As the South Carolina Gamecocks gear up to host the Kentucky Wildcats at Colonial Life Arena, fans are in for a thrilling SEC showdown. With tipoff set for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network, Kevin Fitzgerald and Perry Clark will bring the action right into your living room.
The Gamecocks, sitting at 12-15 overall and 3-11 in the conference, are riding high after snapping a seven-game losing streak with a 97-89 victory over Mississippi State. That win saw South Carolina put up their highest point total of the season, with five players hitting double digits.
Mike Sharavjamts and Meechie Johnson led the charge, both scoring 21 points. Johnson was a standout, nearly achieving a triple-double with nine assists and five rebounds.
Kobe Knox and Elijah Strong added 17 and 16 points, while Eli Ellis chipped in 13. The Gamecocks shot a scorching 55% from the field and were lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 24 attempts.
Defensively, South Carolina managed to contain the SEC's leading scorer, Josh Hubbard, holding him to just 13 points on a tough shooting night. This defensive effort was a key factor in their victory, as Hubbard had been on a tear, scoring over 30 points in his previous three games.
Looking at the matchup, KenPom ranks South Carolina at No. 92, and Kentucky comes in as a six-point favorite with a projected score of 77-71. However, the Gamecocks will be without Myles Stute, who is listed as out for the game.
On the other side, the Kentucky Wildcats, led by head coach Mark Pope in his second season, are looking to break a three-game losing streak. They’ve faced tough losses on the road against Florida and Auburn, and a home defeat to Georgia. Despite these setbacks, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi still projects Kentucky as a six-seed in the latest bracketology.
Kentucky boasts a trio of double-digit scorers, with guard Otega Oweh leading the way at 17.8 points per game. Denzel Aberdeen and Collin Chandler follow with 12.7 and 10.0 points respectively.
The Wildcats also rely on their big man, Malachi Moreno, who averages 6.5 rebounds and 8.4 points. Forward Mouhamed Dioubate adds depth with 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
As a team, Kentucky is putting up 81.2 points per game, shooting 47% from the field and 35% from three-point range.
Kentucky’s road record stands at 3-5, with victories over LSU, Tennessee, and Arkansas. However, their five losses on the road came against some formidable opponents, including Louisville and Alabama.
After this clash with Kentucky, the Gamecocks will head to Georgia for another SEC matchup on Saturday, with tipoff at 3:30 p.m. on the SEC Network. It's a pivotal week for South Carolina as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.