Everything Paul Mainieri said after South Carolina was swept by Florida

Following South Carolina’s three-game sweep at the hands of Florida, head coach Paul Mainieri spoke to the media on Sunday. Here’s everything he had to say.

Opening statement

“There’s not really much to say in an opening statement. We just got beat by a better team today.”

You guys got a couple of series left, then the SEC Tournament. Seems like winning that tournament can be the best path to the postseason. Just what do you say over these next two weeks to the guys? Do you start mentioning that already, or is it kind of the same approach?

“No, we’re just taking it one day at a time and just win as many games as we can, hopefully play better than we did today. We just kind of got overmatched.”

Two quick ones for you. Do you have an update on Beau Hollins? And then Blake Jackson reaches base all five times in the first game, but doesn’t start the second game. What went into that decision?

“Well, it was a left-handed pitcher. That’s why he didn’t start the second game. Beau, I knew he was he slid last week against Kentucky, and I knew his back of his knee was a little bit sore. I didn’t think it was that extensive. I showed up to the park this morning, and evidently, Beau told the trainer that he couldn’t play. So that’s it for that.”

At this point, after a series like this, do you feel like there are any answers, any words, or just kind of got to keep putting your head down? Do you feel like you’re close to figuring anything out?

“Yeah, just kind of got to keep playing and doing the best we can. I don’t know what else to say.”

How do you go about keeping the players encouraged? Is it more challenging them, or is it more motivating them?

“I think you appeal to their pride, and they need to go out there every day and represent their university in the best possible way. They can only do the best they can. Every kid has to look himself in the mirror and know if he’s really doing the best he can, and if they are, that’s all you can do.”

What was your message to the team when you met with them after the game?

“That would stay within the team. I’m sorry.”

For you personally, a long career and you suffer through a day like today with everything that your team did poorly: walks, errors, runners left on base the entire series. That’s got to be kind of stunning for somebody of your stature.

“Well, thank you. I think that’s a compliment. Yeah, believe me, the whole for 40 years, every day hasn’t been easy, so I’ve unfortunately had a lot of experience with some bad days, rough days. It’s not about me, it’s about the kids. You know, I’m here for the kids, not for me. I just wish we’d have played better. You know, the biggest thing, I mean, you know you are what you are. I mean, you know you’re not gonna make guys all sudden throw 98 miles an hour. You can’t all of a sudden make guys hit the ball 450 feet. But we had some defensive lapses today, which I think is the most disappointing thing to me, because you know you can deal with whatever your so-called limitations are. But it’s not that hard to field a ground ball, you know? I mean those, those are things that any player should be able to do. So, yeah, it was just in every aspect of the game; we just didn’t play very well today. Consequently, we lost two games.”

You mentioned some defensive lapses today, and then you benched a couple of guys last week for defensive lapses. Do you feel like some of the guys are losing heart at this point, or what do you chalk it up to?

“You mean, why they made the errors? Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, Jordan Carrion is a really good defensive player. He made an error. You know, it happens. Kaczmar has made a lot of plays and gets a double play ball and didn’t make the play. It’s the way the game is sometimes. I wouldn’t chalk it up to anything other than they didn’t make the play at that particular moment. I don’t know what else to say.”

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