A month ago, the Gamecocks got their prayers answered as they out-hustled the Wildcats in a match-up most thought Carolina did not stand a chance. USC was able to upset then-No. 1 Kentucky on USC’s home floor, 68-62.
The win was the first ever over a top-ranked team and brought tons of national attention to the school after the fans rushed the court. Can the same prayer be answered twice facing the same challenge?
Since then, USC is just 2-4 while the No. 2 Wildcats have yet to lose again and have a stronghold on the SEC East lead. For Carolina, it is must win time as they have got from NCAA bubble watch to NIT bubble watch and are fighting off Georgia for fifth place in the SEC East.
Gamecocks coach Darrin Horn has stated that the same formula must be in place for another upset tonight at the 9 p.m. rematch with Kentucky at Rupp Arena on ESPN.
In the first meeting against Kentucky (26-1, 11-1), UK freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins went for 27 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman phenom John Wall added 19 points, but the SEC’s leading assist man dished out just four.
And it was USC guard Devan Downey, who’s coming off his worst outing of the SEC season with 15 points in a 63-55 loss to Tennessee, who stole the show with 30.
Since then, the Gamecocks (14-12, 5-7 SEC) haven’t held an opponent to 62 points or less. Today, they’ll try to stay the course, despite dropping their last three.
Can Carolina do it again?
What will happen: You will see UK more focused as their Coach has had this circled on the calendar since the last match so I don’t expect UK to not be on top of their game tonight. I see Cousins dominating below and Wall showing us why he is going to be SEC POY. Unfortunately, I think their three headed monster of Patterson, Wall and Cousins step up big time tonight.
For USC, they need the prayer to be answered again. They need UK to not be focused on this contest and for Devan Downey to play outstanding again. “In Devan we Trust,” has been the offensively philosophy all season and it will be invoked again tonight. Big Sam Muldrow has a tall order tonight to try to keep pace with Cousins and Patterson. He has to play his best career game tonight but I just don’t see it happening.
I think tonight USC will find out why UK is the best team in the SEC. I think we bear witness to a 15+ point victory for UK. The only way this does not happen is if Carolina shoots 45+% on more than 20 shots from 3 ball land combined with sloppy UK play. Again as much as my garnet blood wants to envision an upset….I cannot see this happening twice in one season.
Prediction: UK 87 USC 61
