The University of South Carolina lost to the Auburn Tigers by the score of 79-64 in SEC hoops play. This loss is unacceptable no matter how you try to spin in. USC has no business losing to a team that lost to the Presbyterian Blue Hose (no offense to my PC friends); on top of this how does a guy named Rob Chubb school Sam Muldrow and Malike Cook with 18 points?
Coach Horn can say what they will and talk about “it’s a young team” and this is “a growth year.” Don’t feed me nor the Gamecock faithful. We love our Gamecocks and have supported Coach Horn since day one. He brought USC a share of the SEC East crown but this is a new low for USC. Auburn is and was horrible in basketball as evidenced with a RPI over 300. USC gave AU their first win in the SEC. Gald we could be the whipping boy.
If you want a full recap of the game go to a mainstream news site or read ESPN’s story HERE.
We could talk on and on about how bad the loss is but that is not going to change the outcome. All we can offer is what changes need to be made for USC to “right the ship” before the season swirls out of control. So here are our eight thoughts on what needs to be changed moving forward:
- Quite living and dying from the 3 ball land. In this game, USC shot 7-33 from behind the arc. WTF? And this is seen every game. In the games they win they have success from behind the line. When they lose, well see Auburn.
- This plays into the fact that USC needs to half-court set plays. Love the USC up-tempo play but lets try to run some plays and not just play organized street ball.
- Guards most penetrate and be playmakers. Not like Downey where either he made the shot or got fouled (and that was the offense), But create!
- Better overall passing and trying to work the ball into the low post. Take the higher % shot.
- Better guard defense. AU’s guards had 44 points. Just the guards for crying out loud. Horn needs to teach the guards how to play perimeter defense not street ball defense.
- Playing Interior Defense without fouling. It is a art that can be taught. Move your feet big guys and play straight up. (AU was 26-34 from foul line).
- Consistent Play. This team is bi-polar. When they play inspired they can hang, when they play lackluster…well see Auburn and Furman’s boxscore. Some nights the team will crash the boards, others a 10 year old can outrebound them. This goes to coaching. Horn needs some energy on the bench. Get mad. Get the hair out of place for once.
- Time to recruit basketball players and mix in with the slashers (i.e. athletes). Need some big guys that can play the low post. Muldrow is good but he is not a true center. USC has needed a true center for 10 years. A guy that knows he does not venture out from the low post unless it is time to set a screen.
I could ramble on for many of these but will stop there. I hope this paints a pitcture that losing to teams like Auburn is unaccetable for the program and if the above corrections are made then losses to teams like Auburn will never happen again.
What are your thoughts?
