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September 11th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
South
Carolina Gamecocks
Overall
Rank: #61
Conference
Rank: #7 SEC
2005-06:
23-15, 6-10, 5th East
2005-06
postseason: NIT
 South
Carolina has a little rebuilding to do after losing three
starters. However, Coach Dave Odom has some talent returning
that will be ready to take over the scoring load. It’s a mixed
blessing when the practice squad backcourt looks more impressive
than the group on the floor and there will be some times when
Gamecock fans see Devan Downey and Zam Fredrick on the bench and
wish the transfers didn’t have to redshirt this season.
Who’s Out:
Tarence Kinsey led the squad with 15.8 points per game during
his senior campaign. The backcourt also loses Stephen McDowell
who has opted to transfer. Up front Renaldo Balkman will be
missed. After averaging 9.6 points and a team high 6.3 rebounds
as a junior, Balkman split for the NBA. Antoine Tisby and Rocky
Trice both had starting experience and will leave behind little
proven depth at the forward spots. Seldom used Kevin Palacios
has left the team.
Who’s In:
After
redshirting last year, freshman Dominique Archie may find
himself in a starting role. The 6-7 power forward is a solid
athlete and a beast on the glass and in the shot blocking
department. His interior scoring will need time to develop at
this level, but he will find other ways to contribute this
year. Chadwick Gray and Mitchell will add some depth in the
paint. Gray may join the Gamecocks in December if his academics
are in order. He is athletic and a solid rebounder, but needs
to continue to work on his shooting touch. Carter has nice size
at 6-11 and 250 pounds, but will need to work on his scoring and
rebounding skills. Nevertheless, Carter is expected to be a
presence under the basket for the Gamecocks as a freshman. At
6-7 and 200 pounds, small forward Evaldas Baniulis will bring
some more size to the wings. The Lithuanian has a nice stroke
out to the three-point line and could become a spark off the
bench during his freshman campaign. Brandis Raley-Ross should
provide a spark of his own. The 6-2 shooting guard has a nice
mid-range game and can get to the basket. With a little more
consistency on the long range shooting, Ross will make a huge
contribution right away.
Who to Watch:
Tre
Kelley is the team leader and will carry this squad as a
senior. As a junior last year, Kelley averaged 12.5 points and
4.6 assists. He’s a careful ballhandler and does well finding
his teammates. Kelley might be the leader, but it’s the play of
the guys on the wings that will decide how well USC does this
year. Dwayne Day and Bryce Sheldon were roleplayers last year
and both should see a drastic increase in playing time this
year. Day, a 6-6 junior, has a long wingspan and has bulked up
a bit, which should be a lethal combination on the defensive
end. Day is a solid outside shooter and should help replace the
loss of Kinsey. Sheldon has been known just as a three-point
shooter, but his role will need to become more dynamic if he
hopes to be more than just a shooter off the bench as a senior.
Final
Projection:
Despite all the
losses in the frontcourt, it doesn’t look too bad with Brandon
Wallace returning. Wallace started nearly every game last year,
averaging 7.6 points and 6.3 rebounds. With the rest of the
frontcourt minutes being taken over by newcomers or seldom used
players like Ousmane Konate, Wallace will be the main scoring
option under the basket. The starting five is solid, but the
incoming freshmen won’t have much time to adjust before they
will be asked to contribute. There may be some tough times
early in the year, but the Gamecocks will be dangerous come
March. Unfortunately, that danger will come once again in the
NIT, and not the NCAAs.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected
Starting Five:
Tre’ Kelley,
Senior, Guard, 12.5 points per game
Bryce Sheldon,
Senior, Guard, 4.1 points per game
Dwayne Day,
Junior, Guard, 4.8 points per game
Dominique
Archie, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Brandon Wallace,
Senior, Forward, 7.6 points per game
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