What to watch for: South Carolina wraps up week against East Carolina

South Carolina finishes up a whirlwind week Saturday afternoon. 

The Gamecocks play a nuetral site game in Greenville, South Carolina at 2 p.m. against East Carolina. 

Here’s what to watch for as South Carolina tries to wrap up a three-game week with its second win and rebound from the UAB loss.

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Handling the end of a tough stretch

After having eight days off for finals, South Carolina plays its third game in seven days Saturday afternoon. It’s a tough stretch trying to regroup from a loss at UAB and having a short turnaround before playing away from home again. 

The Gamecocks have struggled when not playing at Colonial Life Arena. South Carolina is 4-0 at home but 1-5 away from home. Saturday is obviously a neutral site game so the Gamecocks will have to bring their own energy for a midday tip-off.  

Using South Carolina’s size

ECU is a young and smaller team, ranking near the bottom of Division I in average size and Division I experience. South Carolina has some size and length at its advantage but will need to use it. 

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Both teams, despite some struggles in the frontcourt, are solid offensive rebounding teams. The Pirates have played bigger of late but do go small at times.

South Carolina could have a size advantage at times if it goes bigger and could take advantage of it. That requires good play from GG Jackson, Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk and Josh Gray.

Keeping ECU off the line

The Pirates’ offense is predicated on taking a lot of threes (43.6 percent of field goals are threes) and getting to the line. ECU is top 30 in free throw rate, which means it gets to the line a ton. The Gamecocks have to not only force the Pirates off the three-point line and limit good looks, but also not fouling when the Pirates get inside the paint. 

Over half (54.8 percent) of East Carolina’s points come from the three-point line or charity stripe.

The Pirates aren’t a great three-point defense and the Gamecocks love to shoot threes as well so Saturday could turn into a battle of whichever team makes the most.

Getting efficient offense

South Carolina isn’t an incredibly efficient offense (No. 220 nationally) but East Carolina’s defense is its weakness as well (No. 256). The Gamecocks should have a chance to score points and put together solid stretches of efficient offense but will need its big three to play well. 

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Hayden Brown, Meechie Johnson and Jackson scored a ton against UAB but will need to shoot well and play well to do it. How well the Gamecocks’ offense plays could dictate what happens Saturday. 

Scouting the opponent

The Pirates are 7-4 but don’t have a marquee win at the moment, similar to South Carolina. Their best win came Nov. 22 on a neutral court against Toledo (No. 103 in KenPom). Only one other win comes against a KenPom top 200 team (Mercer at No. 193). 

The losses have come to Indiana State (112), Old Dominion (144), South Carolina State (342) and UNC Wilmington (127). The Pirates have been off for over a week with the last win coming Dec. 11 against Coppin State. 

It’s a program in year one under Mike Swartz, who was an assistant at Tennessee most recently. 

Guard Javon Small is a problem, averaging 18.1 points and 5.7 assists per game. He’s shooting 47 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. BIg man Brandon Johnson is averaging 8.9 boards but also 13 points on 50.6 percent shooting. 

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Another guard, RJ Felton, is scoring 11.7 points and shooting 42.5 percent from the field. Big man Ezra Ausar has started the last three games and is playing well. HE’s shooting 60.4 percent and averaging 7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. 

Game information

Who: South Carolina (5-5) vs. East Carolina (7-4)

When: Saturday, Dec. 17 (2 p.m. ET)

Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Capacity: 15,951)

All-time series: South Carolina leads 6-5 (Last game: South Carolina won 57-53 in 2004)

How to watch: ESPN Plus

How to listen: 107.5 FM

KenPom prediction: 68-64 South Carolina (Gamecocks given a 63 percent chance to win)

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