Examining what's next for South Carolina in non-conference play
It’s been a long break for South Carolina, which sits with four wins and four losses over the start of the season.
The Gamecocks have five more non-conference games left before the start of league play, including three games in seven days starting Sunday.
Before the stretch run in non-conference play, here’s a look at the remaining schedule and how some predictive metrics see the games going.
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Presbyterian (Dec. 11)
KenPom ranking: 308
Quad I win/loss: Quad 4
KenPom prediction: South Carolina wins 66-56 (83 percent chance for South Carolina)
The skinny: The next up for the Gamecocks, who are trying to win consecutive games for the first time since the first two games of the year. The Blue Hose aren’t a juggernaut, and it’ll be a chance for South Carolina to pick up a win and try and let an entirely new roster continue to gel.
At UAB (Dec. 14)
KenPom ranking: 38
Quad I win/loss: Quad 1
KenPom prediction: UAB wins 79-64 (10 percent chance for South Carolina)
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The skinny: A parting gift from Frank Martin, this is the conclusion of a home-and-home with the Blazers and Martins’ longtime friend and Blazers head coach Andy Kennedy. The former Ole Miss head coach has turned the Blazers into one of the best mid-major programs in the country. The Blazers have an electric guard in Jordan Walker and have already beat Georgia this year. This one was always going to be tough and it’s even tougher having to go on the road for it.
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East Carolina (Dec. 17), in Greenville, S.C.
KenPom ranking: 215
Quad I win/loss: Quad 3
KenPom prediction: South Carolina wins 67-64 (65 percent chance for South Carolina)
The skinny: East Carolina isn’t a juggernaut, off to a 6-4 start to the year. The Pirates are breaking in a first-year coach also in Tennessee assistant Mike Schwartz. This game is at a neutral site and South Carolina’s struggled away from home this year outside of the second half and overtime against Georgetown. It’ll be a tough test against an American conference team.
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Western Kentucky (Dec. 22)
KenPom ranking: 110
Quad I win/loss: Quad 3
KenPom prediction: Western Kentucky wins 65-64 (49 percent chance for South Carolina)
The skinny: Another tough test for the Gamecocks against a quality mid-major program like the Hilltoppers. KenPom has this one as a toss-up, given it being at Colonial Life Arena. The Hilltoppers’ head coach Rick Stansbury has helped build that program into one that can contend in Conference USA. It’s one of the best offensive teams in the country right now.
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Eastern Michigan (Dec. 30)
KenPom ranking: 304
Quad I win/loss: Quad 4
KenPom prediction: South Carolina wins 76-65 (84 percent chance for South Carolina)The skinny: This is an intriguing game given the matchup with GG Jackson and Emoni Bates, last year’s five-star, can’t miss prospect. Bates didn’t click at Memphis and he’s back home at Ypsilanti playing for a team with plenty of growing pains, too. The Eagles are 2-9 to start but did play Michigan close.
