South Carolina Basketball: Dawn Staley’s team could put “Cocks by 90” to the test

South Carolina basketball is in the midst of its hottest offensive stretch in program history. The 3-0 Gamecocks have scored at least 100 points in each game this season (plus an exhibition against Rutgers), and the most recent game was a 109-40 beatdown of the rival Clemson Tigers.

After playing two top-15 teams (Notre Dame and Maryland) and the in-state rivals, South Carolina basketball has a bit of a scheduling break this week. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits and Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils are next up for the red-hot Gamecocks, and there is no reason to think that the streak of 100-point performances will end any time soon.

In fact, the “Cocks by 90” moniker could be put to the test in the next two contests. Fans across all teams and all sports have said “*Insert Team Name* by 90” for years, but it really caught on with the Gamecocks, thanks in part to South Carolina fan Jeff O’Hara’s popular Twitter/X account.

South Dakota State plays a slower pace, so a 90-point win probably won’t be possible against the Jackrabbits (though the talent differential could make things close).

However, Mississippi Valley State gave up 104 and 109 points to fellow top-10 teams Utah and LSU, respectively. The Delta Devils also only scored in the 40s in each of those contests.

The Gamecocks have not shot the ball particularly well from the free throw line this season, holding back their scoring a bit. Against Clemson, the entire South Carolina basketball team combined to shoot 55% from the charity stripe. They won by 69 points anyway.

Is it really that far-fetched to think with better foul shooting against a worse opponent that the Gamecocks couldn’t reach a +90 margin?

Morgan State and Presbyterian (both scheduled for December matchups with the Gamecocks) could be candidates for extremely lopsided games, as well.

South Carolina basketball will take on South Dakota State tonight at 7:00 at Colonial Life Arena. The game will be broadcast on the SECNetwork+ and the ESPN app.