Category: South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Faces UConn in a Thrilling Sunday Showdown with ESPN’s College GameDay

As No. 4 South Carolina prepares to host No. 7 UConn this Sunday, the atmosphere is already buzzing with excitement—especially with ESPN’s College GameDay coming to town. Here’s what to expect from this highly anticipated matchup and how you can tune in.

1. Finding Their Rhythm

Over the past week, South Carolina has repeatedly echoed one key theme: “We didn’t play like us against Texas,” and “We just need to play like us.” In the lead-up to the game, Te-Hina Paopao emphasized the importance of getting back to their roots: “We just had to get back in the rhythm of things and the flow of how we are. We just had to get back to our identity.” For South Carolina, playing like themselves means being aggressive, pushing in transition, and making those crucial extra passes that define their style.

2. Guarding Paige Bueckers

South Carolina has been successful in five of their last six encounters with UConn, and there’s one major factor: slowing down Paige Bueckers. Though Bueckers wasn’t around for all those games, the only time UConn found success was in the 2022 National Championship game, where South Carolina struggled to contain her. In that matchup, Destanni Henderson used her speed and physicality to disrupt Bueckers’ flow, limiting her to 14 points on 6-13 shooting.

Last season, Bree Hall took on the task, using her length and athleticism to stay in front of Bueckers. Bueckers still managed 20 points, but she shot just 8-20, most of her scoring coming when the game was already out of hand.

“Familiarity really helps,” said Dawn Staley, head coach of South Carolina. Most likely, Hall will get the assignment again, but Raven Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley could also get a chance to defend Bueckers, especially if Hall needs a break. Johnson’s long arms make her disruptive (as seen in her defense against Caitlin Clark), while Fulwiley’s speed and strength mirror Henderson’s style.

3. Defending Quick Guards

UConn has shown vulnerability against quick and athletic guards. With a sometimes slow perimeter defense and limited rim protection—even with 6’5″ Jana El Aflay—the Huskies have had trouble containing dynamic backcourt players. Notable performances include KK Deans from Ole Miss (17 points), Hannah Hidalgo (29 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists), and Juju Watkins (25 points). In their previous meeting, Paopao had a breakout game against UConn, scoring 21 points on 5-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

Paopao, coming off a stellar performance with 14 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in just 20 minutes, will be a key player to watch as South Carolina looks to exploit UConn’s weakness.

4. Injury Report

While South Carolina doesn’t have to release an official injury report for this non-conference game, it’s known that Ashlyn Watkins is sidelined. Other than her, the rest of the roster is expected to be available.

On the UConn side, they’ll be missing several players: Morgan Cheli is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, Ice Brady is sidelined with a shoulder issue, Ayanna Patterson is out for the season, and Caroline Ducharme remains unavailable this year.

5. Scouting UConn

Despite a number of injuries, this might be the deepest UConn team in recent years. However, head coach Geno Auriemma still primarily relies on his starters, rotating just about seven players. Paige Bueckers continues to lead the way, averaging 18.7 points, while Azzi Fudd is back in form, contributing 12.7 points per game on 47.1% shooting from three.

Sarah Strong, a freshman, has been a revelation for UConn, averaging 16.1 points and leading the team in rebounds (7.8). She’s also making an impact in blocks, steals, and assists.

“They’re pretty talented, as always,” Staley commented. “I think they get more of their stuff that they want to get, and it’s less reliant on just Paige to do her thing. Strong gives them a lot of options.”

UConn does struggle with free-throw attempts (only 10.7 per game) and isn’t a strong rebounding team (with just a +5.2 margin), which could play into South Carolina’s hands, especially after their recent challenges in both areas.

This game marks the final contest between these two powerhouse programs under the current scheduling contract, a makeup for the postponed 2022 game—hence South Carolina hosting in back-to-back seasons.

Scoreboard Watching

In another intriguing matchup, No. 5 LSU takes on No. 3 Texas. Interestingly, South Carolina fans may find themselves rooting for LSU. It brings back memories of 2017, when Kentucky helped South Carolina out by taking down Mississippi State and sending the Gamecocks into a better position.

Game Details

• Teams: No. 4 South Carolina (23-2, 11-1) vs. No. 7 UConn (23-3, 14-0)
• Date/Time: Sunday, February 16, 1:00 PM ET (doors open at 10:30 for ESPN College GameDay)
• Location: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
• Broadcast: ABC

Don’t miss the action as South Carolina and UConn face off in a game that could have major implications for the postseason!

Good evening, Gamecock fans. Here’s a live update on South Carolina basketball as they continue to struggle in SEC play, sitting at 10-14 overall and winless in league action at 0-11. Coach Lamont Paris’ team has been in close games all season but has just not been able to close them out. To add to their frustration, South Carolina has suffered seven losses this year by just one or two possessions, with six of those coming in SEC matchups.

In an ironic twist, South Carolina’s next chance to turn things around comes on the day after Valentine’s Day. This Saturday, they travel to Gainesville to face the No. 3-ranked Florida Gators (21-3, 8-3). The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. in the O’Connell Center and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Let’s break down three key things to watch for in this matchup, along with a quick scouting report on the Gators and the latest injury updates.

Playing for Pride? Seeking Revenge?

South Carolina’s season hasn’t gone as hoped, but they are not as bad as their record suggests. The Gamecocks have been on the losing side of several heartbreaks, and frustration is mounting. While many teams in similar situations might have packed it in by now, South Carolina continues to fight.

What’s left to motivate this team? In a tough season, personal pride and commitment are key. If the Gamecocks want any chance at making a run in the SEC Tournament, they have to keep pushing, working on fixing mistakes, and maintaining that competitive edge.

This game also offers a chance for some on-court revenge after a crushing one-point loss to Florida earlier this season. In that game, South Carolina led but lost it late. A Will Richard layup gave the Gators the lead, and the Gamecocks had an ill-advised 30-foot attempt at the buzzer rather than a quality shot. South Carolina had outplayed Florida but turnovers and a poor finish let the game slip away. Will the Gamecocks come out ready to play a full 40 minutes this time?

An Unfamiliar Road Struggle

While South Carolina has shown more life at home, their road struggles have been well-documented. On the road this season, they are just 1-6, with their only victory coming against a struggling Boston College in December. The losses have been brutal: by 16, 35, 3, 20, 11, and 23 points. That’s an average loss margin of -18 points per game. Meanwhile, Florida has scored 73 or more points in every home game this season, so South Carolina will have to find a way to not just compete but possibly outscore them.

That said, in a strange turn of events, the Gamecocks have won three of their last four visits to the O’Dome. Could they make it four out of five? This game kicks off a tough stretch for South Carolina, with three of the next four games being on the road.

Florida’s Uncertainty: Who’s Playing?

A big storyline heading into this game is the health of Florida’s roster. The Gators announced on Friday that Micah Handlogten, their 7’1” center, will return after recovering from a leg injury. However, two of their other key post players, Alex Condon and Sam Alexis, are out for the game. Additionally, starting guard Alijah Martin has been sidelined for about two weeks with a hip issue. While he’s listed as “probable,” his status is still up in the air, with head coach Todd Golden calling him “questionable.”

Even with these personnel issues, Florida remains a formidable team. Thomas Haugh, one of the best bench forwards in the nation, could fill in if needed. If not, expect Handlogten to slide in as a seasoned veteran. For South Carolina, Collin Murray-Boyles (CMB) will be key. The Gamecocks’ star has been solid against Florida in his career, missing just five shots across two games, recording a double-double in one, and dishing out a career-high eight assists in another. Could CMB carry the Gamecocks to a much-needed win?

Injury Report

For South Carolina, Myles Stute is OUT due to a blood clot.

For Florida, Alex Condon and Sam Alexis are OUT, while Alijah Martin is listed as PROBABLE.

Game Details

• Who: South Carolina (10-14, 0-11 SEC) vs. No. 3 Florida (21-3, 8-3 SEC)
• When: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 8:30 p.m.
• Where: O’Connell Center, Gainesville
• How to watch: SEC Network/107.5 The Game
• ESPN gives South Carolina an 8.2% chance of winning.

As we look ahead to Saturday, the Gamecocks will need to pull off a monumental upset against one of the top teams in the nation. Stay tuned for more updates as we follow the action in Gainesville!

In his first game as South Carolina’s head coach, Paul Mainieri reflected on the Gamecocks’ 5-3 victory over Sacred Heart in the season opener. Speaking to the media, Mainieri shared his thoughts on the win and what stood out during the game.

“It’s always fun to get that first game out of the way,” Mainieri said. “Sacred Heart was a scrappy team, but we’re not in midseason form yet, and there are always some jitters. Despite that, we did enough offensively to put up enough runs.”

Mainieri highlighted key moments in the game, emphasizing the performance of pitcher Dylan Eskew and reliever Parker Marlatt, who managed to escape a tough situation in the sixth inning. “The key was Dylan Eskew pitching well, and then Parker Marlatt getting out of that jam in the sixth,” he remarked. “It was a good win to start the season.”

When it came to Eskew’s performance, Mainieri believed the pitcher was capable of going up to 90 pitches. “He pitched his heart out. He has all the confidence in the world in his bullpen, and he’ll be relying on his relievers a lot this weekend,” Mainieri said.

The head coach also shed light on Brendan Sweeney, who is being groomed for the closer role. “We’ve been preparing him for that role. He’s a great kid, soft-spoken, but we’re trying to make him a little meaner. His nickname is the Bulldog, and he’s the kind of guy who can handle pressure situations, like the one in the ninth.”

Mainieri also addressed the team’s offensive approach, noting that while they don’t want to be defined as a small-ball team, external factors like wind conditions influenced the game. “We didn’t expect many home runs today, but Petry’s homer surprised me—it left the yard,” he said. “We knew we’d have to manufacture runs and make things happen.”

Poise is something Mainieri stresses constantly in practice, hoping it carries over to game situations. He pointed out KJ Scobey’s calm demeanor on a crucial play in the ninth inning, saying, “He’s a good kid who cares about the right things, and he’s a solid defensive third baseman. He can handle the hot corner and will make clutch plays.” Scobey had even predicted a close game, saying it would be a one-run game. “What matters is how we handled the last three innings, especially when the game was tied at three.”

Mainieri acknowledged that pitchers wouldn’t always be perfect but expressed confidence in the team’s depth. “Pitzer will be back and much better. He’s got a lot of confidence,” he explained. “South Carolina doesn’t have that one dominant arm, but we’ve got a lot of guys who will compete. We didn’t expect to strike out as many batters as we did today, but good defense was key, and we played well.”

Reflecting on his return to coaching, Mainieri described the experience as “a little bit like riding a bicycle.” “It felt good to be back out there. I enjoy being in tough moments and showing leadership,” he said. He also appreciated having his family present for the game, adding, “It was great to have them here today.”

The South Carolina Gamecocks kicked off their 2025 season with a 5-3 win over Sacred Heart in the opening game of their series. The victory puts the Gamecocks at 1-0, and they’ll look to maintain their undefeated streak in the second game of the series, which is now scheduled for 2:00 PM today due to a schedule change brought on by inclement weather. Originally set for 4:00 PM, the game will now take place two hours earlier. Here’s everything you need to know to catch the action.

How to Watch South Carolina vs Sacred Heart

• Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
• Game Time: 2:00 PM ET
• TV: SEC Network+
• Location: Founders Park, Columbia, SC
• Stream: Watch on fuboTV (with a 7-day free trial) or on ESPN

Game Preview – South Carolina vs Sacred Heart

The Gamecocks are off to a strong start in their 133rd season of baseball, as they face Sacred Heart in a three-game home series. Game 1, played yesterday (Feb. 14), marked the beginning of head coach Paul Mainieri’s tenure with the team.

After today’s 2:00 PM contest, the series will conclude with a noon game on Sunday, February 16. Before Saturday’s game, fans will also witness the dedication ceremony for Ray Tanner Field, with the first 2,500 attendees receiving a Ray Tanner trading card and the first 5,000 receiving a Ray Tanner koozie.

All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus, with Dave Weinstein and Grayson Greiner on the call. Additionally, fans can tune in to the Gamecock Sports Network, with Derek Scott calling the action for Friday and Sunday’s games and Stuart Lake and Cade Crenshaw handling the duties on Saturday.

Projected Starting Pitchers:

• Friday:
  South Carolina – Dylan Eskew (R-Sr. RHP) 3-5, 4.60 ERA, 62.2 IP, 26 BB, 40 SO
  Sacred Heart – Joey Trombley (So. RHP) 3-2, 4.28 ERA, 61.0 IP, 25 BB, 39 SO

Scouting Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart comes into the season following a successful 2024 campaign, in which the Pioneers clinched the NEC regular season title with a 25-8 conference record. Overall, they finished the year with a 35-23 record and reached the NEC Tournament semifinals, going 2-2.

For 2025, the Pioneers return a solid core, including Tim McGuire, who batted .326 with 12 doubles and 37 RBIs last year. Zack Kovalchik (.326) and Alex Ungar (.314), both of whom hit over .300 in 2024, will also be key contributors for Sacred Heart this season.

On the mound, Joey Trombley will be a player to watch. He had a 4.28 ERA last year with three wins in 13 starts. Meanwhile, Elijah Foster tallied 80 strikeouts in 59.2 innings, and Owen MacDonnell led the team with nine saves.

Pat Egan, now in his third year as head coach of Sacred Heart, earned NEC Coach of the Year honors in 2024 after a standout season. Prior to his time at Sacred Heart, he spent four years as an assistant at Quinnipiac.

This game promises to be an exciting continuation of what’s shaping up to be a thrilling season for both teams. Stay tuned as the Gamecocks look to keep their momentum going.

On a crisp afternoon that faded into evening, South Carolina struggled to get the ball out of the infield—except for the explosive Ethan Petry, who blasted a solo homer to lead off the third inning. The Gamecocks had gotten off to a strong start, scoring three early runs, but after Petry’s shot, their offense seemed to stall. By the seventh inning, they had failed to record a hit since that blast.

Then, a glimmer of hope came in the form of Blake Jackson. The speedy outfielder, who led the team in stolen bases last season, worked a walk and quickly stole second base. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Though they still hadn’t registered a hit, the Gamecocks were suddenly in scoring position, and the dugout buzzed with energy.

“When any guy steals a bag like that, it’s a ton of momentum. It’s a big momentum builder for the team,” said Henry Kaczmar. “You see him get there, and he’s super hyped up. That kind of gives energy for the whole dugout. And everyone felt that.”

On the very next pitch, Kaczmar delivered a clutch go-ahead RBI single to center, putting South Carolina back in the lead at 4-3. They would hold on to win 5-3 in the season opener against Sacred Heart.

“I came in the dugout after the inning and gave (Jackson) a huge hug,” Kaczmar said, reflecting on the moment. “It’s just great for him to be able to get that bag for the team.” Kaczmar went 1-for-4 in his South Carolina debut, adding to the excitement of the win.

This victory marks the first for new head coach Paul Mainieri, who takes over after seven seasons of Mark Kingston at the helm.

The Gamecocks added an important insurance run in the eighth when Nolan Nawrocki drove in pinch-runner Evan Stone with a key RBI single. While the offense wasn’t explosive, with just seven hits and only two extra-base hits, South Carolina made things happen in other ways. They swiped four bases and moved runners effectively, striking out just six times.

“I don’t really want us to be known as a small ball team. That’s not the intention,” Mainieri said. “But with this time of year, when it’s chilly and you get that north wind blowing in, I’ve always said there’s no climbable condition that affects baseball more than the wind. … I just felt like tonight, going into the game, that we were going to have to manufacture some runs. So that’s why we utilized the hit and run and we utilized stealing bases. Tried to make some things happen.”

Despite a quiet offensive day, the bullpen sealed the deal, shutting down the Pioneers the rest of the way.

Starter Dylan Eskew was sharp, going five innings of one-run ball, striking out a career-high nine batters. Relief struggles came in the sixth, however, when Tyler Pitzer failed to find rhythm, walking three batters and only recording one out. Parker Marlatt entered, managing to escape further damage despite Sacred Heart tying the game at 3-3 on an infield single.

Marlatt settled down after the seventh, tossing 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, and striking out five. With a two-run cushion in the ninth, Brendan Sweeney made quick work of the Pioneers, retiring the side in order on just six pitches, including a strikeout.

“We’ve been grooming him for this. This is why I felt confident that we could move Matthew Becker into the starting rotation because I felt Sweeney could handle that kind of situation,” Mainieri said of Sweeney in the closer role. “We’ve been making these situations for him in scrimmage games. He’s such a nice kid and very soft spoken. So we’re trying to make him a little meaner. So we gave him a nickname — we call him ‘The Bulldog’ now. So nobody calls him Brendan Sweeney. We just call him the Bulldog.”

Looking ahead, South Carolina will aim for the series win against Sacred Heart on Saturday. Matthew Becker will make his first start of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.

In a live update, on Saturday, South Carolina (10-14, 0-11) will face off against No. 3 Florida (21-3, 8-3) inside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The last meeting between these two teams on January 22 was a thrilling contest, with Florida narrowly escaping with a 70-69 victory.

South Carolina is still seeking its first conference win of the season, but the Gamecocks have shown promising signs. Most recently, they came close to upsetting Ole Miss, but ultimately fell short, losing 72-68. With less than a month left in the regular season, South Carolina faces a crucial challenge if they hope to turn their season around.

On the other hand, Florida’s focus isn’t on making a late-season turnaround but on maintaining their momentum. It’s been a standout year for the Gators, who are currently riding a three-game win streak. However, the Gators will be missing key players on Saturday, including Alex Condon (ankle) and Sam Alexis (undisclosed), although Micah Handlogten will make his season debut.

Odds for South Carolina vs. Florida
Florida is favored by 16.5 points against South Carolina, according to FanDuel. The Gators are also a strong -2500 on the money line, with an over/under set at 143.5 points. In their previous matchup, the two teams combined for 139 points, but Florida will need to step up its offensive game to meet expectations this time around.

Predictions for the Game
ESPN’s BPI model predicts that Florida will come out on top, with a projected point differential of 15.1 points. The Gators have a 91.8 percent chance of winning, with the matchup quality rated at 75.2.

KenPom’s model is also confident in Florida’s chances, predicting a final score of Florida 80, South Carolina 62. With a 95 percent win probability for the Gators, KenPom projects an 18-point victory.

How to Watch the Game
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Channel: SEC Network, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Gainesville, Fla.

Fans can tune in to the SEC Network at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday or stream the game on FuboTV. With Florida playing at home, the Stephen C. O’Connell Center is sure to be packed with eager Gators fans supporting their team.

More related news…..

First-Round Projections Have South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders As a Top NFL Draft Pick

The 2025 NFL Draft process is in full swing, and former South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders is now considered a potential first-round pick.

Although Sanders might have flown under the radar this season due to the dominant performances of South Carolina’s EDGE rushers, Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard, he is gaining recognition as the draft approaches. National analysts, including NFL Network’s lead draft expert, Daniel Jeremiah, are starting to take notice of Sanders’ impressive tape.

Jeremiah recently released his updated NFL Mock Draft, where he has Sanders going 31st overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. Regarding the potential selection, Jeremiah commented:

“There has not been a lot of buzz for Sanders, but I thought his tape was outstanding. He’s really twitchy and would fit right in with the bevy of talented defensive linemen in Philly.”

T.J. Sanders’ accolades include:

• 2024 Third-Team All-America (College Football Nation)
• 2024 First-Team All-SEC (College Football Nation)
• 2024 Second-Team All-SEC (AP, Phil Steele)
• 2024 SEC Interior Defender of the Year (College Football Nation)
• 2023 Third-Team All-SEC (College Football Network)
• 2023 Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
• 2023 Nutrition Award
• 2023 Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring
• 2023 co-South Carolina Spirit Award – Defense