hope Clemson had at competing in this game. USC held leads of 14-2 and 40-6 before settling in for a 62-15 halftime lead. There was no life in the team in orange jerseys because the ones in white choked every bit of it out of them with smothering defense and unrelenting, fast-paced offense. The Gamecocks shot it well from outside (10 3-pointers), they attacked the paint (64 points in the lane), and they allowed very few good looks from Clemson (surrendered just 22% shooting).. . South Carolina Gamecocks. AN UNRELENTING, FAST START

As incredible as the South Carolina offense has been this season (three-straight 100-point games for the first time in program history), the defense was ridiculous on Thursday night. Clemson shot just 22% against Carolina as the Gamecocks’ length, athleticism, and effort on that end of the court were suffocating all night. USC held Clemson to single-digit points in three of four quarters, blocked 9 shots, and had 11 steals.. . South Carolina Gamecocks. DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE . Thumbs Up