USC Hosts Davidson In NIT First Round

The Gamecocks (21-9) will host Davidson College (26-7) tonight at the Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks are the #3 seed while Davidson is the #6 seed. Tonight's winner will play the winner of second-seeded St. Mary's v Washington State game.

Carolina's appearance in the postseason NIT is its 11th overall and first since the 2005-06 season when the Gamecocks earned their second-consecutive postseason NIT Championship (back to back). South Carolina has won the postseason NIT twice (2005, 2006) and finished as the tournament's runner-up in 2002. South Carolina owns a 21-8 record in postseason NIT contests.

Tonight, we will get to see two of the premier point guards in Downey and Davidson's Stephen Curry. Downey leads the Gamecocks in scoring (19.9 ppg), assists (4.5) and steals (3.0), while Curry leads the NCAA in scoring (28.6 ppg), while dishing 5.5 assists and adding 2.5 steals per game. Should be good to watch those two as both are the key to each of their teams. Davidson will try to slow Devan as USC will try to defend Curry.

Besides Curry..who should SC shut down? Davidson forward Andrew Lovedale who gets 12.8 pts a game and a team-best 8.7 rebounds per game. Lovedale has recorded double-digit rebounds 10 times this season and has collected 10 double-doubles. So Mike Holmes and Muldrow should be busy working this guy down low.

Keys to a Carolina win...

1. Focus on Davidson....it is that time of year - one and done. So play the best game of the year tonight!

2. USC's front court is key...USC must win down low and win the rebounding war. Box out, block some shots yet no foul troblue.

3. USC perimeter Defense....this has been a sore spot for Carolina the last 6 or 7 games. We need Carolina to defend on the perimeter, put a hand up and eliminate easy looks. Make Curry and Co. work tonight for open shots.

4. USC shot selection....Devan and crew need to be smart tonight and not rush shots. Also keep their heads in the game.

5. 2nd half is crucial....this is when USC has lost games in the post halftime realm. SC has to give it 110% tonight for 40 mins. No letting up and no slack play!

Go Cocks....me thinks SC by 7!

***Visit the live game thread at the Garnet and Black Attack today***

Gamecocks in MLB --- Tolleson and Powell

Former University of South Carolina shortstop Steve Tolleson will start the 2009 season with the Minnesota Twins’ Class AAA affiliate in Rochester, N.Y.

Tolleson, 25, spent 2008 with the Twins’ Class AA team in New Britain, Conn., batting .300 with nine homers and 50 RBIs.

The Oakland Athletics released catcher Rob Bowen today, likely opening the door for former University of South Carolina star Landon Powell to back up Kurt Suzuki.

Powell, who will turn 27 on Thursday, was the A’s first-round pick in the 2004 draft. His career has been slowed by knee problems, but he has been healthy this spring. He hit .230 with 15 homers in 88 games at Triple-A Sacramento last year. He is batting .308 with two homers and seven runs batted in this spring.

LOHD says cheers to St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Pats day! Here's to a gamecock win tonight!

Gamecock Reflections going into NIT

No way to spin this... it was quite the disappointing finish for the Gamecocks to end what was shaping out to be a special year for Coach Horn and his boys. The hurt began with the loss to Vanderbilt in a must-win situation. I think that was the worse loss of them all...win that one and we are in NCAA. Then getting pounded in 2nd half vs Tennessee. Then draggin hope into the SEC Tourney only to be "one and done" but after a double digit lead over MSU. Oh and not to mention the snub for conference player and coach of the year voting. As LOHD always has stated...."it is tough being a gamecock fan."

But now we must get pumped for the NIT. A tourney we have won back to back so we know what it takes to win. I still think the #3 seed in NIT was bullsh*t but I guess no one asked us.

Time to make the most out of the opportunity for the men's basketball team to continue play. Grow as a team, learn more from Coach Horn and hopefully win more games.

I am proud of what they did accomplish this season — a thrilling win over Florida, beat Kentucky in their backwoods then beat them again in columbia (1st time we have beat UK twice in 1 season), a fantastic home record (only two losses all year), a renewed sense of purpose thanks to Horn and the school’s first SEC East title since 1997. Gotta say Go Cocks on that one and hope that we can forget the past and focus on Davidson now. The Garnet Army needs to be loud Tuesday and the team needs to bring their "A" game!

Being SEC East Co Champs, winning 10 games in the SEC and 20+ wins for the season is a excellent start to many long years with Coach Horn. I hope to look back on the 08-09 season as the start of a nice run for USC basketball and the beginning of a winning tradition. With that said I will take a 3rd NIT title but next year I hope for nothing less that NCAA tourney!

Go Cocks!

Gamecock 'DYK'

Gameock Fans.....Did you know.......

that none of USC's 21 wins came against a team that made the NCAA tournament!

NIT: Gamecocks get Davidson

So we get to see Curry vs Downey....the Gamecocks got a #3 seed...that is bullsh*t!!! No love for the the gamecocks for sure....

South Carolina draws Davidson in NIT

Gamecocks Head to NIT

Gamecocks still on bubble....

Hope is still alive which should make watching Sunday's Selection Show interesting. I am not sold on USC going to the NCAA but I hope that I am wrong. Feel NIT is the logical situation and the good news is we most likely will get a high seed in the NIT which means home court advantage.

I think Tennessee winning today helps Carolina's chances but not sure...thoughts?

Anywho....here is the latest in bracket talk and gamecock news---

• College Basketball Bubble Watch
• Brackets will feel brunt of early Madness
• Selection Sunday: Eight burning questions
• USC likely to miss big dance despite 10 SEC wins
• Morris: Clemson, USC still worthy of praise
• Bubble watch: What others say about USC
• Deflating season for SEC basketball

Former Gamecock Balkman continues...

to light it up! The Denver forward got his second straight start yesterday against the Clippers. He put in a nice 22 points to go with 11 rebounds. This was his 2nd straight double-double and the 22pts were a career high.

Over the past two games, Balkman has averaged 18 points and 12.5 rebounds. The Nuggets are 7-1 this season in games Balkman has started.