South Carolina Basketball: 5 players Gamecocks don't want to see in SEC Tournament

5 Players South Carolina Basketball Wants to Avoid in Nashville
Alabama Crimson Tide Guard Mark Sears

Another SEC Player of the Year candidate, Mark Sears began his career at Ohio University before transferring down south. Now, he drives opposing defenses crazy with his quickness and shot-making ability. He showed all of that earlier this season when his Crimson Tide blew out the Gamecocks.

Sears isn't a big guard (listed at just 6'1"), but his shiftiness and crafy ballhandling allow him to create space to get off just about any shot he wants.

His gravity as a scoring threat opens up a lot of playmaking opportunities, as well, and he has taken advantage. Sears is in the top-5 in the SEC in assists per game, and with the Crimson Tide offense being one of the best in the country, if he's able to find open shooters, that spells certain destruction for opposing teams. 'Bama has won every game in which Sears has totaled 5 or more assists.

Sears has developed into one of the best threats from the free throw line, as well, both in drawing fouls and converting when he gets to the stripe. The Gamecocks can struggle to keep determined teams off of the foul line (they've given up 32 and 25 free throws in their past two games), so if shots are falling for Nate Oats' team, Sears could cause problems in a rematch by getting to the line.

Staying out of the Tide's path in the SEC Tournament would be good for the Gamecocks so that they don't have to deal with Mark Sears again.