What to watch for: South Carolina hosts Presbyterian

For the first time in a week, South Carolina hits the hardwood. 

The Gamecocks are back after finals trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since the first two games this season. They’ll host Presbyterian at 6 p.m. Sunday night trying to build off an overtime win over Georgetown. 

Here’s what to know as the Gamecocks get ready to tip-off. 

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Managing the long layoff

The Gamecocks are coming off their longest layoff of the season, over a week, and a stressful few days with finals wrapping up recently. 

It’s a chance for players–especially the young ones–to catch their breath and reset, but it is a very long layoff between games. Eight days off from a game can cause rust to build up and a team to potentially start slow in its first game back. 

How South Carolina handles a long layoff trying to build on an emotional win will be interesting to watch.

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Coming off injuries

The long layoff can be rust-building, but it will give Meechie Johnson and Chico Carter a chance to get as close to 100 percent as possible. Both have been limited over the last few weeks with ankle injuries and the extra rest could help them get back to full-go. 

Johnson looked like the player he was billed to be against the Hoyas–17 points, eight assists and the game-winning three–but still wasn’t 100 percent. Carter flashed but South Carolina needs both guys to be healthy. 

Those two guys getting to a point where the ankles aren’t an issue is integral moving into this stretch.

Will South Carolina play small?

A lineup with Johnson, Carter, Jacobi Wright, Hayden Brown and GG Jackson spent a lot of time on the floor together against Georgetown and was the lineup that erased an 11-point deficit.

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Jackson was able to play closer to the basket with the ability to shoot threes in some sets as well. The Gamecocks might not be able to do that constantly game in and game out, but it’ll be interesting to see how much run that lineup gets against Presbyterian. 

Defensive strides

One thing players have harped on since the season started was the Gamecocks’ defensive performances. South Carolina’s shown promise, the second half against USC Upstate specifically, but allowed 103.5 points per 100 against Georgetown and 121.5 against George Washington. 

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Having a little bit of extra film and practice time could help Paris install and tweak things to help the Gamecocks’ defense. Presbyterian isn’t an offensive juggernaut but seeing South Carolina’s defensive effort and ability to get consecutive stops will be something to watch.

Scouting the opponent

Presbyterian isn’t off to a hot start, ranking No. 308 in KenPom with just two wins in 10 games. The Blue Hose have wins over non-Division I Carolina University and VMI, which ranks No. 330 in KenPom. Quinton Ferrell is in his fourth season as head coach in Clinton.

They’ve lost to The Citadel, East Carolina, UAB, Bucknell, Albany, Charlotte, Wofford and Charleston. Presbyterian is 337th nationally in offensive efficiency and 239th in defensive efficiency. The offense doesn’t shoot the ball well and doesn’t move at a pretty high pace. It’s a team really struggling right now. 

Opponents have the ability to make shots against that Presbyterian defense. What the Blue Hose do well is rebound the ball on the offensive end and get to the free throw line. Defensively they do block 10.4 percent of shots.

Midlands native Crosby James–a former teammate of Jackson’s–is the team’s leading scorer at 10.5 points and 36.2 percent shooting. Forward Winston Hill is averaging 9.7 points but shooting 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from three. Guard Marquis Barnett is the team’s leading rebounder (5 rebounds/game) and is also averaging 9.8 points on 42.2 percent shooting.

Game details

Who: Presbyterian (2-8) at South Carolina (4-4)

When: Sunday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena (Capacity: 18,000)

All-time series: South Carolina leads 3-0 (Last game: Gamecocks won 76-60 in 2012)

How to watch: ESPN Plus

How to listen: 107.5 FM

KenPom prediction: 66-56 South Carolina (Gamecocks given 83 percent chance to win)

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