By Rixon Lane || Gamecock basketball fans, step away from the ledge.
Yes, this week’s shellacking on the road against No. 4 Florida was a soul-crushing massacre that likely sent even the most optimistic USC supporters into the fetal position. However, Gamecock fans need to take a deep breath and think about South Carolina’s basketball season up to this point. At 12-8 overall and 2-5 in the SEC, the Gamecocks aren’t exactly evoking memories of the Frank McGuire years.
But then again they also aren’t reminding anyone of last year’s team …
In his first twenty games at the helm of the program, first-year head coach Frank Martin has had to tackle, among other things, an apathetic fan base, a shuffling roster and a conference slate with two roads trips against nationally ranked opponents. The good news? The Gamecocks have slowly started to bring fans back to the cavernous Colonial Life Arena with their impassioned play. The bad news? Yeah – the Florida game.
Led by fiery freshman Michael Carrera, the Gamecocks are giving fans something to cheer about. Student turnout has also improved in Martin’s first season on the bench. And while the Garnet Army may still be more Valley Forge than Fort Knox – the buzz around USC basketball is louder on campus than it has been in a while.
Already Martin has led the Gamecocks to more overall victories and just as many conference wins as last season – despite having to shift his lineup more than a Major League infield. South Carolina was without the services of freshman center Laimonas Chatkevicius for the first six games of the year because of an NCAA violation by his host family. Then the Gamecocks lost guard LaShay Page for the year due to an academic issue. And of course Bruce Ellington missed a significant portion of the non-conference schedule while playing with the football team. Even Carrera has missed games with various injuries.
Despite all of this, Martin has been able to find the right combinations to get the Gamecocks four games over .500 with 11 games left.
South Carolina’s non-conference schedule was one of the softest in college basketball, but the Gamecocks pulled out ten wins in their first 13 games under Martin’s staff. As expected, SEC play has proven to be more difficult. Consider this, though: Four of USC’s five conference losses have come by a combined 18 points – with the blowout defeat in Gainesville being the outlier.
The rest of USC’s conference slate will not be easy. The Gamecocks play four of the top five teams in the SEC in February, including road trips to Kentucky and Alabama. However, South Carolina will also play three teams currently in the basement of the league – and USC needs just four wins to ensure a winning record in the regular season.
The Florida game was as ugly as ugly can be, but the Gators have humiliated many teams this season and will humiliate many more before the season is over. USC didn’t get blown out by the Washington Generals. The Gamecocks were bombarded by a legitimate national championship contender in one of the more intimidating arenas in college basketball. A 39-point loss is never acceptable, but one embarrassing night against a top-notch opponent should not negate the progress made during South Carolina’s first nineteen contests.
Rixon Lane is a junior broadcast journalism major at the University of South Carolina. He hosts a sports talk show on WUSC 90.5 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. on Mondays.
***
Pics: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
18 comments
WOW!! What a beat down!! LOL!!
Man, that was an ass-kicking. Gotta check to see if we have lost down there 56 straight times. That would be amazing.
Shamecocks didn’t show up for the Florida game. What an ass kicking. Things will get better but Florida is awesome.
The USC 2013 Edition in NCAA Mens and Womens Division 1 Basketball is first class. These two teams are well coached and include some very talented players. Very exciting programs!! Fun to watch!!
Go To The Top And Don’t Stop!
Fun to watch? Where can I get me some of that shit you been smoking? Bet it’s good for fits, farts, and freckles, too. Apparantly, it could even make child-birth a pleasure.
all in due time he will get it right. Please someone teach Jackson to shoot a free-throw
True, that is not pretty, but look how that kid’s game has picked up. He was left for dead last year. Exhibit A for what a great job Coach Martin is doing so far.
I am a Clemson guy, but I love this Frank Martin. Semi-professional (college) and professional sports NEED the passion, character and integrity this Frank Martin seems to have. He looked like living hell this week during the interviews – dressed down in ill-fitting work out clothes and 4-5 day growth of beard. The gag order on his infamous profantity seems to pain him no end. I say let him cuss. With his intelligence, I know it will be most entertaining to see how creatively he can let it out. I saw a great picture of his wife giving him “the look” and it was much more severe that the “stare’ his is known to give his players. I support Frank Martin and will try to get my scholarhip donor USC friends to get me a lunch with this guy at Thirsty Fellow when the season is over.
I don’t find it fun to watch a beat down. Cocks must have been paying too much attention to those smokin hot Gator cheerleaders than the game.
It’s not the Florida beatdown that concerns me. It’s the inability to finish. This team has given up, what, 4 halftime leads (including today vs. UGA)? Immensely frustrating.
yep we cant seem to finish
My son and I were there for a non-conference game (PC). We were sitting very close to the Cocks’ bench. I’ll give Coach Martin one thing, he tolerates no BS from his players, or at least he shows his displeasure when they are not playing to his expectations. Better than what they had last year.
their terrible. im not sure the coach is even legel either. someone should check his papers looks kinda brown to me.
I always love to laugh at how much of a fucking uneducated idiot and loser you are in real life. I am sure by now you are nothing more than a take it up your ass fudgepacker. Isn’t that right “Sweet” Jim? You stupid troll
And this is why Republican lose elections. BTW, I dare you to say this to Frank Martin’s face, you bigoted mouthbreather.
And this is why Republican lose elections. BTW, I dare you to say this to Frank Martin’s face, you bigoted mouthbreather.
I laugh at how much of a fucking uneducated idiot and loser you are in real life. I am sure by now you are nothing more than a take it up your ass fudgepacker. Isn’t that right “Sweet” Jim? You stupid troll.
Man, I love how they are improving.