C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
South Carolina plays host to UAB tonight (7 p.m., SEC Network Plus) in what is expected to be one of the toughest early-season games for both teams this year.
UAB, one of the best mid-major programs right now and C-USA preseason favorite, is ranked the No. 56 team by KenPom (South Carolina 86) and KenPom predicts a 74-73 Gamecock win and gives South Carolina a 52 percent chance to win, so the metrics indicate it will be a very close game tonight.
Scouting UAB
--UAB is a perfect 3-0 and hasn’t won a game by fewer than 14 points this year but the Blazers haven’t played a team ranked inside KenPom’s top 150: UNC Asheville (294), Morehead State (168) and Rhodes (NR). They’re more of an offensive team, ranked 53rd nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (106.8 points per 100 possessions).
--Offensively, it’s a team predicated on hitting efficient shots and not turning the ball over. The Blazers are 15th in the country in effective field goal percentage (61.4) and third in offensive turnover rate (9.8). They’re shooting 39 percent from three and 62.6 percent from inside the arc. This team doesn’t get to the free throw line a lot but takes smart shots and protects the ball.
That being said, this will be the toughest defensive matchup they’ll face so far and Andy Kennedy knows that. South Carolina is 54th in defensive efficiency and top 40 in defensive turnover rate and is one of the best rebounding teams in the country.
--Defensively, UAB forces a lot of turnovers (on 26.7 of defensive possessions) and South Carolina’s a team that’s struggled turning the ball over.
--The Blazers are a transfer-heavy team with nine players on the roster who didn’t begin their careers at UAB. It’s a team that plays a lot of different guys (41.7 percent of minutes are played by non-starters) with Quan Jackson and Jordan Walker really carrying a lot of the load.
Michael Ertel and Tavin Lovan are two other players to watch as well both are scoring in double figures.
More from AK
I spent about 15 minutes talking this week with Andy Kennedy, who was incredibly complimentary (which is to be expected) of Frank Martin’s team this year.
He knows James Reese well having coached against him last year and is impressed with his ability to knock down shots. Here’s what he had to say about this year’s unit:
“I think (getting AJ Wilson back) will be a big help for Frank. I’m familiar with him, knows he’s a transfer and with that comes a transition period but know it gives him the versatility at the four that Frank is desiring. I watched all their games in scouting. I’m a big Jermaine Couisnard fan. When I was doing television for two years I got to see how he operates and I think he’s a big, strong lead guard. Physically we’re going to have a tough time containing. I’m familiar with Reese, who came from North Texas who’s a knockdown shooter and plays with a great motor. He came from a great program with Grant McCasland. I knew he had the DNA as it relates to really defend and play tough cause that’s how grant runs his program so knew he’d be a great addition for Frank. I know Stevenson’s struggled with shooting but man every time he shoots it, it looks like it’s going in. all it takes two in a row and all of the sudden the slump is over. I think the have a lot of good pieces; I think they have the ability to score with a number of different people. I love the Carter kid, he was outstanding against Western Kentucky who’s in our league and we know well. Up front they’re going to be big and be physical battle you on that glass. They present a lot of challenges for us in a lot of different areas but think it’s going to be a great learning opportunity for our team as well.”
--Martin talked about Wilson and him missing time this weekend in Asheville because of a death in the family. Kennedy is anticipating Wilson to play and I would at this point as well.
Keys to a win
Take (and make) smart shots: South Carolina’s struggled making three-pointers this season and at times the offense has stagnated when the offense can’t make shots and players press. The Gamecocks are 259th in effective field goal percentage and will need to take smart shots in the flow of the offense and should get a few opportunities against a UAB defense allowing teams to shoot 43.2 percent from three and 50 percent from two.
Defend the paint, get the ball inside: While UAB is good at hitting threes, its bread is buttered in the paint. It’s not a large team in terms of average height, but 61 percent of their points come from two. South Carolina, meanwhile, operates heavily in the paint with 59.5 percent of their points coming there as well. Dictating the physicality in the paint will be a big piece of this game, and getting Wilson back should help at the four.
Protect the ball: UAB likes to force turnover and South Carolina turns the ball over a lot early this year. Right now, that’s not a recipe for success. If South Carolina wants to win and take down a good Blazer team it’ll need to protect the ball and not have empty offensive sets and give UAB easy run out baskets.
Recruiting notes
--There’s only one notable visitor right now and that’s 2024 guard Cam Scott, the No. 21 player in the class and the No. 6 shooting guard. He’s a hyper local prospect at Lexington and one of his first college basketball games ever. He plans on getting there pretty early to really get a feel for how a D-I program goes about a game day.
Chuck Martin’s done a good job getting in here early and Scott’s talked about South Carolina highly as he begins his recruiting progress. Florida State, UNC, Georgia, Clemson are the other schools standing out early.
--Caught up with 2023 priority recruit GG Jackson recently and he was blown away by getting his name chanted at the exhibition and again has been highly complimentary of South Carolina as well. He told me yesterday South Carolina is one of his top three schools “for sure” and the Gamecocks feel good about where they sit right now. North Carolina is going to be a tough battle but Jackson really likes what South Carolina’s talking to him about right now.
Chuck Martin is also the assistant in charge of his recruitment.
UAB, one of the best mid-major programs right now and C-USA preseason favorite, is ranked the No. 56 team by KenPom (South Carolina 86) and KenPom predicts a 74-73 Gamecock win and gives South Carolina a 52 percent chance to win, so the metrics indicate it will be a very close game tonight.
Scouting UAB
--UAB is a perfect 3-0 and hasn’t won a game by fewer than 14 points this year but the Blazers haven’t played a team ranked inside KenPom’s top 150: UNC Asheville (294), Morehead State (168) and Rhodes (NR). They’re more of an offensive team, ranked 53rd nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (106.8 points per 100 possessions).
--Offensively, it’s a team predicated on hitting efficient shots and not turning the ball over. The Blazers are 15th in the country in effective field goal percentage (61.4) and third in offensive turnover rate (9.8). They’re shooting 39 percent from three and 62.6 percent from inside the arc. This team doesn’t get to the free throw line a lot but takes smart shots and protects the ball.
That being said, this will be the toughest defensive matchup they’ll face so far and Andy Kennedy knows that. South Carolina is 54th in defensive efficiency and top 40 in defensive turnover rate and is one of the best rebounding teams in the country.
--Defensively, UAB forces a lot of turnovers (on 26.7 of defensive possessions) and South Carolina’s a team that’s struggled turning the ball over.
--The Blazers are a transfer-heavy team with nine players on the roster who didn’t begin their careers at UAB. It’s a team that plays a lot of different guys (41.7 percent of minutes are played by non-starters) with Quan Jackson and Jordan Walker really carrying a lot of the load.
Michael Ertel and Tavin Lovan are two other players to watch as well both are scoring in double figures.
More from AK
I spent about 15 minutes talking this week with Andy Kennedy, who was incredibly complimentary (which is to be expected) of Frank Martin’s team this year.
He knows James Reese well having coached against him last year and is impressed with his ability to knock down shots. Here’s what he had to say about this year’s unit:
“I think (getting AJ Wilson back) will be a big help for Frank. I’m familiar with him, knows he’s a transfer and with that comes a transition period but know it gives him the versatility at the four that Frank is desiring. I watched all their games in scouting. I’m a big Jermaine Couisnard fan. When I was doing television for two years I got to see how he operates and I think he’s a big, strong lead guard. Physically we’re going to have a tough time containing. I’m familiar with Reese, who came from North Texas who’s a knockdown shooter and plays with a great motor. He came from a great program with Grant McCasland. I knew he had the DNA as it relates to really defend and play tough cause that’s how grant runs his program so knew he’d be a great addition for Frank. I know Stevenson’s struggled with shooting but man every time he shoots it, it looks like it’s going in. all it takes two in a row and all of the sudden the slump is over. I think the have a lot of good pieces; I think they have the ability to score with a number of different people. I love the Carter kid, he was outstanding against Western Kentucky who’s in our league and we know well. Up front they’re going to be big and be physical battle you on that glass. They present a lot of challenges for us in a lot of different areas but think it’s going to be a great learning opportunity for our team as well.”
--Martin talked about Wilson and him missing time this weekend in Asheville because of a death in the family. Kennedy is anticipating Wilson to play and I would at this point as well.
Keys to a win
Take (and make) smart shots: South Carolina’s struggled making three-pointers this season and at times the offense has stagnated when the offense can’t make shots and players press. The Gamecocks are 259th in effective field goal percentage and will need to take smart shots in the flow of the offense and should get a few opportunities against a UAB defense allowing teams to shoot 43.2 percent from three and 50 percent from two.
Defend the paint, get the ball inside: While UAB is good at hitting threes, its bread is buttered in the paint. It’s not a large team in terms of average height, but 61 percent of their points come from two. South Carolina, meanwhile, operates heavily in the paint with 59.5 percent of their points coming there as well. Dictating the physicality in the paint will be a big piece of this game, and getting Wilson back should help at the four.
Protect the ball: UAB likes to force turnover and South Carolina turns the ball over a lot early this year. Right now, that’s not a recipe for success. If South Carolina wants to win and take down a good Blazer team it’ll need to protect the ball and not have empty offensive sets and give UAB easy run out baskets.
Recruiting notes
--There’s only one notable visitor right now and that’s 2024 guard Cam Scott, the No. 21 player in the class and the No. 6 shooting guard. He’s a hyper local prospect at Lexington and one of his first college basketball games ever. He plans on getting there pretty early to really get a feel for how a D-I program goes about a game day.
Chuck Martin’s done a good job getting in here early and Scott’s talked about South Carolina highly as he begins his recruiting progress. Florida State, UNC, Georgia, Clemson are the other schools standing out early.
--Caught up with 2023 priority recruit GG Jackson recently and he was blown away by getting his name chanted at the exhibition and again has been highly complimentary of South Carolina as well. He told me yesterday South Carolina is one of his top three schools “for sure” and the Gamecocks feel good about where they sit right now. North Carolina is going to be a tough battle but Jackson really likes what South Carolina’s talking to him about right now.
Chuck Martin is also the assistant in charge of his recruitment.
