Live updates/game thread: South Carolina at Kentucky

A few days after a lopsided loss to Tennessee, South Carolina is back on the hardwood.

The Gamecocks (7-8, 0-2 SEC) travel up to Rupp Arena to play a Kentucky team still in the top 30 of the KenPom rankings.

It’s an immensely talented team that’s fallen short of preseason expectations but still a very tough test for a South Carolina team struggling.

GamecockCentral is providing live updates throughout the game.

Follow along with live updates here.

GAME INFORMATION

Matchup: South Carolina at Kentucky (UK leads, 54-13)

Time: Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.

Venue: Rupp Arena (20,545)

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 107.5 The Game

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TIPOFF NOTABLES (From South Carolina)

> A New Chapter of Gamecock Men’s Basketball is underway with first-year head coach Lamont Paris this season.

> Paris, who has been a part of nine NCAA Division I Tournaments and 17 twenty-win seasons as a college head and assistant coach, was named the University of South Carolina’s 33rd head coach by Director of Athletics Ray Tanner on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

> This new-look Gamecock squad features eight new players (four transfers and four freshman) headlined by standout freshman forward Gregory “GG” Jackson II, the highest rated recruit in program history (recruit rankings started in early 2000s). He joined former Carolina standout PJ Dozier (2015-17) as the only five-star signees in program history.

> Jackson II is currently one of two freshmen in the country averaging at least 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Alabama’s Brandon Miller (19.1 points, 8.5 rebounds) is the only other player on the list. Jackson’s 15.7 points per game average is sixth-most nationally amongst freshmen behind only Miller (through games played Jan. 8).

> Kentucky enters the game off a tough road trip at No. 7/7 Alabama on Saturday. The Wildcats have played a tough schedule and picked up a hard-fought 74-71 win over LSU last Tuesday (Jan. 3) for the team’s first league victory.

> UK averages 76.9 points per game, good for the third highest output in the SEC.

> The Wildcats rebound it well, averaging 39.8 boards per contest (27^th nationally, 3^rd SEC). They rank fifth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (14.1).

> They also rank in the top-20 nationally in assists per game at 19^th with 17.1.

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> All-American Oscar Tshiebwe leads the nation averaging 13.2 rebounds per game.

> Sahvir Wheeler leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally averaging 6.6 assists per game.

> UK is the top 3-point shooting team in the SEC at 38.1 percent.

FREE THROWS FREE THROWS FREE THROWS FREE THROWS

> Vanderbilt took a hard-fought game over the Gamecocks on SEC opening night (Jan. 3), 84-79 in overtime at Memorial Gym. Hayden Brown forced OT with a made alley-op with .03 seconds remaining. In OT, the Commodores went 13-of-14 at the free throw line, nearly shooting as many free throws as Carolina did the entire game (15). Chico Carter Jr. led the Gamecocks with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists. It was Carter’s first career 20-point game in SEC play.

REAL RECOGNIZE REAL

> GG Jackson was named the CBS Sports/USBWA Freshman of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday, Jan. 3, fresh off a game in which he scored a career-high 24 points in the non-conference finale vs. Eastern Michigan (Dec. 30), squaring off against the Eagles’ Emoni Bates. Jackson had a game-high nine rebounds and also made a career-best four 3s in the contest.

 GG WAS HITTIN’ FROM THREE

> GG Jackson scored a career-high 24 points in the team’s 74-64 win over Emoni Bates and Eastern Michigan in the non-conference finale. He made a career-high four 3s and also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Carolina had its best first half of the season, scoring 40 points while shooting 54.8 percent (17-of-31) in building a double-digit advantage over the Eagles. The Gamecocks were dominant on the glass again with a 46-30 advantage. Chico Carter Jr. has 15 points and was an efficient 6-of-7 from the floor. Meechie Johnson had 10 to extend his double-figure scoring streak to six games. Carolina finished the non-conference slate a perfect 6-0 at CLA.

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MEECHIE ON THE NICE LIST

> Meechie Johnson scored a career-high 25 points, going 6-of-11 from downtown, in a 65-58 victory over Western Kentucky (Dec. 22) right before Christmas. He had 15 points in the first half after going 5-of-8 from behind the arc. GG Jackson pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds (most by a Gamecock since Chris Silva had 17 at A&M on 3/5/19) and added 12 points for his second double-double of the season. The Gamecocks pulled down a season-high 51 rebounds and also limited the Hilltoppers to just 36.4 percent shooting and 20 made field goals, both season lows for opponents. WKU came into the game fourth in the nation in 3-point shooting at 42.1 percent. The Gamecocks limited the Hilltoppers to just 13.6 percent (3-of-22) from distance.

GRINDIN’ IT OUT

> After trailing by three, 44-41, with just over 12 minutes to go, South Carolina took control thanks to a 14-0 run over a 6-minute stretch to defeat Presbyterian, 68-57, on Sunday, Dec. 11. The Gamecocks moved to 4-0 at home with the win. Freshman GG Jackson led the way again with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Junior Meechie Johnson added 16 points while graduate transfer Hayden Brown had 14 points. The Gamecocks are 2-0 when the trio scores in double figures. Junior big Josh Gray added valuable minutes off the bench with a team-high seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

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ROAD DAWGS

> Carolina bounced back from a tough road loss to start its two-game D.C. road swing with a 74-71 overtime victory at Georgetown (Dec. 3). Meechie Johnson made the go-ahead, 3-point basket with 25 seconds to go. He had a career day with 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds – all career highs. GG Jackson scored a team-high 22 points (9-for-19 FGs), all coming in the second half after going 0-for-5 the first 20 minutes. The Gamecocks trailed by 11 at the half. In the second half and overtime, South Carolina combined to shoot 20-of-37 (54.1 percent) from the field. The Gamecocks were 15-for-21 (71.4 percent) on 2-point shots in the second half and overtime combined. It was the team’s first true road win and first win away from Colonial Life Arena this season.

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