The struggling Gamecocks (13-12, 4-8) will welcome Ole Miss (17-10, 5-7) to town on Tuesday night at the Colonial Life Arena.
South Carolina has hit their lowest point of the season, losing five straight games and seven of their last eight. The NCAA Tournament talks of earlier in SEC play have long since vanished, and the Gamecocks find themselves struggling to stay above .500 on the season.
The Gamecocks have averaged right around 60 points a game in their last eight, and have had trouble throughout SEC play finding a way to put points on the board. If they want to stay above .500 and find a victory against Ole Miss, they are going to have to get the ball in the paint. In many games this season, South Carolina has been timid to drive to the basket and get some lay-ins or draw some foul calls to get to the charity stripe. This has been a big reason why they have been unable to score consistently lately. The jump shots aren't falling and the Gamecocks are paying dearly for it.
On the defensive side of the ball, Carolina hasn't done terribly but it has been an area of concern lately as they have allowed at least 70 points a game in four of their last five, including giving up a whopping 90 points to a Kentucky team that didn't play its starters for most of the second half. South Carolina must find a way to get their defensive pressure back if they want to win this ballgame.
Ole Miss is coming into the game winning four of their last six outings, but dropping a 71-58 affair to rival Mississippi State. The Rebels have been a decent team in the SEC West so far this year and has a big win over then No. 11 Kentucky at home. The Rebs have had no problem scoring for most of the year, averaging 74.4 points per game, ranking in the top 50 in the country. They lack in the rebounding department, averaging 38 rebounds per contest, ranking 113th.
I believe South Carolina has the ability to compete in the remainder of the season, but a big factor will be whether they want to or not as they find themselves in dead last in the SEC Eastern Division.
Prediction:
Ole Miss 75 South Carolina 65
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