Georgia Bulldogs

No. 19 South Carolina looks to stifle Georgia (Feb 04, 2017)

Published Feb. 3, 2017 7:19 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

AP

The manner in which No. 19 South Carolina typically wins basketball games isn't the most aesthetically pleasing for many observers.

The Gamecocks thrive on tenacious defense and aren't too interested in being artistic or flashy.

But the style certainly works as South Carolina is tied with No. 8 Kentucky for first place in the SEC entering Saturday's home contest against Georgia.

The Gamecocks (18-4, 8-1) are tied for fifth nationally in both scoring defense (60.9) and field-goal percentage defense (37.4) and rank seventh in turnovers forced per game at 17.3. And nobody guards the 3-point line better than South Carolina, which is limiting opponents to a frigid 25.7 percent.

Yet respect comes grudgingly in an era in which offensive exploits draw the attention, something Gamecocks coach Frank Martin hears often.

"It's ugly. Why can't they play prettier?" said Martin, mimicking the words of skeptics.

Martin knows he can't control the reactions of others but the results are pretty solid for a program that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2004.

The Gamecocks are on their way to ending that drought, barring a deep collapse. Their lone conference loss was to Kentucky and they have since won three consecutive games by an average of 21.3 points, including Wednesday's 88-63 road win over LSU.

South Carolina never trailed in the contest and led by 20 points before the game was even 12 minutes old.

"Whenever we come out defensive-minded, our offense gets flowing pretty fast," sophomore guard PJ Dozier said.

Georgia (13-9, 4-5) dropped three of its past four games but put up a stellar effort against Kentucky on Tuesday before falling 90-81 in overtime.

The Bulldogs were close to pulling off the huge upset in Lexington before Wildcats star Malik Monk hit the tying shot with eight seconds left in regulation. Kentucky then controlled the overtime to stave off the upset bid.

"It was a very good basketball game and our kids really competed hard," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "You are never going to play a perfect game when you compete your tail off but you make enough plays to give yourself a chance to win."

Senior guard J.J. Frazier (23 points), junior forward Yante Maten (22) and sophomore forward Derek Ogbeide (career-best 18 points, career-high-tying 13 rebounds) all had big games against Kentucky.

Maten leads the Bulldogs in scoring (19.8), rebounding (7.6) and blocked shots (32) while Frazier averages 15.9 points and has a team-best 45 steals.

South Carolina features three double-digit scorers in senior guard Sindarius Thornwell (19.1), Dozier (13.8) and senior guard Duane Notice (10.3).

Thornwell's 117 career starts are the most in program history. He also has 1,584 points, two behind Mike Dunleavy Sr. (the former NBA player and coach played for the Gamecocks from 1972-76) for sixth-place on the all-time scoring list.

Dozier has recorded six 20-point outings, one coming against the Bulldogs on Jan. 7, when he led the Gamecocks to a 67-61 road win. Dozier registered 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a victory that ended Georgia's four-game winning streak in the series.

Maten posted 18 points and 10 rebounds and Frazier scored 16 points for the Bulldogs, who shot just 36.2 percent from the field.

share

Get more from Georgia Bulldogs Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Georgia Bulldogs

South Carolina Gamecocks