Exhibition game observations

USC’s exhibition game on Friday against Kentucky Wesleyan didn’t do much to advance the cause of basketball. But coach Darrin Horn and the Gamecocks can only hope it accomplished what they need right now, which is to take baby steps towards adjusting to his system and eventually becoming a good team.

You can’t look too much into one game, especially an exhibition. And keep in mind, the Gamecocks looked like world-beaters last year in routing Division III Guilford and their first two real opponents.

Still, it was hard to see the 75-55 win over Kentucky Wesleyan as anything too encouraging. Especially when a Division II team scored 16 straight points and only trailed by one in the second half.

 Yes, big men Mike Holmes and Sam Muldrow were out, but it wouldn’t have made that much of a difference, given the opponents’ lack of height (no player taller than 6-7).

The Gamecocks also showed that they will, much like last year, live and die with the 3-pointer. On Friday not a lot of those shots fell. In the future, more will.

A few other observations and tidbits:

- When Dominique Archie went down, you could almost see the season flashing through the Gamecocks’ eyes. Devan Downey is the player USC can least afford to lose. Archie is next on the list, in my opinion.
Fortunately, it’s only a bruised shoulder, and it appears Archie will be ready for next week’s season opener.

- Branden Conrad got extensive minutes, which may have only been partly due to the absence of the big men. In future games Baniulis may get more perimeter-based minutes. But it was still an indication that Conrad could play a lot.

The former walk-on had a decent showing, and at one point led the Gamecocks with seven points. He showed a consistent outside shot, and if that’s his role — playing off the ball — he can probably contribute.

“The one thing about Branden Conrad is you’re gonna get a good basketball IQ,” Horn said. “He’s gonna do exactly what you ask him to do, as he showed tonight. On a couple occasions he can hit an open shot. So we’re gonna need quality minutes like that.”

- Mitchell Carter played six minutes in the first half, notching a three-point play and three rebounds. But he didn’t play in the second half. Horn said that was due to Kentucky Wesleyan going with a four-guard lineup.

“I thought Mitchell did good things when he was in there,” Horn said. “Caught the ball in the post, finished one, ran the floor. He’s made progress, and I think will continue to make more.”

- Austin Steed saw extensive action, being the main beneficiary of Muldrow and Holmes’ absence. But the sophomore looked a bit rough in the low post. He’ll probably need to put on about 25 pounds between now and the start of the SEC season to be a top-notch option down there. (OK, maybe five pounds. Firehouse Subs can only go so far.)

That said, Steed looked much more comfortable on offense in the second half, when he scored eight of his 10 points.

“I thought he gave us a good lift, a couple key rebounds, a couple finishes. Just effort. That’s what we need from guys in those roles.”

- Brandis Raley-Ross looks very assertive. He doesn’t seem content to be a supporting player anymore, even though that’s what he essentially still is.

Of course Raley-Ross didn’t actually MAKE most of those assertive shots, going 2-for-7 on 3-pointers. But he does seem very confident in how he carries himself on the court, and looks for his shot.

- Random observation: Conrad was called for three seconds in the lane in the first half. How does a GUARD get called for three seconds?

- Kentucky Wesleyan coach Todd Lee played Horn’s Western Kentucky teams a few times. Lee thought this Gamecock team looked very similar, with the exception of not having 2008 NBA first-round pick Courtney Lee.

“So I’d say it’s a pretty similar looking team, but Courtney Lee’s a first-round pick. Downey’s a good player,” Lee said. “Similar in their makeup: Very good guards, can control the tempo, their posts are very athletic, and they’re impressive in the way they pressure the ball, and run and jump and pressure you.”

- Downey was only credited with four steals, but it seemed like he had more. Perhaps more importantly, Horn was pleased with the manner in which Downey got them. Rather than his gambling ways, two of them were because of what other people did, one on a trap and the other off a Raley-Ross trap.

 “That’s obviously one of the things that makes him a very good player, very important to us, he can make plays at both ends. But I was really happy that it was with out team defense tonight and doing it within our team concept,” Horn said.