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GNT: Hoops pick up big man - Opposing QBs - Baseball to Hoover

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Brian Shoemaker

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Gamecock Nation Today
- Monday, May 20, 2019 -


Good morning from Gamecock Central.

From the weekend: The men's basketball team picked up a graduate transfer from Micaiah Henry. The baseball team won one of three games at Mississippi State to earn a spot in the SEC Tournament. The softball team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. The women's tennis team lost to Duke in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Tuesday: The baseball team plays LSU in the SEC Tournament. The game will start around 9, depending on how long the day's other games go.

Reminder: We're 103 days away from the Gamecocks playing North Carolina.

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Credit: Katie Dugan

1. ⚾ USC headed to Hoover

• South Carolina went to Mississippi State with the goal of getting into the SEC Tournament and, after getting blown out the first two games, accomplished what they set out to do, earning the No. 12 seed in next week’s tournament in Hoover.

• After jumping out to an 8-1 lead, the Gamecocks held on tight to beat the No. 5 Bulldogs, 10-8, Saturday to clinch their 24th-straight conference tournament appearance and will play LSU in a single-elimination game Tuesday night in the final game of the day.

• Brett Kerry (6.1 innings, two runs, five hits) and Parker Coyne (1.2 innings, first-career save) were tremendous bookends during Saturday’s win, keeping the conference's best offense relatively quiet as the Gamecocks took a game against a team widely considered to be one of the top-eight seeds in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

• Andrew Eyster continues to swing an incredibly hot bat, picking up six more hits over the weekend, including a two-homer, three-RBI game on Saturday. Over the last month the sophomore is hitting .438/.535/.833 with 16 RBI.

Game 1: Gamecocks rocked in series opener (story, video)
Game 2: Gamecocks falter late in lopsided loss (story, video)
Game 3: Gamecocks clinch spot in SEC Tourney (story, video)

Collyn Taylor

2. Opposing quarterbacks

It’s been well documented that South Carolina’s 2019 football slate is extremely difficult – arguably the hardest schedule in the country. Throughout the course of the challenging season, the Gamecocks will face some of the best players in the country.

This series looks at the five best players USC will face in 2019, position-by-position. We begin with quarterbacks, which we will list in alphabetical order.

Kelly Bryant, Missouri – South Carolina has familiarity with this Palmetto State native already; Bryant started for Clemson in a win against the Gamecocks in Columbia in 2017. He put up good numbers for the Tigers during his career prior to being supplanted as a starter, then decided to transfer away from Clemson. Bryant has landed at Missouri as a graduate transfer and faces USC once again this season. Bryant’s athleticism can cause defenses major problems.

Jake Fromm, Georgia – One of the country’s best and most steady quarterbacks, Fromm is capable of distributing it all over the field and makes every throw you want. He completed 67 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, has performed well against the Gamecocks in the past, and played in many big games.

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson – The man who took over the starting job in Clemson and helped lead the Tigers to a national title as a freshman is one of the best in the country already. He has the size, an elite arm, and is also athletic. With an impressive group of receivers around him, slowing down Clemson’s passing attack with Lawrence at the helm will be a tall order.

Kellen Mond, Texas A&M – USC has not been able get over the hump yet against Texas A&M, and if it’s to happen this season it will have to happen on the road against an experienced Mond. He’s caused USC major headaches as a player. In 2017, he had a subpar passing performance but made play after play with his legs. Last season, he threw for over 350 yards against the Gamecocks.

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama – The Heisman runner-up has dazzled the college football world ever since he took over in the second half of the national title game two seasons ago. A dynamic lefty, Tagovailoa has a great feel for the game and frequently looks to make the big play. He’ll have great receivers around him plus a strong running game, so it’s another difficult ask for USC to try to slow him down.

Chris Clark

3. This, that, and the other

Another Carolina Podcast: Latest on Tavien Feaster - South Carolina football and recruiting insiders Chris Clark and Wes Mitchell join host Pearson Fowler on Another Carolina Podcast to discuss Tavien Feaster and more. (link)

Football: Inside Muschamp, Mack Brown's unique relationship - It’s been almost nine years since Mack Brown and Will Muschamp shared a sideline, something that will change sooner rather than later. (link)

Men's Basketball Recruiting: Gamecocks land grad transfer commitment - Gamecocks fill their 2019 class again. (link)

  • Related: Five things to like about the Micaiah Henry pick up (subscription)
Men's Basketball Recruiting: Local powers interest Rivals150 junior Brandon Harris - Gamecocks getting on three-star forward. (link)

Men's Basketball Recruiting: Tate is emerging as a priority target in ACC, SEC - In-state point guard is a priority target for the Gamecocks. (subscription)

Football Recruiting: The Insider Report - Jordan Burch, running back and offensive line recruiting (subscription)

Football Recruiting: Gamecocks offer 2021 Georgia QB - Colten Gauthier nabbed a scholarship from the Gamecocks last week and breaks down his interest in USC. (subscription)

Baseball: Gamecocks land two players, seven signees on draft board - PerfectGame finished its latest rankings of draft prospects with a handful of players with South Carolina ties making the list. (link)

Baseball Recruiting: Note on a 2019 Baseball signee - A note on a junior college pitcher with a decision to make soon. (subscription)

Softball in the NCAA Tournament
Friday: Gamecocks drop first game of Tallahassee Regional (story)
Saturday: South Carolina wins two to advance to regional final (story)
Sunday: Gamecocks close 2019 season (story)

Women's Tennis: Gamecocks tie program-best with NCAA Quarterfinals finish - The women's tennis team lost to Duke on Friday, 4-1, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships. (link)

Women's Tennis: Epley named coach of the year; Martins is senior player of the year - Kevin Epley was named the National Women's ITA/Wilson Coach of the Year and senior Ingrid Martins earned the title of National Women's Senior Player of the Year. (link)

Men's Tennis: Jubb, Rodrigues earn regional honors - Junior Paul Jubb earned the region's Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership & Sportsmanship Award for his balance of athletics, academics and character. Freshman Daniel Rodrigues was named the region's Rookie of the Year. (link)

Men's Tennis: Jubb wins award - Junior Paul Jubb won the ITA's Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award. The award goes to the NCAA Division I men's player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics and has had outstanding playing accomplishments. (link)

Track & Field: Seven Gamecocks earn all-SEC recognition - Quincy Hall collected first-team honors, while Eric Favors, Wadeline Jonathas, Otis Jones, Isaiah Moore and Yann Randrianasolo brought home second-team laurels and Carisma Holland was named to the All-Freshman Team. (link)

Swimming & Diving: Minuth qualifies for German World University Games team - USC alumnus Fynn Minuth opened his summer season by posting the second-fastest 200 butterfly time by a German this season to earn a spot on his home country's World University Games team. (link)

Jackson Fields

4. ⌚ Plan your schedule

Tuesday, May 21
9 pm - Baseball: vs LSU, SEC Tournament, SECN, radio

Jackson Fields

5. This Date in Gamecock History

May 20, 1975 – The Gamecocks, celebrating a move to No. 2 in the national rankings, pummeled Georgia Tech in a double header, winning 6-0 and 20-1.

  • Game one saw Earl Bass and Tim Lewis combine for a two-hit shutout, shutting down the Yellow Jackets completely.
  • Bass got his 14th win of the year with no losses.
  • Game two starter Greg Ward one upped them, leaving after four innings with a perfect game in place.
  • Relievers Chuck McLean, Mike Cromer and Ed Lynch allowed just one run the rest of the way.
  • Hank Small was the headliner on offense, going six for seven with two home runs and eight RBI over the two games.
John Parker, gamecockarchives.com

6. Birthdays!

Fritz Von Kolnitz - A native of Charleston, Von Kolnitz was one of the earliest football players for the Gamecocks to earn state-wide attention. He scored the game’s only points with a touchdown in the 6-0 win over Florida in 1911. Von Kolnitz was also a catcher on the Carolina baseball team from 1911 through 1913. He went on to play Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds (1914-15) and Chicago White Sox (1916) before going on to be the first athletic director at the College of Charleston in the 1930s. Von Kolnitz, who also was an attorney and worked in real estate, earned the rank of Major during World War II. He is a member of both the CofC and the USC sports halls of fame.

Dominique Blasingame (football/fullback, 1980-83)
Art Finley (baseball/2B-SS, 1981-83)
Steve Gettel (football/offensive guard, 1977-80)
Leroy Jeter (football/fullback, 1988-92)
Craig Mortorana (baseball/second base, 1982)
Steven Singleton (football/offensive line, 2009-10)

John Parker, gamecockarchives.com

7. ⌚ Key Events (Countdown)

• May 21 – SEC Baseball Tourney (1 day)
• June 3 – MLB Draft begins (14)
• July 15 – SEC Media Days begins (56)
• July 20 – Ladies Football Clinic (61)
• Aug. 31 – Football: Gamecocks vs UNC (103)
 
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