C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
--This wasn't a dominating win but the Gamecocks somehow found a way to get a win in over time after trailing for a big part of the second half. This keeps slim tourney hopes alive and will likely help somewhat in the NET. In short, it's not a game that moves the needle from a resume standpoint but the Gamecocks got a win over a decent team with a really good player who had been playing well lately. It's a win they really, really needed. Wasn't pretty but it still counts as a win.
--South Carolina was able to tread water with Jermaine Couisnard missing almost 17 minutes in the first half with two fouls but he showed why he's important to the offense. He had a few big loose balls he'd scoop up and hit the Gamecocks' only three through the first 33 minutes of the game. He does a lot of things on the court well and will need to stay out of foul trouble, which prevented him from staying on the court for long stretches of time.
--It's been an issue the last three games, but the Gamecocks have to be a better perimeter and on-ball defending team. Guys get into the paint a little too easily and South Carolina gave the Bulldogs a lot of good looks on the perimeter. That is going to have to improve down the stretch here.
--Once again, the Gamecocks struggled to shoot free throws and it came back to bite them. They'd miss 14 over the course of the game, including a handful late as they tried to extend their lead or come back from down. It's a problem because the Gamecocks could easily have cruised to a win if they hit just half of their misses. It was interesting though because when they needed them the most, Kotsar stepped up and drilled two free throws to give South Carolina the lead with 15.5 seconds left and make two more in the overtime period. Jermaine Couisnard also stepped up with five huge free throws late.
--For as up and down as AJ Lawson's been, he came up huge with a minute to play. He stepped up and drilled a game-tying three and it changed the entire make up of the game. The Gamecocks obviously need more from him, but the team's best player in terms of potential came up when it counted the most in regulation. He'd slip back to bad Lawson in overtime, playing iffy defense and taking a really bad shot that led to a Georgia bucket.
--Georgia's not a tall team and it plays to South Carolina's advantage, and it did Wednesday for Alanzo Frink. He'd have a career game with a high in points (22) and just looked good doing it. He'd finish through contact and draw a few and-one opportunities. He looked like the player he should be all the time.
--Jalyn McCreary brings this team such a different kind of energy and enthusiasm that is really unmatched by the bigs. He offensive rebounds the ball at a high clip and knows how to finish around the rim against guys bigger than him. He's not Justin Minaya at all, but he helps pick up a lot of the slack with Minaya out. Getting him back Wednesday night (and for this stretch run) will be huge.
--It wasn't the most efficient game (6-for-14 shooting) but Keyshawn Bryant did what he's expected to do in the Gamecocks' offense on a nightly basis. He threw down not one but three massive, momentum-building dunks and defended at a really high level. He had a big put back bucket in overtime as well. Also had two big free throws to essentially end the game. He's played well the last two games and the Gamecocks need that. If he plays like that, it spaces the floor and gives the Gamecocks another viable scoring option.
--Maik Kotsar didn't have an eye popping game but had a few massive plays late. He hit two free throws late in regulation and had a great charge on Georgia's final possession to force a turnover and give South Carolina the ball with 1.4 seconds left. That's what you want seniors to do.
--South Carolina was able to tread water with Jermaine Couisnard missing almost 17 minutes in the first half with two fouls but he showed why he's important to the offense. He had a few big loose balls he'd scoop up and hit the Gamecocks' only three through the first 33 minutes of the game. He does a lot of things on the court well and will need to stay out of foul trouble, which prevented him from staying on the court for long stretches of time.
--It's been an issue the last three games, but the Gamecocks have to be a better perimeter and on-ball defending team. Guys get into the paint a little too easily and South Carolina gave the Bulldogs a lot of good looks on the perimeter. That is going to have to improve down the stretch here.
--Once again, the Gamecocks struggled to shoot free throws and it came back to bite them. They'd miss 14 over the course of the game, including a handful late as they tried to extend their lead or come back from down. It's a problem because the Gamecocks could easily have cruised to a win if they hit just half of their misses. It was interesting though because when they needed them the most, Kotsar stepped up and drilled two free throws to give South Carolina the lead with 15.5 seconds left and make two more in the overtime period. Jermaine Couisnard also stepped up with five huge free throws late.
--For as up and down as AJ Lawson's been, he came up huge with a minute to play. He stepped up and drilled a game-tying three and it changed the entire make up of the game. The Gamecocks obviously need more from him, but the team's best player in terms of potential came up when it counted the most in regulation. He'd slip back to bad Lawson in overtime, playing iffy defense and taking a really bad shot that led to a Georgia bucket.
--Georgia's not a tall team and it plays to South Carolina's advantage, and it did Wednesday for Alanzo Frink. He'd have a career game with a high in points (22) and just looked good doing it. He'd finish through contact and draw a few and-one opportunities. He looked like the player he should be all the time.
--Jalyn McCreary brings this team such a different kind of energy and enthusiasm that is really unmatched by the bigs. He offensive rebounds the ball at a high clip and knows how to finish around the rim against guys bigger than him. He's not Justin Minaya at all, but he helps pick up a lot of the slack with Minaya out. Getting him back Wednesday night (and for this stretch run) will be huge.
--It wasn't the most efficient game (6-for-14 shooting) but Keyshawn Bryant did what he's expected to do in the Gamecocks' offense on a nightly basis. He threw down not one but three massive, momentum-building dunks and defended at a really high level. He had a big put back bucket in overtime as well. Also had two big free throws to essentially end the game. He's played well the last two games and the Gamecocks need that. If he plays like that, it spaces the floor and gives the Gamecocks another viable scoring option.
--Maik Kotsar didn't have an eye popping game but had a few massive plays late. He hit two free throws late in regulation and had a great charge on Georgia's final possession to force a turnover and give South Carolina the ball with 1.4 seconds left. That's what you want seniors to do.
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