Scouting Report: South Carolina Gamecocks

   

Kentucky Basketball Scouting Report

 Opponent: University of South Carolina                  Date: 1/24/15

General

• 10-7, 1-4 in the SEC. Upset Iowa State in Brooklyn on 1/3.
• Balanced scoring attack with 4 players averaging between 9-12 points per game.
• Good defensive team; holding teams to just 61 points on 36.6% shooting.

Personnel #4        G         Tyrone Johnson: 6’3’’ 195                SR. Johnson is a big guard who can knock down an open 3, but is best at driving to the basket and getting to the foul line. He is a pretty good on-ball defender and has done a very good job of taking care of the basketball offensively for the Gamecocks. We have to make him finish over us without fouling; he isn’t a great finisher inside. Averaging 10.4 points and 4 assists per game. #10      G         Duane Notice: 6’2’’ 212                    SO. After a strong freshman season, Notice is leading the Gamecocks in scoring as a sophomore. He is their best 3-point shooter, but is shooting just a respectable 34.7% from beyond the arc. Duane is a good playmaker with the ball in his hands; averaging 11.9 points and 3 assists per game. #0        G         Sindarius Thornwell: 6’5’’ 215          SO. He started all 34 games during his freshman year and is having a solid season once again. Thornwell is averaging 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He is a good athlete who offensive rebounds and is very good at driving to the rim off the dribble. Thornwell is their most aggressive offensive player, but is not shooting a good percentage from the field; 22.7% from 3 and 35.3% overall. Make him finish!!! #14      F          Laimonas Chatkevicius: 6’11’’ 251   JR. Laimonas is a big, strong post presence that will be able to bang around with our big men down low. He is pretty skilled offensively and has the ability to step away from the basket and shoot out to 3-point range. Averaging 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. #21      F/C      Demetrius Henry: 6’9’’ 226              SO. Henry is a good back to the basket player coming off one of his best games of the season in their loss to Tennessee on Tuesday. He is a very good rebound both offensively and defensively. Tends to get into foul trouble. __________________________________________________________________________________________ #1        G         Marcus Stroman: 6’2’’ 183               FR. Stroman is a true point guard who will play a big role off the bench for the Gamecocks. He is a drive-first player offensively who is mostly looking to make plays for his teammates. Averaging 4.7 points and 4 assists per game. #20      G         Justin McKie: 6’4’’ 195                    SO. A former Mr. Basketball winner in South Carolina, McKie is a long and athletic shooter. Over half of his shots come from beyond the arc, but he is just 8/29 on the season. #24      F          Michael Carrera: 6’5’’ 212                JR. Carrera is a strong, hard-working forward that likes to operate inside. He is definitely a drive-first player who likes to use his strength to finish around the hoop. Averaging 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds. #25      F          Mindaugas Kacinas: 6’7’’ 227           JR. Mindaugas is a strong, undersized post player who has the skill to face-up and shoot it out to 3-point range. He is a very good finisher around the hoop and is also shooting 42.9% from 3 (6/14). Mindaugas is leading the Gamecocks in rebounding with 5.6 per game; half of those come on the offensive glass. We have to box him out!! Averages 6.9 points per game. Keys to the Game

• Dominate the paint. Once again, Kentucky should be able to dominate the interior and take control of the glass against South Carolina. The Gamecocks do start 6’9’’ & 6’11’’ down low, but they simply aren’t anywhere near as talented or athletic as our big men. Between blocking shots, getting offensive rebounder, and finishing around the rim, our frontcourt should dominate the game.
• Make some shots early, especially from the perimeter. When South Carolina upset then #9 Iowa State, the Cyclones shot just 1-18 from 3. That is quite simply why they lost. Their crowd will be looking for any reason to get rocking today on their way to another upset victory, but some early shots can put that out of their minds.
• Take care of the ball. We are significantly more talented that the Gamecocks, but you can keep teams like that in the game with turnovers and by letting them shoot it in from 3. They don’t shoot it well from beyond the arc, but they do turn teams over. Andrew Harrison and Tyler Ulis just need to handle their pressure and we will get good shots.

Brandon Ramsey @