Garnet And Black Attack

UT at USC and NCAA Tournament Open Thread

2010-03-20T19:37:20Z

The Yardcocks, winners of eight in a row, take on the Volunteers for the second of three at 4:00 today. Sam Dyson starts for Carolina and Aaron Tullo (0-0 and 3.52 ERA) for the Vols. Can Carolina break out the bats and take the series? Let's hope so.

We can also chat about our tourney brackets here. The bracket-busting St. Mary's Gaels just pulled off another upset, this time over the Villanova Wildcats. There are some other interesting games this afternoon, including the surprising Ohio Bobcats vs. the Tennessee Volunteers. I'm going with Tennessee in that one. In the other games, I'm going with Murray St., Kansas, Washington, Baylor, Kansas St., and Kentucky. Unfortunately, a good bit of my original brackets are already busted, but what can you do? I know you didn't pick Ohio to beat Georgetown...

SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice

2010-03-20T00:47:56Z

>> Take SB Nation Survey

Hello sports fans! We're always striving to provide you with the best experience possible and it's been quite some time since we checked in with you.

So we're rolling out this survey to learn more about you and your sports world. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.

We really appreciate your time and this is also going to help make a donation to a good cause.

By next Thursday (3/25) at 11:59pm PST the site that has the highest percentage of their community filling out the attached survey about their sports interests and consumption will win $500 to donate to a charity of their choice. We will leave it up to the discretion of the community manager(s) of the winning blog to decide how to choose the particular charity.

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http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WYR2WQT

Thanks for your support!

Tennessee at USC Baseball Open Thread

2010-03-19T22:04:07Z

The Gamecocks host the Tennesee Volunteers today in Columbia. Blake Cooper starts for Carolina and Bryan Morgado starts for the Vols. Morgado has been beaten up a little bit from time to time (5.00+ ERA), so it will interesting to see how good we can get the bats going.

Chat about the game in the open thread.

Friday News and Notes: R. J. Slawson SC Player of the Year; Bryce Brown Leaves UT; Tubby Smith to Auburn?

2010-03-19T15:09:09Z

The Real Prize Recruit?

A lot of Gamecocks fans have fixated on Bruce Ellington and Demontre Harris. Maybe we should all take a closer look at another incoming recruit, big man R. J. Slawson. Slawson had a phenomenal senior season, culminating in netting the SC Gatorade Player of the Year Award. He beat out Ellington for the honor.

What I'm really liking about Slawson is that he has a fairly developed offensive game. We need another scorer on the block in the worst way. Word is that Harris's offensive game will need a bit of work when he gets here.

Another thing to like about Slawson, especially after what we've experienced with some other prize recruits over the past few years, is this:

Slawson has maintained a 3.42 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as a summer basketball camp counselor, a youth mentor for elementary school students and as a caretaker for the elderly.

That speaks for itself, I hope.

Bryce Brown Leaves UT Program

While Derek Dooley claimed to be surprised about this, rumors have been swirling for some time now and this really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Brown's departure is another indication that UT may be in for (another) down year in 2010. Brown is one of the best backs in the nation, the kind of player no one wants to lose. He was to UT what we hope Marcus Lattimore will be to us.

I wouldn't, however, clap your hands and jump for joy just yet. The Vols have another good young back, David Oku, in the wings. Moreover, in the long term, this probably isn't a big deal for the Vols, or at least it won't make or break them. Dooley will make this team in his image over the next couple of seasons, and that's what's going to tell the story of whether UT can rise as a national power again. It would have been nice for them to have Brown around, but there will be others if Dooley does his job.

Tubby Smith to Auburn?

I sure didn't see this one coming. Whatever you may believe about the job Smith did at Kentucky, you have to admit that he would be an unequivocal home run for the Tigers. And don't think he can't win at Auburn, despite the fact that Auburn is a notoriously tough place to coach at. He has quickly resurrected Minnesota's program and had great success at Georgia and Tulsa early in career, proving that he can take average-draw programs to the mountaintops.

And you just know he's itching for a shot at Calipari and the 'Cats. Who wouldn't pay to see that one?

March 16 Spring Practice News and Notes

2010-03-17T16:06:03Z

Some interesting news came out of the Gamecocks' spring practice report last night. Here are some of my thoughts on what's going on.

Steve Spurrier Wants Stephen to Cut His Sacks in Half this Season

I'm glad Spurrier is keyed in on this, as sacks were perhaps the offense's biggest weakness last year. However, I got the impression that Spurrier is putting a lot of the burden of making this happen on Garcia, and that idea seems misplaced to me. Yes, it's true that Garcia could have avoided a few sacks over the course of the season by getting rid of the ball instead of holding onto it for too long or getting happy feet and trying to make a play by scrambling. At the same time, though, Garcia saved more than a few busted plays with his feet last year. Moreover, and most importantly, the real problem here isn't Garcia: it is, and always has been, the offensive line. Yes, it's important for Spurrier to coach Garcia to learn to deal with poor protection. It's more important, though, that Shawn Elliott gets this line playing a little better so we don't have so much poor protection. Because of the lack of time he had, Garcia is excused for more than a few of the sacks he took last year, and I hope Spurrier is aware of that.

Connor Shaw Played Well

Spurrier seems pretty high on this kid and he seems to be a decent, smart player. That's good, because we need a reliable backup for Garcia, as well as someone who can step into the starter role a couple of years down the road.

Garcia is Taking a Leadership Role

This is good. As it should be a for a veteran. (Did I just call Stephen Garcia a veteran? Wow.)

Patrick DiMarco Is Getting Reps at Tight End

Also a good idea, IMO. I've heard good things about Justice Cunningham, but if DiMarco is a better change of pace for Weslye Saunders, then I say go for it, especially if Brian Maddox is indeed ready to step into the fullback role.

We're Working on Improving Kickoff Coverage

Thank God.

Nolan Belcher hurled six scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the season and Scott Wingo...

2010-03-17T03:15:06Z

Nolan Belcher hurled six scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the season and Scott Wingo drove in a career-high four runs as South Carolina defeated Furman 15-0 on Tuesday night at Fluor Field.

Gamecocksonline.com

Now THIS is what I'm talking about. I can't think of a bigger surprise than Scott Wingo's performance this season.

Spring Break in Review

2010-03-15T02:53:28Z

Brown: increasingly the tint to our season

Spring break 2010 got off to a less than auspicious start when the Gamecocks, needing a win on Sunday to take the series, dropped a 19-6 decision to the Team from the Upstate. The 13 point loss is the largest in Carolina Stadium history and the largest since the Tigers beat USC 10-2 in their last trip to Carolina Stadium on April 22, 2009. I hope this isn't the start of an unfortunate trend.

Pressing on to more sunny matters, USC stealed its resolve to finish Spring Break week on a 5-0 run. Of course, the oppenents for this week consisted of Valparaiso (3-6) and Brown (1-6) . But pay no attention to that Win/Loss record behind the curtain.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not sounding the alarm bells yet. Clemson and ECU are both great teams, and losing a series to them doesn't indicate that we'll miss the post season this year. Clemson managed to sweep one of the ACC's most prolific offenses in NC State. We were a couple of runs from taking both of those series. Then again, we were also a couple of runs from being swept in both of those series...

More concerning is that we needed extra innings to take the third game from Brown 6-5 on Sunday. Outscoring Brown University by a talley of 24 - 16 doesn't exactly indicate the prolific offense or the overpowering pitching staff that we were rumored to have pre-season. More bothersome, still, is that Ray Tanner felt it necesarry to send Jackie Bradley, Jr. to steal second during Saturday's second game. Bradley, who was already back a few weeks early from an injury that was supposed to keep him out 4-6 weeks, re-injured his hand (he was out on the throw, by the way). Who knows how long Bradley will be out now that we really need his services, even as we start SEC play with a series against Tennessee this weekend. That one's on you, coach.

Also on Coach Tanner was a horific double steal attempt that made my eyes bleed in the second Saturday game. Runners were sent from both first and third in an attempt to take a run from Brown while we were down. Some signals were crossed on the play, resulting in a run down between first and second that the baserunner narrowly escaped to remain safe at first. I have to give it to coach Tanner, though, he made a gutsy move, Mav, and called the exact same play before the next pitch was even thrown. This time the play worked as planned when an imperfect throw home resulted in a perfect run for the Gamecocks (tieing up the game if memory serves me). Hat tip to you, Coach Tanner. We'll, no doubt, keep that play in our back pocket for when we may need it later in the season.

I'd like to be more forthcoming in my analysis, but to be honest, homework and fantasy baseball preclude me from giving this re-cap more of my time. On the slate for this week are games at Furman and vs. Davidson before the weekend series against Tennessee. I'll concede that this post might be a little negative for a week that saw us go 5-0, so I'll leave you with this. If you want a hero for the season thus far, look no further than one Kyle Enders. That kid has been great. Let's hope he keeps it up.

The State has more in-depth re-caps for you below:

Saturday games

Sunday game

Weekend Open Thread: USC-Brown Series and SEC Basketball Tournament

2010-03-13T16:39:22Z

I'm going to take the weekend off from writing anything substantial. I have a few things to say about the basketball team and how people are taking the loss (sneak preview: the future is brighter than some are saying), but I'm going to give it a rest for for a couple of days. We have nothing but time now, and frankly I'm a little spent.

We can, though, chat about the goings-on here in this open thread. We can talk about our series against the Brown Bears (there's a double-header today after yesterday's postponement) and that basketball tournament that we crapped our way out of.

Gamecocks Spring Practice: Five Questions

2010-03-10T22:56:04Z

Spring is here and with it comes spring football practice. I'm a little late getting in on the discussion here, mostly because I've been busy with basketball and that sueño known as the real world. However, better now than never, so what follows are the five questions I'm most interested in hearing about over the next few weeks, beginning with least important and moving to most.

5. How will we use Tori Gurley and Alshon Jeffery together?

We've already heard one bit of good news out of practice: the coaching staff is working on getting the twin towers on the field at the same time, with Gurley moving to slot receiver. Along with Jason Barnes and a talented group of backups, this could be one of the--if not the--best receiving corps in the conference. It will be exciting to see how they look on the field together.

4. Will special teams play improve?

There are a couple of questions here. First of all, we need to see our kickoff return coverage unit play much better. This needs to be a top priority in 2010; it's very possible to argue that our coverage unit cost us at least one big game last year--Georgia--and hurt us in others. Second of all, I'd like to see an improved return game. We have two of the faster players in the league in Chris Culliver and Bryce Sherman. It's time for us to see these guys take a couple to the house.

3. Who will end spring as the top runningback?

We were crowded at runningback last year and will be more so this year. Candidates for top spot will be Kenny Miles, who started most of last year, Brian Maddox, who started some and played a lot in short yardage situations throughout, Jarvis Giles, who was highly recruited but never broke into the rotation consistently, and Bryce Sherman, a dimunitive speedster. I think the big issue here is probably how much Giles has improved; he's probably the most explosive player of the group, but his decision making and small frame cost him last year. If he is ready to be more of a downhill runner and has put on a few more pounds, he could challenge Miles. There's been talk of moving Maddox to fullback (and last year's fullback Patrick DiMarco to tight end), which I think is a great idea, both for the team and Maddox's NFL prospects. Sherman will likely continue to play in specialty packages. Finally, of course, regardless of what happens in the spring, Marcus Lattimore will get his chance when he gets on campus in the summer.

2. How will the new faces on defense fare?

We return a good bit of talent on D, but a few longtime starters are gone, particularly Eric Norwood, Darian Stewart, and Nathan Pepper. What is more, a few of next year's projected starters, such as Chris Culliver, will be taking it easy this spring as they nurse recovering injuries. This will give us a chance to see how some of the new faces on the depth chart look. I'm especially interested in DeMario Jeffery, D.J. Swearinger, Tony Straughter, Josh Dickerson, Toquavius Gilchrist, and Melvin Ingram.

1. Can we expect improvement from the offensive line?

Despite hitting some road bumps at times, the performance of the offensive line improved last year under Eric Wolford. Can Shawn Elliott complete the job? If so, our offense has the tools and experience in place at the other positions to be one of the best in the league.

This post is intended to be a general conversation starter; please sound off with your own questions / concerns in the comments section.

Gamecocks Seek Redemption in Weekend Series with Clemson

2010-03-05T04:48:22Z

After a 15-0 trouncing of the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (1-7) on Wednesday, the South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2) will take on their (our {everyones's}) hated rival this weekend beginning Friday at 6:30. The Gamecocks should be riding high on confidence after Wednesday's match in which five USC pitchers combined to allow just two hits and Carolina batters pounded out an impressive 18 hits of their own. Starter Nolan Belcher (1-0) had a stong five inning outing in which he allowed one hit and struck out seven.

Carolina got off to a hot start, scoring 8 runs in the second inning - all with two outs. Junior oufielder Whit Merrifield extended his hit streak to 21 games dating back to last year, and added his second career grand slam in the sixth inning for good measure. Jackie Bradley, Jr. got his first start of the season in center field, going 2-4. All-in-all, just what the doctor ordered for Carolina before heading into an important series this weekend.

Clemson preview after the jump.

This year's series with Clemson differs from years' past in that each team will have one home game with the third match being played at Fluor Field in Greenville. South Carolina is 9-3 vs. Clemson over the last three years, so there is reason to expect that the Gamecocks can enjoy some success this weekend.

Carolina's staff ERA now sits at a stingy 2.63. The team is hitting .309, lead by Scott Wingo(!) at .462. Scott Wingo, you may remember, is on a personal quest to be hit by more balls than the fat kid in dodgeball. He added two to his talley on Wednesday to tie the school record of 34. The Gamecocks have nine players currently hitting at or above .300: Jackie Bradley, Jr. (.600), Scott Wingo (.462), Kyle Enders (.450), Brady Thomas (.400), Robert Beary (.360), Whit Merrifield (.333), Jeffery Jones (.333), Christian Walker (.323), and Adrian Morales (.300).

Clemson comes into the series fresh off a less-than-stellar outing against Dayton in which they needed three wild pitches in the 10th inning to score the winning run. Then again, Clemson holds a 7-0 record. The Tigers' team ERA is 2.67 and their team batting average is .304 to date. Kyle Parker and his nice pants leads all Clemson hitters with a .464 AVG, 4 HR, .893 SLG%, and a .531 OB%. So yeah, he figures to be a tough out.

Carolina's Friday starter, Blake Cooper, will certainly have his work cut out for him. The senior from Neeses, SC is 1-1 all time vs. Clemson, and I am sure he'd like to tip that number in favor of the good guys. As you can tell from the stats this series should be evenly matched. Even so, Carolina has put up great numbers against Clemson in the past when the teams looked similar on paper. I think the fact that the Gamecocks have to travel first will help them this time around. If they can win the first game out of the gate, they'll be in the catbird seat for the games at Carolina Stadium and Flour Field. This series should look a lot like last weekend's against ECU, although this time with a better outcome, hopefully. Expect low-scoring games that will come down to the final three innings.

Prediction: Right now I expect the Gamecocks to take 2 of 3 from the Tigers. The key will be how both teams respond to the new home-home-nuetral set up. I have to give Carolina the edge because 1) they've played a tougher schedule so far, including a series at a top 25 team, 2) Carolina has dominated the series as of late, and 3) I am a giant homer when it comes to Gamecock baseball. Honestly, though, these teams are so even that a sweep by either would not be all that surprising either. With any luck, the baseball Gods will favor us this weekend. Go Cocks!

Game Times:

Friday: @ Clemson 6:30

Saturday: @ Fluor Field 2:00

Sunday: @ Columbia 2:00

Previews:

Gamecocksonline.com

The Stamford Advocate

Alabama @ South Carolina: Game Preview

2010-03-03T16:06:54Z

Greetings from Roll 'Bama Roll. Thought you guys might be interested in our game preview.

Good news: somebody has to win tonight!

* * *

The Crimson Tide basketball team will travel to Columbia's Colonial Life Arena tonight to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Both teams are struggling mightily as the season comes to a close, but Alabama will be coming in short-handed on top of everything else, with the suspension of its top player, sophomore forward JaMychal Green, and the possible continued suspension of another starter, junior guard Senario Hillman.

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. Alabama (Central) time and 7 p.m. local (Eastern) time. The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU. For Tide fans in the Carolina region, tickets can still be purchased online here. Unfortunately the game will not be available on ESPN360, but those without access to ESPNU can still listen to the CTSN radio broadcast.

The Tide is limping into their final road game of the season having lost seven of their last eight games. Bama is exactly .500 on the season, with a 14-14 overall record, but the Tide is only 4-10 in SEC play after a string of late meltdowns and close losses. Now they must face their final road challenge with only seven scholarship players.

Second-year coach Darrin Horn is hoping to move South Carolina from perennial NIT-status to perennial NCAA-status. The program looked to be improving both on the court and in the stands under his direction, but the recent losing streak has killed their NCAA hopes for this year and their top three players are all seniors. One of those seniors, wing player Dominique Archie, was lost for the season back in November with a knee injury, dampening expectations for this season. Still, the Gamecocks were projected as a possible NCAA tournament team as recently as three weeks ago. At that point they were 14-9 overall and 5-4 in SEC play with a win over #1 Kentucky under their belts. However, they have lost five in a row since then, and now sit with the same overall record as Alabama, 14-14, with an SEC mark of 5-9. The Cocks have lost all hope of an NCAA bid and would probably need to win out to even get on the NIT bubble.

Read below the jump for more on the Gamecocks and Alabama's short-handed tactics...

South Carolina is led by senior point guard Devan Downey, who is the most prolific scorer in recent SEC history. His average of 26.4 points per game leads the SEC this season by a wide margin, and that's taking into account his recent (relative) poor performances the past few weeks. At the midway point of the SEC season, he was averaging over 30 per game. Most impressive of all perhaps is the fact that Downey has done all of this as one of the smallest players in the league at a listed 5'9". So how does he do it? Not only is he a deadly 3-point shooter, with nearly three made 3's per game while shooting over 35% from beyond the arc, but he can also penetrate at will and score with his trademark tear-drop floater in the lane. He is able to get his looks from deep because defenders have to respect his driving ability and he is a threat to pull up from way beyond the arc and hit. He also needs very little space to get shots off with his quick release and high-aching shot, and he is adept at fadeaways. Finally, he draws fouls more frequently than anyone in the league and scores nearly 7 points per game from free throws alone. In addition to his scoring prowess, he leads the team in assists with 3.2 per game in conference play and will soon be the school's all-time leader in steals, averaging 2.6 per game in league play this season.

Downey is joined in the backcourt by fellow senior guard Brandis Raley-Ross, who is second on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game in SEC play. Raley-Ross is another dangerous 3-point threat, averaging over two makes per game in league play while hitting 34% from the arc. He scores the majority of his points in that way. The top reserve in the backcourt is freshman guard Ramon Galloway, who occasionally starts when Horn elects to go with a smaller lineup (let's hope for our sake he does with us having only two post players left on the roster). Additional backcourt depth is provided by freshman guard Stephen Spinella.

The Gamecocks have struggled to find a replacement for senior swing man Dominique Archie, who was lost for the season early on and was expected to be their second-leading scorer. Freshman swing man Lakeem Jackson has started every SEC game in that spot, averaging 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in league play while turning in nearly two assists per outing, second on the team. He'll play a lot of minutes and will probably be a solid player for them in the years ahead. Senior forward Evaldus Baniulis also sees time as a small forward and occasionally starts. He used to play a big role under former coach Dave Odom but only averages 1.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in conference play this year.

The only full-time starter in the post is junior forward Sam Muldrow. He has quietly put up some solid numbers this season, averaging 10.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in league play, but he also plays about 33 minutes per game, significantly more than most post players. Luckily for us, the Gamecocks don't have tremendous depth in their frontcourt. Junior forward Austin Steed and JuCo transfer Johndre Jefferson each see time down low and occasionally start, but neither plays more than 14 minutes per game. In fact, South Carolina post players play a combined 57 minutes per game, meaning that for more than half of each game, they play with only one true post player. In other words, if we're going to go into an SEC game without JaMychal Green and suiting up only two guys taller than 6'6", this is the game to do it.

Despite the fact that South Carolina is very thin in the post, you can't get around the fact that, assuming Hillman is still suspended, we will only be dressing out seven scholarship players, one of whom averages less than five minutes in SEC play. So really we'll be going into this thing with six players and one backup. There is a very real possibility that walk-on Greg Cage could come off the bench for some minutes here and there. Despite South Carolina's smaller lineup and their five-game losing streak, this will be a big challenge for our team. The Gamecocks have been very good at home (11-4 this year) and will be fired up for senior night, where they will honor several guys who have done a lot for their program.

Looking at our lineup, we will be without over one third of our scoring if Hillman remains suspended. That's a big blow for a team that's already at the bottom of the SEC in scoring. Picking a starting lineup shouldn't be hard with only six potential guys to choose from. Obviously Torrance and Brock will start at guard and Hines will start in the post. Mitchell will start somewhere, the only question being whether it's at small forward or power forward. If it's the former and we start with a big lineup, then Knox would get the start alongside Hines in the post. If it's the latter and we go with a small lineup then Davis would get the start as the third guard. However we start, we'll definitely play with a small lineup for much of the night, and Mitchell will have to play a lot at the power forward position. Eblen will also have to play the most minutes he has in any conference game. Let's hope he can step up and at least distribute the ball efficiently. The other six guys will all need to be ready to go 30 minutes or more, something that I'm not sure guys like Davis and Knox will be ready for. If foul trouble or fatigue hits, we'll have to send some walk-ons out there.

I suspect we'll have to play a zone defense for much of the game simply for fatigue purposes, but I don't think that's the ideal way to defend Downey. If we do go that route we'll just have to pray that Carolina's other shooters like Raley-Ross and Galloway aren't able to knock down their looks from deep when Downey kicks out to them. We'll also have to somehow limit offensive boards, which are more prevalent when a team plays a zone defense. If Hillman does indeed return, and he might, then I think we will play a lot more man defense, with Hillman and Brock rotating on Downey.

To win this one, and this is probably asking too much, but Torrance needs to at least come close to matching Downey in scoring. If he can do that and we can keep the rebounding gap low or even, we'll have a chance. Of course to make good on that chance we'll need our other guys to produce above what they're used to. Brock and Davis will need to make a high percentage of their 3's, Knox will need to score effectively in the post (he's proven he can do that in spurts), and Mitchell will need to produce like he was in the middle of the season.

In summary, against most SEC teams without Green, and especially without Hillman, I'd say we have no chance, but against South Carolina I think we might have a chance if Torrance and at least a couple of our other guys steps up and has a big game, and if we limit their second-chance opportunities. Hope for the best. Roll Tide.

#21 USC Men's Rugby vs. Clemson this Friday at 7 PM

2010-03-02T20:53:22Z

via www.uscrugby.org

Clemson University A/B (4-4) @ #21 University of South Carolina A/B (10-0-1)
Friday, March 5th, 2010 - STWFC Rugby Field - Columbia, SC
A: 07:00 PM B: 08:30 PM R.S.V.P. on Facebook!

Fans please arrive early to reserve a good space and clap USC on to the field. Those in attendance will receive a free Cock Rugby coozie (while supplies last), and a chance to win a free rugby ball at half-time. Admission is free.

Fresh off their victories over UNC Chapel Hill and East Carolina, the #21 Gamecock A-side will take on arch-rival Clemson University this Friday, March 5, at 7:00 PM on USC’s STWFC Rugby Field, located behind USC's Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center at 1000 Blossom St., Columbia, SC. After years of futility against their hated foe, USC has now beaten the Tigers in three consecutive meetings, though the sides haven’t met since the fall 2008 season. While Clemson has struggled some the past two years, this match is always intense, and USC appreciates those who are able to attend the final A & B-side home matches of the season. The Gamecocks head in to the match with a 10-0-1 record during full 80-minute matches this season, and an 18-3-1 mark overall (including shortened tournament matches). USC is also undefeated at home this season, posting a mark of 7-0-0. With a victory, USC will seal its trip to the USA Rugby South Final Four, and lock up a date with the #6 Arkansas State Red Wolves. The event, to be held this year in Murfreesboro, TN, is essentially a national ‘Round of 32,’ as the top two teams will advance to the USA Rugby National Round of 16 held in Marietta, GA and Santa Barbara, CA on April 16 & 17.

Also potentially on the line is USC’s chance at capturing the inaugural Carolinas Rugby League A-side Championship, though it will ironically need a little help from its rival. A victory with a bonus point, coupled with an N.C. State victory without a bonus point over the Tigers on March 12, will likely give the Gamecocks the first-ever CRL league title. A victory of any sort coupled with a Wolfpack loss to Clemson also ensures the CRL Championship will come to Columbia. Thanks to a bonus-point advantage and a tied match between the clubs, NC State has a 1-point advantage over USC in the standings at this time, as it was able to score 4 tries against Wake Forest while USC did not.

The A-Side match will be followed by USC's final B-side match of the spring. USC 'B' is 11-2-1 on the year, and defeated Clemson for the Rucktoberfest B-Side Championship this past October in Boone, NC. At 5-0 in league play, the Gamecocks' reserves have already clinched the CRL 2nd XV Championship, but the squad is looking to end its spring season undefeated.

The Carolinas Rugby League is USC's new spring matrix, and consists of the top 7 clubs in North and South Carolina, including USC, Wake Forest, Clemson, North Carolina, Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, and East Carolina University. As the league is a mixture of Division I and Division II competition, it will send its top DI school into the South DI Final Four and its top two DII clubs to the South DII Quarter-Finals. The CRL will be naming its own all-star team and MVP, as selected by coaches and referees, and will reward the top club with its own trophy at the end of each season. The brainchild of former UNC head coach Andy Richards, the league is intended to limit regional clubs' travel time while promoting local growth through rivaled competition.

Please join us this Friday, as the final USC home match is make-or-break for the #21 Gamecocks. Kick-off is at 7:00 PM and, as always, admission is free.

Standings and promotional information after the jump.

Become a fan of the club on Facebook!

via www.uscrugby.org

Carolinas Rugby League: A-Side Standings
			Record					Bonus
Team	Div	GP	W	L	T	PF	PA	+4	-7	POINTS
North Carolina State University	II	05	04	00	01	125	056	02	00	20
University of South Carolina	I	05	04	00	01	102	043	01	00	19
University of North Carolina	I	05	03	02	00	159	104	02	01	15
Appalachian State University	II	05	02	03	00	088	045	01	03	12
Wake Forest University	II	05	02	03	00	105	183	01	01	10
Clemson University	I	04	01	03	00	054	101	01	01	06
East Carolina University	II	05	00	05	00	073	177	01	01	02


Carolinas Rugby League: B-Side Standings
			Record					Bonus
Team	Div	GP	W	L	T	PF	PA	+4	-7	POINTS
University of South Carolina	I	05	05	00	00	110	010	05	00	25
University of North Carolina	I	05	04	01	00	116	049	04	00	20
Clemson University	I	03	02	01	00	044	032	01	00	09
North Carolina State University	II	04	01	03	00	037	074	01	01	06
East Carolina University	II	03	01	02	00	020	042	00	01	05
Appalachian State University	II	02	00	02	00	000	040	00	00	00
Wake Forest University	II	04	00	04	00	000	080	00	00	00


Key:
Div - Division	PF - Points For (in a match)
GP - Games Played	PA - Points Against (in a match)
W - Win (4 pts)	-7 - Bonus (1pt) - Loss by 7 or fewer
L- Loss (0 pts)	+4 - Bonus (1pt) - 4 tries in a match*
T- Tie (2 pts)	POINTS - Total League Points (pts)
* - Forfeit victories also receive a bonus point, as they are recorded as 20-00 (4 tries)

Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft: Darian Stewart

2010-03-02T18:21:22Z

This post is part of a series on the prospects of Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Darian Stewart

Measurements: 5'11, 216 lbs

Summary: Darian Stewart has been a starter for the Gamecocks at safety and spur since the second half of the 2007 campaign. In his early days as a starter, he was part of the forgettable late-season defensive collapse that we suffered through. Since then, though, Stewart has been a rock solid player for the Gamecocks. The hard-hitting safety has been very consistent and has made many memorable plays for us. Although he tended to fly under the radar on the league and national levels, he will be remembered fondly by Gamecocks fans.

What the Pros Have Right: Darian has an extremely versatile skill set, as demonstrated by the fact that he's played both safety and spur throughout his USC career. He believes he can play corner, safety, and linebacker at the professional level. Because of his frame and tackling ability, he projects primarily as a strong safety, but his versatility could be attractive to teams that want him both to provide depth at SS and to be a utility player for various speciality defensive packages. I could see Darian finding a place in the league in this context.

What the Pros Have Wrong: Darian's "tweener" status is going to play against him in the draft, as measurables-obsessed scouts are going to fixate on how his size, frame, and speed don't exactly fit into any recognizable categories as the NFL defines them. I'm not so sure I agree with the scouts or the NFL's general philosophy here. The NFL oftentimes has a very limited understanding of what a player can be, and while they know what they're doing to a certain degree, I don't think they should pass on a player like Darian who has proven himself to be more than capable of doing what he's asked to do. Sometimes the NFL's rigid sense of what it's looking for in players blinds it to the potential of a talent like Darian.

Fun Fact: Darian is a cook. Per his bio at the IMG Performance Institute, where he has been preparing for the Draft Combine: “I love to cook too, a little dinner every now and then. I can make some good soul food. Fried chicken, mac n’ cheese, green beans, corn bread, all the main southern dishes."

Are the Mocks Right?: The mocks I've seen project Darian in the 5th-7th rounds or as a free agent. I think that's probably about right, although I think teams might do well to take him earlier in that range rather than later. Although I doubt he'll ever be a star in the league, I think he could be an excellent addition in terms of rounding out depth in the defensive backfield.

Weekend Wrap-Up: Gamecocks Drop Series to ECU

2010-03-01T21:34:42Z

The Gamecocks will face Presbyterian College on Wednesday because of poor weather. via pictopia.com

South Carolina dropped the prophylactic match of the ECU series on Sunday by a 4-2 margine. Gamecocks starter, Steven Neff (1-1), allowed 3 quick runs in the bottom of the first inning to give the Purple Pirates all the runs they would need for the victory. Neff would settle down a little after the first, giving up only more run (unearned) in his 3.2 total innings of work. It is somewhat missleading to call that run "unearned," however, as the series of events that lead to it scoring can be placed squarley on Neff's shoulders and his alone. In sequence, Neff 1) walked the batter, 2) advanced the runner to 2nd on a balk, 3) allowed the runner to third by thorwing a pick-off attempt into center field, and 4) allowed the runner home after a wild pitch. You could say it was unearned in that the batter did no work to score, but it most certainly should be charged to Neff. After Neff followed that by giving up a bunt single, Ray Tanner brought in Reliever Tyler Webb to finish out the game. Webb performed admirably, giving up 2 hits in 4.1 innings of work. The freshman certainly made a case to be next week's Sunday starter.

More after the jump.

Although Carolina added a run each in the 7th and 8th innings, the Gamecock bats never seemd to be in this one. Case in point, Carolina had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the 8th but were unable to to take advantage of the situation. Jackie Bradley, Jr. provided one of the few highlights on Sunday as he singled following a pinch hit appearance. Bradley, who was expected to be out with an injury for much longer, continues to show off skills that made him a Freshman A.ll-American last season. Kyle Enders had a pretty decent weekend as well, throwing out a steal attempt at second and raising his average to .450 on the season.

What to take from this weekend:

Losing a series to an obnoxious ECU team may feel like a swift kick to the nether regions, but I assure you, Gamecock fans, the sky is not falling. In fact, we actually out-scored ECU this weekend by a count of 11-10. ECU is, and has been for a while, a good baseball program that returned a lot of solid starters from last year's squad that beat the Gamecock is similar fashion. We took one from them in their backyard, and that's really all we needed to do at this point to stay on track for our goals.

Even Steven Neff's performance on Sunday wasn't all that bad, aside from the unholy, satan-spawned unearned run he promenaded around the bases, of course. Neff holds a 1-1 record on the season with 5.1 innings pitched. Not great, but not terrible by college standards. It's still very early in the season for Neff, and to be honest he was the victim of some bad luck Sunday afternoon. At least two of the base hits he allowed in the first inning were ground balls, and the hit that scored them was a blooper that landed in the shallow outfield. Baseball can be a funny game, and sometimes these kinds of things happen. It's a long season, and as I'll often remind you, even the best team in the MLB loses 1/3 of its games. It's not like he was getting shelled by ECU - it was more of the dink-and-dunk variety.

Carolina, on the whole, didn't suffer all that much from its 1-2 performance. Baseball America had this to say about dropping the Gamecocks to #15:

The Gamecocks won the opener against East Carolina before losing close games the next two days. South Carolina used a balanced 11-hit attack Friday in support of Sr. RHP Blake Cooper. Jr. RHP Sam Dyson (4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) was solid in a no-decision Saturday, but the Gamecocks blew a one-run lead in the ninth, allowing the Pirates to rally for two in the frame. South Carolina was held to six hits Sunday, though Fr. LHP Tyler Webb (4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K) was strong in relief of So. LHP Steven Neff (3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER). Sr. 1B Nick Ebert, who missed last weekend with academic issues, doubled in his first at-bat and had four walks and three runs over the weekend.

The Gamecocks currently hold a staff ERA of 3.08 and a team AVG. of .285. Expect those numbers to swing in opposite direction as the Gamecocks' pitchers face better competition and the offense gets Jackie Bradley, Jr. back for good.

Perhaps the worst thing about the weekend, though is that the Gamecocks are temporarily the fourth best baseball team in the Carolinas, behind Coastal Carolina (#8), Clemson (#13), and East Carolina (#14), but ahead of UNC (#20). We'll have a chance to rectify the situation this weekend in our weekend series against Clemson. I'll have more on that (hopefully) later this week.

Looking ahead:

The Gamecocks need to do two things this week to maintain their status as a top 25 team: a) beat Presbyterian College in mid-week game and b) Take two of three from Clemson over the weekend. The Clemson series will be a 3 game one for the first time in recent memory, with a home-and-home and a nuetral site match at Greenville's Flour Field. Carolina has dominated the series with the Tigers as of late, and a win this weekend would be a boost to our season.

Mid-Week Game:

vs. Presbyterian College (1-6), Wed. 7:00pm, @ Carolina Stadium

Probable Starter - Nolan Belcher (So. LHP) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 SO

Weekend Wrap-Up Coverage:

The State

Gamecocksonline.com

#10 Gamecocks Travel to #22 East Carolina

2010-02-26T06:00:22Z

South Carolina (3-0) travels to Greenville, North Carolina Friday to take on the ECU Pirates (2-2). The Purple Pirates are coming off an opening weekend that saw them drop two games to the number one team in the country, The University of Virginia. More recently, ECU laid the wood to Old Dominion (3-1) on Tuesday, pounding out 16 hits en route to an 11-2 victory.

More after the jump.

Carolina fans, of course, will remember our last meeting with ECU when the Pirates won back-to-back elimination matches to knock us out of the Greenville regional. This year's edition of the Purple Pirates is every bit the championship squad as last year's, if not more so. Lead by Sophmore LHP Kevin Brandt (1-0), ECU currently holds a team ERA of 5.75. Offensively, ECU's team batting average currently sits at a good, but not Earth-shattering .331. Freshman infielder John Wooten (no, not that John Wooten) leads the team hitting .417 with 3 hr and 6 rbi.

Meanwhile, South Carolina (3-0) enters the weekend hitting an even .330 with a team ERA of 3.00. Not a bad stat line, even in light of the Gamecock's competition thus far. Carolina figures to get a boost from the return of Senior 1b, Nick Ebert, who is back much earlier than anticipated after failing to make sufficient progress toward his degree. Ebert will likely take over the DH spot since Jeffery Jones has been on fire since opening day (.333 avg, 3 hr, 10 rbi). That makes for a formidable lineup no matter who is on the mound. Once we get Jackie Bradley, Jr. back into fold, we'll have a 1-5 line up (Merrifield, Bradley, Walker, Ebert, Jones) that will rival any in the country.

As for weekend expectations, I like our chances. Ray Tanner's offenses are capable of exploding at any time. Ebert as a late edition is a huge boost. What's more is Tanner's pitchers have historically performed better in the early season. Presumably, this is attributed to Tanner putting to much stress on his young men's arms, but in the early part of the season this shouldn't be a concern. With a little bit of luck we could come out of this weekend with a 5-1 record. I don't dare dream of going 3-0 against a solid ECU team on their home turf. Even if we manage just one win in Greenville this weekend, all is not lost. Carolina's season has always been made or broke in SEC play. As long as we leave Greenville with at least one win on Sunday night, the Gamecocks will be on track to make the post season and possibly acheive the 40-win milestone for the 11th year in a row.

Game Times:

Friday: 3:00pm

Saturday: 2:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm

Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft: Clifton Geathers

2010-02-24T00:13:31Z

This post is part of a series on the prospects of Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Clifton Geathers

Measurements: 6'8, 307 lbs

Summary: Clifton skipped his senior season after doing spot duty in 2008 and starting for most of 2009. Clifton had a very solid 2009, registering three 41 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble. Much of his best play came late in the season. Gamecocks fans were disappointed that he chose to forego his final year of eligibility, as his late-season improvement sparked hopes that he would be an all-league performer in 2010.

What the Pros Have Right: Clifton is rightly prized by scouts for his tremendous upside. He is tall, wide, strong, and fast, and his large frame suggests that he can put on even more pounds without losing much in the speed department. His steady improvement suggests that he can come through on his potential if given time and opportunity.

The pros are also rightly concerned over his lack of experience. Clifton doesn't have a ton of experience and has only shown flashes of brilliance on the field. If Clifton were to bomb after being taken high, it wouldn't be the first time a player didn't pan out after being taken based solely on physical tools. Scouts know that.

The pros are also probably right that he should have stayed one more season. I'm not saying this because I resent his choice to leave, although I certainly think we'll miss him somewhat. I'm saying this because he now has everything riding on a great combine. That's not an enviable position. If he does well, he'll be an early round pick. If he bombs, he risks not being drafted at all. If he had stayed for 2010 in Columbia, he would have likely been our sack leader and an all-league performer. That would have guaranteed him a first- or second-round selection, meaning he wouldn't have to be worrying over his status as he is right now.

What the Pros Have Wrong: Some scouts have expressed concern over Clifton's behavioral issues. I think they should be a non-issue. Clifton's run-in with disciplinary problems at the beginning of this season were a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Clifton comes from a good background, has generally been on the up-and-up, and will continue to be so in the NFL.

Fun Fact: Clifton is from a family of NFL talent that includes his brother Robert, father Robert Sr., and uncle Jumpy, the latter of whom was a star defender for many years. His brother Kwame plays for Georgia and also has a bright future.

Are the Mocks Right?: The mocks show little consensus on Clifton, which is to be expected with a player who is something of an unknown quantity. Most mocks mention how much he has riding on his combine performance, and I'd say that's right. He needs to prove his freakish athleticism there, because if he doesn't, teams will hesitate to take him based on his on-field performance.

Gamecocks Improve to 22-0 All-time vs. Duquesne, ECU Looms

2010-02-22T22:21:51Z

Opening day weekend saw the Gamecocks go 3-0 against a Duquesne team that was making its last trip to Carolina Stadium. Ever. The Gamecocks performed admirably, outscoring their opponent 28-9. However, the weekend still left Carolina fans with a few questions, as every opening weekend always does. For instance, will USC’s bullpen be improved this year? After all, 6 of Duquesne’s 9 runs were scored after the sixth inning – not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Gamecocks’ relief pitchers. The USC starters fared far better, though, never allowing an inning to get away from them. The main question surrounding the starters is whether freshman RHP Tyler Webb will be able to lock down the Sunday spot. If not, we’re looking at a long season of "Sunday-starter-by committee." Questions also surround flame thrower Sam Dyson and whether he will be able to make the same kind of contribution he did last year after coming off shoulder surgery.

via grfx.cstv.com

Of course the main question on everybody’s mind is if Scott Wingo will be able to achieve his goal of becoming the most beamed second baseman of all time. Wingo got off to a good start this weekend notching two hit-by-pitches already (or should I say allowing two hit-by-pitches to notch him).

Tanner’s offense didn’t disappoint, either. As it seems is the case every year, Christian Walker exploded in his first series with the Gamecocks to sure up a spot that had previously been a question mark. Even injured Jackie Bradley, Jr. got in as a defensive replacement late in some games, good news for those of us who feared he may be out the better part of two months.

Carolina starts this week ranked #10 by Baseball America and #12 by Rivals.com

With the first series in the books, USC head to Greenville this weekend to take on a ranked ECU team. Tanner never has shied away from scheduling strong opponents, and this weekend may very well set the tone for the rest of the season.

Wrap-ups:

Gamecocks Start Baseball Season in Familiar Fashion

2010-02-20T05:15:26Z

The Yardcocks kicked off the 2010 season on Friday in front of a crowd of 6,380 at Carolina Stadium. Carolina rode a two homerun performance from 1b Jefferey Jones to a 10-3 win over Duquesne (pronounced due-cane). Jones, you'll remember, was slated to be the starting first baseman last year until his and Nick Ebert's batting averages started heading in opposite directions. Jones' hard work in the off season seems to have paid off as he collected 5 R(s)BI on the night. More after the jump.

Firstbaseman. Redhead. Hero.

Duquesne, you'll also remember, is the team that South Carolina has pummeled many a time in the past. In fact, the Gamecocks now own a 20-0 all time record against the Dukes. Whether this has something to do with the Duquesne athletic department announcing the cancelation of the baseball program after 2010, I can't say.

Duquesne isn't the only common thread between 2010 and previous seasons, though. You might recall Scott Wingo's propensity for being hit by pitches. Well I had to laugh when I turned on the game on my way home from work today and literally the first thing I heard was Wingo getting hit by his second pitch of the afternoon. Wingo had an all around solid game today, getting on base after all five plate appearances.

We also saw a strong pitching performance by senior right-hander Blake Cooper. We'll need his steady arm if the Gamecocks are going to make any noise in the post-season at all this year. Relief pitching, on the other hand, was only adequate. Next week's match-up against a ranked East Carolina squad will tell us a lot more about the one component of Ray Tanner's squads that have always seemd to disappoint.

You can't take much away from a season opener, especially when it's against a team that has never given us an ounce of trouble in the past. Still, by all accounts this year's squad looks to be on par with the previous years'. I fully expect us to make the NCAA tournament again, and once you get there anything can happen. The key to getting back to the CWS will be our oft neglected bullpen. If Carolina can find a closer this year, look out. Getting Jackie Bradley Junior and Nick Ebert back shouldn't hurt, either.

Carolina plays Saturday at 3:00 and again on Sunday at 1:30.

Media Coverage:

Box Score

Athletic Department

The State

Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft: Eric Norwood

2010-02-17T00:11:18Z

This post begins a series on the prospects of Gamecocks in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Eric Norwood

Measurements: 6'1, 250 lbs

Summary: Norwood has been a major contributor at both DE and OLB since his freshman year. He gotten better with each passing year, finally becoming a household name around the country after an epic performance in a Gamecocks upset of then-fourth ranked Ole Miss in 2009. He was honored as a first-team Freshman All-American in 2006, first-team All-SEC in the following three years, and first-team All-American in 2009. He holds Gamecocks team records for sacks and tackles-for-loss.

Norwood is a fan favorite and indeed something of a legend in Columbia, S. C. He's been a big-game performer all his career and is a player the fans rally around. His choice to return for his senior season in 2009 and subsequent big season cemented his place in Gamecocks lore.

What the Pros Have Right: Pro scouts correctly note Norwood's draws as his pass rushing, tackling, special teams abilities, and durability. His closing speed, instincts and ability as a tackler, and ability to block kicks are well documented, and he has the skills to translate these attributes to the next level. Norwood is exceptionally durable, having played in every game over the course of his career and started 32 consecutive games. The pros do and should love that.

As far as weaknesses go, pro scouts judge that Norwood will likely only be effective as an outside linebacker in 3-4 schemes. This is probably a correct assessment. While Norwood has great instincts in coverage, his height allows bigger tight ends to pick on him underneath, and faster receivers and backs can get a step on him. These weaknesses would be exposed in 4-3 schemes. In essence, Norwood will be at his best in a limited, pass-rush specialist role in the NFL. He may be able to be an every-down linebacker on some teams, but teams with more depth will likely view him as a utility player for sure-fire passing downs.

What the Pros Have Wrong: Pro scouts seem to doubt Norwood's ability to play defensive end, with most focusing solely on him as an OLB prospect. There is some truth to this assessment: Norwood's height will prohibit him from being the kind of top-shelf pass tipper NFL teams want at DE, and his size and weight-room measurable strength give him a disadvantage against powerful NFL offensive linemen. However, one of Norwood's greatest strengths in the pass rush game is his knack for doing whatever it takes to get through the line. He has an impressive array of moves. I believe that, if he were to put on a few more pounds, he could likely be an effective DE. Of course, many teams will probably view him as more valuable at OLB, so this may be a moot point. It could be worth thinking about for teams looking for an elite pass rusher at DE, though.

Fun Fact: Norwood was considered an academic liability coming into college. However, he excelled in academics and chose to come back for his senior season to finish his degree despite projecting as a late-round pick after his junior season. He in fact finished his degree a semester early.

Are the Scouts Right?: Most mocks I've looked at project Norwood in the second to third rounds. I think this is about right. Norwood provides incredible potential as a pass rusher and special teams player, and his durability suggests that he will have a long, productive career. He's also a very positive force in the locker room and a player that teams rally around on the field. However, he's not well-rounded enough to warrant a first-round pick. In the first round, most teams will simply be looking for someone that can do more on more downs than Norwood can provide.

NCAA Stupidity One Step Closer to Fruition

2010-02-12T16:08:53Z

Here at GABA, we've discussed the NCAAs asinine plan to make celebration penalties live-ball fouls. We'll, we're one step closer to seeing the NCAA continue to ruin the game we love:

Both proposals were announced Thursday by the Football Rules Committee and must now be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

As if it wasn't painful enough to hear that the NCAA continues to explore this possibility, former Oregon Ducks coach Mike Bellotti had the audacity to treat college football fans like idots:

"Taunting and prolonged individual acts have no place in our game, and our officials have generally handled these rules well," said former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, the committee chair. "This is just another step in maintaining our game's image and reflecting the ideals of the NCAA overall."

Paging Mike: your officials have not handled these rules well, and that, for me, is precisely the problem with this proposal and with celebration penalties as they already exist. Look, I'm all for limiting taunting. Acts that could provoke violence on the field unquestionably need to be regulated. However, the grey area comes in when we start talking about "excessive individual acts." What is such a thing? I'm not exactly sure, and the inconsistency with which officials throw flags on it makes me think that they're not so sure, either. If a rule is so poorly understood and subjectively interpreted, it has no place in the rules book, especially when we've seen several incidents over the past few years in which officials have clearly altered the outcomes of games by throwing flags on what looked to be simple displays of emotion. You know, the kind of emotion you would expect a football player to exhibit after a huge play late in a game. Georgia-LSU and Washington-BYU are the two examples that most easily come to mind, but there are others.

In short, screw you, NCAA. This rule is BS.