C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
South Carolina (10-5, 1-2 SEC) hosts Florida (9-6, 0-3 SEC) at 1 p.m. Saturday on the SEC Network.
Scouting Florida
The Gamecocks are coming into a big home game against a desperate Florida team. The Gators, who started the year 6-0 are now 9-6 and losers of three straight entering this weekend’s game.
Florida’s best wins came in November in a home win over Florida State and a neutral court win over Ohio State. The Gators are 0-2 on the road against Oklahoma and Auburn and struggling defensively to start league play.
Their three league losses have come against projected tournament teams—Alabama, Auburn and LSU—but have some strong computer numbers on the season as a whole without a real marquee win since Nov. 24.
It’s a team predicated on shooting a lot of threes, getting offensive rebounds and getting to the free throw line and it’s one of the oldest teams in the country. Defensively, which is not a great matchup for South Carolina, the Gators force a lot of turnovers (although that’s just above average in SEC play).
They’re led by the two big men in Colin Castleton and Anthony Duruji, two seniors in their second year with the program. Castleton is one of the better rebounders in the country while Duruji has a 64 percent true shooting percentage and is 64.5 percent from two. He’s also hitting 40 percent of his threes.
Containing those two along with senior point guard Tyree Appleby will be key for South Carolina to try and get a home win and back to .500 in SEC play.
Numbers to know
84.5 and 110.3—The efficiency numbers in league play when South Carolina has the ball, two of the worst respective marks in the SEC. The Gamecocks are averaging 84.5 points per 100 while Florida defensively is allowing 110.3. Ultimately, something’s got to give and Florida either stiffens up or the Gamecocks get into a rhythm offensively.
53.8 and 47.3—The free throw rates when Florida is on offense, the absolute polar opposites of each other. South Carolina is sending its opponents to the line the most in SEC play while Florida is getting to the line better than any other team. South Carolina can’t afford to have Florida go to the line a bunch despite the Gators hitting just 70.1 percent of their free throws this season.
55.2 and 46.1—Of the points Florida’s scored in league play, 55.2 percent have come either from three or at the line and 46.1 percent of the Gators’ shots taken are from three. South Carolina is going to have to defend the line and avoid fouling because the Gators want to make that their identity.
Keys to victory
Don’t let the ball into the paint easily and clog passing lanes—With Castleton the player he is and the Gators wanting to shoot threes, South Carolina has to play good perimeter defense to avoid the ball touching the paint and opening things up for three-point opportunities. Florida is fifth in the league this month assisting on 56.1 percent of makes so the Gamecocks can’t allow the Gators to move the ball and initiate their offense.
Continue passing the ball and don’t turn the ball over—Turnovers are first and foremost the biggest issue plaguing the Gamecocks’ offense right now but when the offense is clicking it’s because South Carolina is moving the ball. Through three league games the Gamecocks are second in the SEC assisting on 59.4 percent of makes. So, if the Gamecocks want good, efficient offense it’s no secret they need to move the ball and get it into the paint where they’re scoring 55.6 percent of their points this season.
Rebound the ball—Florida predicates itself on getting offensive rebounds, hauling in 35.2 percent of its misses. South Carolina isn’t far behind at 34.3 but have struggled in limiting teams from crashing the offensive glass. Not only will the Gamecocks need to get offensive boards and get second chance opportunities but will have to limit Florida’s big men from getting to the offensive glass and keep Florida away from extra possessions.
Scouting Florida
The Gamecocks are coming into a big home game against a desperate Florida team. The Gators, who started the year 6-0 are now 9-6 and losers of three straight entering this weekend’s game.
Florida’s best wins came in November in a home win over Florida State and a neutral court win over Ohio State. The Gators are 0-2 on the road against Oklahoma and Auburn and struggling defensively to start league play.
Their three league losses have come against projected tournament teams—Alabama, Auburn and LSU—but have some strong computer numbers on the season as a whole without a real marquee win since Nov. 24.
It’s a team predicated on shooting a lot of threes, getting offensive rebounds and getting to the free throw line and it’s one of the oldest teams in the country. Defensively, which is not a great matchup for South Carolina, the Gators force a lot of turnovers (although that’s just above average in SEC play).
They’re led by the two big men in Colin Castleton and Anthony Duruji, two seniors in their second year with the program. Castleton is one of the better rebounders in the country while Duruji has a 64 percent true shooting percentage and is 64.5 percent from two. He’s also hitting 40 percent of his threes.
Containing those two along with senior point guard Tyree Appleby will be key for South Carolina to try and get a home win and back to .500 in SEC play.
Numbers to know
84.5 and 110.3—The efficiency numbers in league play when South Carolina has the ball, two of the worst respective marks in the SEC. The Gamecocks are averaging 84.5 points per 100 while Florida defensively is allowing 110.3. Ultimately, something’s got to give and Florida either stiffens up or the Gamecocks get into a rhythm offensively.
53.8 and 47.3—The free throw rates when Florida is on offense, the absolute polar opposites of each other. South Carolina is sending its opponents to the line the most in SEC play while Florida is getting to the line better than any other team. South Carolina can’t afford to have Florida go to the line a bunch despite the Gators hitting just 70.1 percent of their free throws this season.
55.2 and 46.1—Of the points Florida’s scored in league play, 55.2 percent have come either from three or at the line and 46.1 percent of the Gators’ shots taken are from three. South Carolina is going to have to defend the line and avoid fouling because the Gators want to make that their identity.
Keys to victory
Don’t let the ball into the paint easily and clog passing lanes—With Castleton the player he is and the Gators wanting to shoot threes, South Carolina has to play good perimeter defense to avoid the ball touching the paint and opening things up for three-point opportunities. Florida is fifth in the league this month assisting on 56.1 percent of makes so the Gamecocks can’t allow the Gators to move the ball and initiate their offense.
Continue passing the ball and don’t turn the ball over—Turnovers are first and foremost the biggest issue plaguing the Gamecocks’ offense right now but when the offense is clicking it’s because South Carolina is moving the ball. Through three league games the Gamecocks are second in the SEC assisting on 59.4 percent of makes. So, if the Gamecocks want good, efficient offense it’s no secret they need to move the ball and get it into the paint where they’re scoring 55.6 percent of their points this season.
Rebound the ball—Florida predicates itself on getting offensive rebounds, hauling in 35.2 percent of its misses. South Carolina isn’t far behind at 34.3 but have struggled in limiting teams from crashing the offensive glass. Not only will the Gamecocks need to get offensive boards and get second chance opportunities but will have to limit Florida’s big men from getting to the offensive glass and keep Florida away from extra possessions.
