C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
--Similar to the Vandy game, this won't do a whole lot for the NET or the college basketball world, but this was a loseable game for South Carolina and they came out and dominated. It's the longest SEC win streak since opening last season with four-straight wins in conference. Coming off an emotional win at Arkansas, it was easy to see a path to a loss here but the Gamecocks came out and from the jump controlled things. That's a good sign.
In short (and there's a long way to go), South Carolina looked like a tournament team today.
--You have to give South Carolina a lot of credit for the resolve they showed. They never trailed by more than nine in the second half. Missouri had a few chances (late in the first half and halfway through the second) to go on a run, and South Carolina didn't let them.
--Defensively, this was probably the most well-rounded game. Missouri wasn't playing with two key offensive players, but the Gamecocks still held them to 19-for-58 from the field (32.8 percent) and just 21.1 percent from three. The man defense looked really solid and it's a defense that's really come on lately. If that can get mixed in with consistent offensive sets, then the Gamecocks have a chance to win a lot more ballgames moving forward.
--After somewhat slipping back to what he was last year the last few games offensively, Maik Kotsar played maybe his most complete game of the season. He'd have almost a double-double before halftime and look about as aggressive as he has all season trying to score. It helped him get to the line. He finished with a season-high 21 and 100 percent passed the eye test. Getting him to play like this every game will be the Gamecocks' biggest task as they get into the back half of SEC play. He drew a charge and sparked a run with four points as part of a 7-0 run.
He was the model of efficiency, hitting his first seven shots and finished going 7-for-8 from the field and making 70 percent of his free throws. He wasn't the sole reason South Carolina won, but he was a big one.
--AJ Lawson continues to turn a little bit of a corner and put together another nice outing. He'd pick up 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting and hit three of his six three-pointers. He had a great dunk and looked the part, way more aggressive than he had been at times early in SEC play. It's a good sign when he can do things like that.
--Jermaine Couisnard, after a forgettable game against Arkansas, bounced back and looked really good against Missouri with 15 points on 50 percent shooting. When he's able to get downhill it helps his game and helps what the Gamecocks try to do offensively.
--It wasn't pretty at times offensively, but the consistency is slowly getting there. They averaged over a point per possession, which is good, but turned it over 11 times. When the offense isn't turning the ball over they get good shots. That needs to happen more.
--Looking at the schedule ahead, the three next games are incredibly winnable and the Gamecocks could find themselves at 8-3 in the SEC with seven games to go. A lot has to go right, obviously, but it's a scenario that could come to fruition. A Kentucky win would move South Carolina to a tie for third in the SEC.
--Not basketball related, but the crowd was fantastic. Easily the best of the season at CLA.
In short (and there's a long way to go), South Carolina looked like a tournament team today.
--You have to give South Carolina a lot of credit for the resolve they showed. They never trailed by more than nine in the second half. Missouri had a few chances (late in the first half and halfway through the second) to go on a run, and South Carolina didn't let them.
--Defensively, this was probably the most well-rounded game. Missouri wasn't playing with two key offensive players, but the Gamecocks still held them to 19-for-58 from the field (32.8 percent) and just 21.1 percent from three. The man defense looked really solid and it's a defense that's really come on lately. If that can get mixed in with consistent offensive sets, then the Gamecocks have a chance to win a lot more ballgames moving forward.
--After somewhat slipping back to what he was last year the last few games offensively, Maik Kotsar played maybe his most complete game of the season. He'd have almost a double-double before halftime and look about as aggressive as he has all season trying to score. It helped him get to the line. He finished with a season-high 21 and 100 percent passed the eye test. Getting him to play like this every game will be the Gamecocks' biggest task as they get into the back half of SEC play. He drew a charge and sparked a run with four points as part of a 7-0 run.
He was the model of efficiency, hitting his first seven shots and finished going 7-for-8 from the field and making 70 percent of his free throws. He wasn't the sole reason South Carolina won, but he was a big one.
--AJ Lawson continues to turn a little bit of a corner and put together another nice outing. He'd pick up 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting and hit three of his six three-pointers. He had a great dunk and looked the part, way more aggressive than he had been at times early in SEC play. It's a good sign when he can do things like that.
--Jermaine Couisnard, after a forgettable game against Arkansas, bounced back and looked really good against Missouri with 15 points on 50 percent shooting. When he's able to get downhill it helps his game and helps what the Gamecocks try to do offensively.
--It wasn't pretty at times offensively, but the consistency is slowly getting there. They averaged over a point per possession, which is good, but turned it over 11 times. When the offense isn't turning the ball over they get good shots. That needs to happen more.
--Looking at the schedule ahead, the three next games are incredibly winnable and the Gamecocks could find themselves at 8-3 in the SEC with seven games to go. A lot has to go right, obviously, but it's a scenario that could come to fruition. A Kentucky win would move South Carolina to a tie for third in the SEC.
--Not basketball related, but the crowd was fantastic. Easily the best of the season at CLA.
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