Thoughts from Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – I’m sitting here on press row watching the game that for 30 minutes Thursday we thought for sure South Carolina would be involved in. Instead the road jerseys belong to Alabama, which is giving Kentucky a pretty good game at the half.
There was lots of stuff in Friday’s paper on the game, but here are a few more random thoughts and observations on the Gamecocks:
- I know some people are still harboring some NIT hopes, but it may be worse than a longshot. As has been said over and over, the NIT has never invited a sub-.500 team, and this is the year they really don’t want to. With the NCAA owning the NIT, and considering expanding the tournament to 96 teams, people will justifiably look at the NIT field and say those teams would be the NIT teams. What kind of statement does it make having a 15-16 team in there?
Also, I hear a lot of people saying the NIT would love to have someone like Devan Downey in there for marketing reasons. Thing is, as much as we know and love Downey’s game, he’s not quite a national name, as evidenced by the All-American lists you see coming out. (The best I’ve seen for Downey is a fourth-team honor by The Sporting News.)
- Assuming it was the final game, you really have to feel for the way the seniors went out: Downey with the final few minutes of missed shots and free throws, Brandis Raley-Ross going scoreless with five turnovers, and Evka Baniulis and Robert Wilder not even seeing the floor. Maybe playing in the CBI isn’t such a bad idea after all, just to send everyone out on a better note.
- Sam Muldrow’s game encapsulated his season: On, then off again. If he’s going to be a force next year – and he’s going to have to be for USC to have a chance – he needs to do it on a consistent basis. I know NBA scouts like Muldrow a lot (but don’t worry, for the 2011 draft, not 2010) and I agree with his potential. He just isn’t very consistent.
- Lakeem Jackson’s rebounding effort (14 rebounds, 10 of them offensive) shouldn’t be overlooked. He was a beast down there, and it’s another testament to his all-around abilities and potential. The problem is his free-throw shooting continues to be the story. He has said he makes them in practice, but just hasn’t been able to transfer it over to games. Maybe a new season will do him some good.
- Ramon Galloway took the ball up a lot on Thursday, with mixed results. At a minimum, he showed he can be a factor next year, but he still seems a bit limited, at least in terms that he’s not going to be a 15-20 points-per-game player. You can’t emphasize enough how different things are going to be next year, from one player carrying the load to next year possibly never knowing who will lead the team in scoring.
- Down the stretch, Johndre Jefferson and Stephen Spinella essentially got the playing time that Austin Steed and Baniulis had been getting. Baniulis is obviously gone, while Steed has another year of eligibility. I imagine he and the staff will have a serious talk about his role in the offseason.
- Even with the injuries, I’d say 15-16 is a disappointing result. But I’ll leave you with this: My buddies on the Kentucky beat say that, of all the places they went on the Kentucky road show this season, South Carolina remained far and away the best atmosphere.
7 Comments to “Thoughts from Nashville”
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State newspaper sports writer Seth Emerson blogs on University of South Carolina basketball and baseball.
I hate to end on a sour note too, but there is no guarantee than another game won’t have a disappointing result. I’m o.k. with whatever they decide. But I am looking forward to next year; we could be better than many people think. If Lakeem can make some free throws and if the freshmen can contribute, we could surprise some folks. I think our numbers and overall talent will be better.
It’s time to pack it in for this year. Not enough depth or talent. Give Horn and Staley year four to make some real noise, though I have a feeling both programs might surprise next year.
Total and utter disgraceful lost. 18 point lead. Darrin Horn did a horrible job in that game. Overall the season was a disappointment even with the suspension and the injury. This team doesn’t deserve a NIT birth.
Get home to your dog. Maybe that was the real reason…..Horn and co wanted to make sure Seth was able to reunite with his dog in good time…..
Well, I had great expectations for this year – and like a lot of people – they didn’t pan out. I have no expectations for next year – who knows – maybe I will be surprised. Think Malik Cooke will be a good add – and hope Archie returns healthy.
I have been asking for a while now as to why Austin Steed is in the doghouse. He deserved way more playing time than he received. I don’t know what Horn was thinking playing Johndre Joseph over Steed. Joseph cannot shoot a fouls and between him and Jackson, it is an embarrassment! I saw kids making more FT’s at the Strom this week than either of those two. At least Jackson is a good “garbage man”, But Joseph ahead of Steed? I just do not get that.
I think the real suprise next year will be if we can get within shouting distance of a 500 record,
prediction: 10-20 in 2011 3-13 in conf.
Still, I think in 2013 we will be pretty good but I said the same of 2010.