What we learned from South Carolina’s loss at Tennessee
After South Carolina’s 56-55 loss to Tennessee on Saturday, the Gamecocks are on the brink of their first 0-3 start to SEC play since 2013-14, Frank Martin’s second season at the helm
Here’s what we learned from the game that sent USC (8-7 overall) to 0-2:
For starters, guard play continues slide
One was coming of an SEC all-freshman season and the other was two seasons removed from being a double-digit scorer at another school. Together, A.J. Lawson and Jair Bolden had the credentials to give the Gamecocks a lethal backcourt, making that unit the strength of this team.
That starting duo Saturday went a combined 0 for 12 from the field and totaled six points. What’s more problematic is that kind of line is no longer all that shocking. It’s been this way for three games now, all South Carolina losses.
Lawson and Bolden went for 36 points (13 of 25 shooting) in the Virginia win on Dec. 22. Their numbers since against Stetson, Florida and Tennessee: 38 points (10 of 42).
“Those two got to figure it out themselves,” Martin said. “I can’t help guys that aren’t playing with fire. They’re good dudes. They got to figure that out.
“I can’t worry about motivating guys to compete. That’s an intrinsic thing, not an extrinsic thing. They have to be a lot more competitive. And competitive doesn’t mean just defend. It means when you run, run harder. When you got an opportunity to drive the ball, play stronger. When you have a dunk, you gotta score. All those things come into play.
“The word casual comes to mind a lot when you ask me about those guys. And it’s unfortunate because they’re both very talented, good young men. We need them to change gears to help us.”
Bolden logged just 13 minutes Saturday. That’s the second-fewest of his season, and it matched how long Trae Hannibal played off the bench. Martin’s frustration with the George Washington transfer was on display late in the first half when a loose ball bounced past Bolden’s reach and out of bounds. “How about diving?” Martin asked.
Lawson, who was held without a field goal for the third time in his career, missed a potential game-tying dunk with 3:39 left.
This was a most unusual loss
For the 16th time in the Martin era, USC held an opponent under 30% shooting. For the first time in the Martin era, that opponent beat the Gamecocks.
Tennessee won despite making 25.9% of its field goal attempts. How? Helps that the Vols outscored the Gamecocks by nine at the free throw line.
USC’s 13 of 22 performance from the line Saturday — including 0-for-2 trips by Keyshawn Bryant and Jermaine Couisnard in the second half — made it the seventh time this season that it’s failed to finish at 60%. It’s 2-5 in these games.
“You don’t lose because of just free throw shooting,” Martin said. “But when you keep missing nine, 10, 11 free throws a game, you’re not going to win. And you’re definitely not winning high-level games.”
The 2019-20 Gamecocks — at 61.4% — are threatening the 1994-95 Gamecocks (60.4%) as the worst free throw shooting team in program history.
A new leader emerges?
Statistically, Maik Kotsar is doing everything he can as a senior trying to pull his team through a rough patch. His 17 points Saturday give him two double-digit scoring games in SEC play. That already matches what he did all of last season.
Now he just needs help.
Kotsar is a leader by experience. Perhaps Couisnard can be it by example. Though he wasn’t perfect against the Vols — the missed free throws were costly — the redshirt freshman seemed to take it upon himself to will the Gamecocks back in the game after getting down seven. He scored six of Carolina’s final 11 points, showing the kind of assertiveness Martin has been begging for.
“Jermaine is our most connected guard to me on our team,” Martin said. “He has the best understanding and plays with the best aggression on our team. He’s a real good player. I’m excited about coaching Jermaine. I go out there every day and I know he’s going to fight for me. I get excited about coaching guys like him.”
NEXT
What: Kentucky at South Carolina
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
This story was originally published January 12, 2020 at 10:10 AM with the headline "What we learned from South Carolina’s loss at Tennessee."
