South Carolina Gamecocks at Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday 3PM
TV: Raycom

The red hot South Carolina Gamecocks travel to Lexington to face Kentucky who is coming off their first SEC loss of the season at Ole Miss on Tuesday. Kentucky has dominated this series winning eight of the last 10 and 33 of the last 39.

Records:

South Carolina 15-4, 4-2, 2-3 (away)
Kentucky 16-5, 5-1, 10-2 (away)

Keys to the Game:

1. Defending Jodie Meeks

Meeks is scoring a league best 26 points per game and already has the single game scoring record in Kentucky history this season with 54 against Tennessee. In Tuesday's loss to Ole Miss, Meeks shot just 4-15 from the field and 3-10 from the three point line as he was constantly harassed by Rebel defenders. South Carolina has to be aware of Meeks at all times, but it will be difficult having two shorter guards in the backcourt that Meeks can shoot over.

2. Kentucky Taking Care of the Ball

The Wildcats turns the ball over 18 times per game offensively which ranks near the bottom of the SEC. South Carolina has been incredible at creating turnovers forcing opponents into nearly 20 per game. But Kentucky has gotten better in SEC play with just 13.5 tpg. Will that trend continue?

3. South Carolina's Backcout Duo

The Gamecocks are led by their backcourt of Devan Downey and Zam Frederick. The two are South Carolina's leading scorers averaging 20 and 16 points per game respectively. These two have to have great games for Darin Horn's club to pull off the road upset.

Stats to Watch:

Jodie Meeks shooting percentage
Combined Points for Downey and Frederick
Other four UK Starters points

Prediction:

Kentucky was due for a bad game after running off five straight in the SEC to start the conference season. Unless Meeks has another poor shooting night, I see the Wildcats winning this one comfortably.

Kentucky wins by 7-12 points

Other SEC Games This Weekend:

Miss State over Ole Miss
The Rebels are coming off a big win against Kentucky, but Miss State is quietly 4-1 in the SEC. Ole Miss has to go on the road for this one where they are just 1-4 on the season.

Auburn over Vanderbilt
Vandy has been one of the most disappointing teams thus far in the SEC. The Commodores have just 1 win away from Memorial Gym this season.

LSU over Arkansas
The Tigers are getting it done in the SEC under new coach Trent Johnson. LSU’s only home loss of the year is against top 25 Xavier.

Alabama over Georgia
The game of interim coaches in the SEC! Alabama has more talent than Georgia and is playing at home. Take the Tide.

Season: 9-9 SU through 1/30

My Home Page

South Carolina (15-4) at Kentucky (16-5)

The Line: Kentucky -9 1/2

January 31, 2009 3PM EST

Two giants in the SEC meet at Rupp Arena in Lexington as the South Carolina Gamecocks are in town to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. While it's still fairly early in conference play, this game could go a long way in conference tournament seeding and may ultimately play a role in NCAA tournament seeding.

While neither of these teams are ranked in the top 25, these teams may be the best outside of the top 25—making this a marquee matchup. Statistically, this looks like an even game as South Carolina is 57 in RPI and KU is at 58.

Both teams are battle-tested with two wins against teams in the top 25. The X factor in this one looks to be that South Carolina has been as effective on the road as they are just 2-3 overall and winless on the road in SEC play. The Wildcats are undefeated at home when playing within the SEC.

South Carolina is 6-7-1 against the spread overall so far this year, while Kentucky is 10-5 against the number. South Carolina is 5-2-1 against the spread in their last eight SEC games. Kentucky is 9-3 against the spread in their last 12 games overall and 5-2 against the spread in their last seven home games.

South Carolina has covered on four of its last five trips to Lexington. The underdog in this series has covered in seven of the last nine meetings and the road team has covered in six of the last seven. While I think Kentucky rebounds from their loss last time out, I think this is just too many points.

Mitch's Pick: South Carolina + 9 1/2

See all of Mitch's free college basketball picks against the spread

Preview

Mississippi (1-3, 10-8) has had an up-and-down season so far—after going 5-1 in November, they have gone 5-7 for December and January, trading off wins and losses until they lost back-to-back in their two most recent conference games.

South Carolina (2-2, 13-4), on the other hand, has had more success this season, going 11-2 in non-conference play, and then losing at LSU before losing by three to Tennessee. This game kicks off a tough four game stretch, where the Gamecocks host Mississippi and Vanderbilt before traveling to Kentucky and Florida.

South Carolina has four players averaging double-digit points while Ole Miss only has two, but they are both averaging almost 20. The biggest distraction for the Rebels right now is the legal action being taken against coach Kennedy for assault on a cab driver and Kennedy's suing of the cab driver for defamation.

But enough about the coaches problems, here's how the two stack up:

Stats

	Record	Conf	ATS	RPI	SOS	PF	PA
Mississippi	10-8	1-3	7-6	72	16	72.6	71.7
South Carolina	13-4	2-2	7-5	65	145	79.5	67.6

	FG%	D. FG%	3P%	D. 3P%	FT%	RPG	SPG	APG
Mississippi	43.4	44.2	35.2	33.8	75.1	39.5	6.4	12.1
South Carolina	46.6	42.7	38.6	32.0	65.5	40.5	10.2	11.9

Prediction

Current Line: South Carolina -10.5

Mississippi ATS: 7-6, 3-3 when underdog
South Carolina ATS: 7-5, 4-3 when favored

In South Carolina's four SEC games, they would have covered this spread only once (when they defeated Auburn by 12). Their other three games are two losses and a one point victory over Florida. Ole Miss has lost to Florida by 10, defeated Arkansas, lost to LSU by 22 and to Alabama by three, so they would have only not covered this spread once.

Every game is different, though, so it's not correct to look at only the SEC games they have played so far. We should also look at the history between the two teams—since 2002, both of these teams have five victories over the other, although South Carolina has grabbed the most recent two.

The battles between these two SEC rivals have historically been very close—since 2002, only three of the ten games have been decided by 11 points or more. In fact, four of the games have been decided by five points or less, and another three have been decided by only six points.

I think the Gamecocks will walk away victorious, but I do not think that they'll be able to pull off the 11 point victory.

Pick: Mississippi +10.5

*All statistics for this article have come from StatSheet.com*

*This article is also featured on CFBPlace.com—and soon to be featured on CBBPlace.com*

Featured Games

Georgetown vs. Notre Dame

As a self-proclaimed SEC homer, I know I am sinning by writing this, but my love affair with Georgetown continues.  

Yes, Notre Dame pulled out the win over the Hoyas Monday night en route to their 44th home victory in a row, but Georgetown certainly didn’t make it easy for them.  It’s amazing that a team this good is 1-2 in conference play.  

More importantly, is there any doubt that the Hoyas’ freshman big man Greg Monroe is the real deal? 

A legit 6'11", 250, this kid is smooth.  He has a good-looking left-handed jumpshot, passes well, doesn’t force things, and plays completely within himself.

He also leads the team in rebounds, steals, and blocks while shooting 74 percent from the FT line.  The kid has a good handle, as he goes between his legs like a guard—and he even penetrates and dishes to the open man in the corner. 

The big man has faced three very formidable frontlines in his first taste against Big East action, but last night’s performance is his best so far: 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

Monroe has a tendency to post too low on the block, and he could be more aggressive on the defensive end, but for an 18-year-old, this kid is insanely talented. 

Or maybe Bill Raftery’s voice has hypnotized me into drinking some serious Greg Monroe Kool-Aid.  Regardless, let’s hope Monroe sticks around the college game for another year or two. 

South Carolina vs. Wofford

I know what you are thinking: This is anything but an elite game.

Let me explain.

Monday’s convincing 78-61 win is enough for me to predict an SEC Coach of the Year award for Darrin Horn this season.  And not because Wofford is a world-beater; far from it, actually.  It’s that this was the ultimate trap game, sandwiched between an away game at 20th-ranked Baylor and the Gamecocks’ SEC opener against Auburn.

Speaking of that Baylor game, just three days ago, the Gamecocks beat the 12-2 Bears on their home court in a down-to-the-wire, 85-84 shootout.  For a team that virtually discovered 10 new heartbreaking ways to lose close games last year, that victory was huge for the Gamecocks, especially considering the roster is essentially the same as last year’s.

In just one offseason, Darrin Horn has completely changed the mindset of his team.     

Remember, too, that Baylor’s only other loss is to fourth-ranked Wake Forest, and the loss to South Carolina was Baylor’s only home loss of the season.   

All this with key reserve Sam Muldrow still out and 6'1" junior Robert Wilder playing shooting guard for injured 6'2" senior Branden Conrad, who is out with a foot injury.  Under Dave Odom last year, Conrad and Wilder were walk-ons, with Conrad playing sparingly and Wilder getting nothing more than mop-up time in blowouts. 

Horn has somehow taken these two kids and made them integral parts of the team.    

With Odom at the helm, South Carolina was 9-23 in conference play over the last two years. 

Look for the Gamecocks to notch at least nine conference wins this season alone and be on the bubble for a tournament appearance.  As for Horn, he might just be hoisting an SEC Championship trophy in a year or two.  Athletic Director Eric Hyman hit the jackpot with this hire.

With football season over, look for angry Gamecock fans to pack the Colonial Life Arena this Saturday and watch their Gamecocks tear into Auburn for their first SEC win.  

Stock up       

Kurt Rambis jerseys: Rambis’ college jersey at Santa Clara was recently retired.  Make your bid on eBay before it’s too late.

Stock down    

Long-sleeved undershirts: Seriously, are you that cold, Tony Crocker?  Isn’t this like the guy in sweatpants during a local pick-up game? 

Syracuse’s form fitting tops and clamdigger shorts combo is awful, but the long-sleeved undershirts should be saved for outdoor wear only—or as a nightie.  Good grief. 

Diamond in the Rough

VMI is 12-2 and lighting opponents up on the scoreboard.  But last night’s gutty 93-90 win over Charleston Southern might be their best performance yet.  Missing their two leading scorers, seniors Travis and Chavis Holmes, VMI still put up 93 points and pulled off a close win—on the road, no less. 

With super-sub Keith Gabriel (16.4 ppg) struggling from the field, sophomore southpaw Hunter Houston, playing in his first game of the season, went off for 18 points in 23 minutes, shooting 6-9 from the field and 5-8 from three-ball. 

Resident three-bomb artist Austin Kenon led the Keydets with a career-high 26 points, including six treys on nine attempts.

VMI seems dead set on a tournament appearance this year.

The best-laid plans

Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel was hospitalized with a stomach virus and did not coach the Sooners' Monday night game against 1-9 Maryland-Eastern Shore.

A loss to Arkansas, the SEC’s finest to offer at this point, will do that to you, I guess. 

In all seriousness, though: What happened to the days of taking a Tums and getting some sleep? 

Let’s hope fellow OU coach Bob Stoops has packed his medication to Miami...

After Saturday’s easy, 75-53 win over USC-Upstate, the South Carolina Gamecocks are now 3-0—and face a very light schedule over the next month.

South Carolina also defeated Winthrop University and Jacksonville State earlier this season.  The margin of victory over the first three games for USC is 19.3 points. 

The Gamecocks’ schedule has received much criticism, in large part because Carolina might not face a ranked team until January.

Then again, tell that to Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama, who have been upset by the likes of VMI, Loyola of Chicago and Mercer, respectively.

Regardless, the Darrin Horn era has officially begun.

This year’s team—made up of essentially the exact same players as last year—has a completely different look. 

The Gamecocks look to push it, press, and shoot the three ball—not exactly staples of Dave Odom’s teams.  Because of the up tempo style, Horn has also been subbing liberally, giving valuable minutes to every player dressed out.  

Devan Downey has picked up where he left off last year, scoring, dishing, collecting steals, and generally wreaking havoc on the court.  Coach Horn has stressed more discipline from Downey on the defensive end, and it shows.

Joining Downey in the backcourt are Zam Frederick, Branden Conrad, and Evka Baniulis.

Frederick continues to be a streaky scorer but is playing much more within himself than in the past while Conrad is seeing significant minutes for the first time in his career as a Gamecock.  Conrad has been steady to this point, knocking down open jumpers, making the correct passes, and playing tough defense. 

Baniulis, meanwhile, is trying to find his niche in an offense that only suits half of his strengths.  Baniulis loves to put up the threes, but getting from one end of the floor to the other—quickly—can be a struggle for the big wingman.   

Brandis Raley-Ross was the starting two-guard but will be gone for another three weeks after suffering a knee injury in the opening game.

Up front, both Dominique Archie and Mike Holmes are looking great. 

Archie’s length has given teams fits, and some of his dunks have been Sports Center material for sure.  Archie has also develop a legitimate three-point shot and looks to knock it down in transition or in the half court set.  His presence on the press will be huge for the Cocks this year. 

Holmes does the dirty work down low but can also step out and shoot a nice 15-17 foot jumper.  Like Archie, he is posting double-doubles and looks to be working very hard.

Spelling both Archie and Holmes is Austin Steed, who has been a pleasant surprise so far for Carolina.  Steed has the perfect sixth man persona:  the hustle, work ethic, and penchant to find the loose ball.  Steed has also shown himself to be a decent scoring threat. 

All that said, the most important thing Darrin Horn has done is infuse the program with enthusiasm.  If he can get his team to 11-0 before the Clemson game, that will tell a lot about his coaching, since this team has been known for its roller-coaster performances and occasional lapses against inferior teams. 

And come SEC time, watch out.  With no clear leader of the conference, it should be wide open, and Carolina will surely sneak up on a few teams. 

If you see USC on your team’s schedule, put it on your calendar and watch these kids play.  They are sure to get after it and leave you entertained.

Darrin Horn has nabbed his first target for the 2009-2010 season: Lakeem Jackson, a 6'5" All-State swingman from Christ School in Arden, North Carolina.

In Jackson, Horn is getting an all-around dynamic player.  From his natural wing spot, Jackson attacks the hoop but is also capable of knocking down the three-ball.  Jackson’s 205-pound frame allows him to overpower most guards, and his athleticism is off the charts.    

Versatility is key to Jackson’s game as well, as he can also play the point, and another year of high school ball will allow him to work on his handle.  If this kid can improve even more on his shot and ball handling before next year, he could be a very special part of the Gamecock movement immediately.        

Most importantly, from Horn’s perspective, is that Jackson is a tough defender, something Horn’s teams take great pride in.  Jackson’s thick frame and impressive vertical make him an excellent rebounding guard, and he can muscle smaller players on the perimeter and take on bigger players in the post.    

Jackson will get a chance to shine for South Carolina fans when Christ School comes to Columbia in December for the Chick-fil-A Classic, a tournament featuring premier teams from around the nation.     

Gamecock fans will no doubt be impressed with what they see from Jackson, whose powerful dunks are on display each game.     

Despite offers from Clemson, Marquette, Georgia Tech, and several others, Jackson chose South Carolina mainly because of his comfort level with Horn, who actually offered Jackson when he was head coach at Western Kentucky.  As Jackson says, "I have a great relationship with Coach Horn.  I like his style.  I like to run."   

While Jackson is from Charlotte, he chose to attend Christ School—an all-boys boarding school just south of Asheville—primarily for the reputation the school has earned as somewhat of a basketball powerhouse over the last four to five years, despite the fact that the school only enrolls roughly 200 students per year.   

In 2005, Christ School sent twin guards Travis and Chavis Holmes to Virginia Military Institute, where both are currently racking up Big South records in Coach Duggar Baucom’s up-tempo offense.     

In 2007, swingman Malik Cooke signed to play for Nevada.  While Cooke played limited minutes his freshman year, he should see an expanded role in his sophomore season.   

Most recently, though, Christ School has produced its most sought after prospects.  Brothers Miles and Mason Plumlee, both towering forwards who can handle the ball and shoot, have agreed to play for Coach K at Duke.     

While Miles originally signed with Trent Johnson’s Stanford team, he had second thoughts after Johnson left, and when Taylor King transferred from Duke at season’s end, a spot opened for the elder Plumlee this season.   

Meanwhile, little brother Mason, who got offers from nearly every major program in the nation, will play out his final season at Christ School and then join his brother in Raleigh-Durham in 2009.    

And the Plumlee pipeline doesn’t stop there, as the youngest brother, Marshall, a sophomore, already stands 6'8" and shows the same skills as his brothers.  Chances are he will be getting looks from coaches across the nation as well.    

Finally, another Christ School player on this year’s team, guard Dee Giger, is close to making his official commitment to a smaller level D-I school.

If you are keeping count at home, that gives the small boarding school of 200 kids three Division I athletes on the same team.  Not bad.     

And then, of course, there is Jackson, who many consider to be the glue to Christ School’s team.       

The common denominator of all these players—and certainly what makes them so attractive to college coaches—is that they all own at least one state championship ring.     

This season will be especially poignant for Jackson, as the state championship games will be played in his hometown of Charlotte—a short drive from Columbia, SC.     

As Christ School attempts to capture its third title in a row, with Lakeem Jackson leading the way, something tells me Darrin Horn will be in attendance.

When Darrin Horn took the job as head coach of the South Carolina basketball team roughly two months ago, he knew he faced a long road ahead.

Over the last decade, South Carolina has only managed one NCAA appearance and has lost at least 10 SEC games eight times.

Not exactly Westwood type stuff. 

With that in mind, Horn had to make some tough decisions.  

South Carolina’s previous coach, Dave Odom, signed only one player for this upcoming season, Darius Morrow, a big man from Atlanta.  And while Morrow never waffled from his commitment to USC after the coaching change, Horn and his staff did not share the same sentiments. 

So just like that, Morrow was released from his letter of intent—and off to East Carolina he went.   

Similarly, after evaluating his team, Horn felt red-shirt freshman shooting guard Trevor Deloach, who never played this past season, would not fit into the team’s plans. 

And this is where the situation gets tricky. 

While Morrow could easily sign with another team, Deloach was stuck in somewhat of a no-man’s land.  To play at another Division I school, Deloach would have to sit out a second year in a row.  So in order to play right away, Deloach decided to head to Chipola Junior College in Florida. 

While Deloach has publicly stated that he is out to prove Horn wrong, time will tell who is the better judge of this young man’s basketball talent. 

Finally, Horn dismissed sophomore forward Chad Gray, whose time at South Carolina was often characterized as underachieving. 

All of these decisions were tough, as no head coach wants to tell a hardworking and talented young man, let alone three, that he is not wanted. 

But for Horn, the mission is clear:  Set the groundwork for the future.    

Horn insists that his transition to Columbia has been “good” and that he has “really enjoyed getting to know people in South Carolina," but no matter how confident Horn is, he has to be wondering if he can in fact pull this off.      

Despite the media circus that follows college basketball, we sometimes forget that these players are just kids.  And when three teammates and friends get booted from your team, animosity toward the man who did the booting is surely to follow.     

So like every new coach, Horn faces the challenge of discovering a new city, continuing to recruit, building the name of South Carolina basketball, and, most importantly, creating trust with his players.     

To help with the latter, Horn recently awarded two South Carolina walk-ons, Branden Conrad and Robert Wilder, scholarships for this upcoming season.   

The move gives USC 11 scholarship players for next season.       

As for recruiting, Horn passed on going for a quick-fix this year, and while he did make late runs at a few big-time players (namely Milton Jennings, Devin Booker, and Khris Middleton), Horn and his staff are gearing up for 2009 and 2010, targeting top players from both in and out of state.   

Making Horn’s job that much more difficult is that South Carolina is traditionally talent-poor for basketball recruiting and is sandwiched between North Carolina and Georgia—two states full of top-notch recruits every year.    

The men who preceded Horn gradually found out how hard it is to recruit top-notch basketball players to South Carolina, but then again, there’s also that problem known as Oliver Purnell, who is essentially clearing up with in-state recruiting at Clemson of all places.     

Horn and his staff blanketed the AAU scene on their arrival, and they have been fervently laying a foundation with high school coaches as well.     

But it appears Horn will have to be dead-on with his player evaluations while trying to beat other teams to the punch with younger players.  South Carolina will also greatly benefit from finding a few sleepers, especially of the in-state variety.      

No matter the task, one thing’s for sure:  Horn and his staff are basketball all day, every day.     

Now we’ll see if the results meet the expectations.

Since Eric Hyman was hired as South Carolina’s athletic director in 2005, he has, for the most part, flown under the radar, making little to no changes to the university’s athletic program.

No longer.    

While many perceived Hyman as passive and unwilling to take a chance early in his Gamecock career, it turns out Hyman was simply setting the stage for a solid foundation.   

Rather than rushing into poor decisions, Hyman got to know the culture at USC, and now Hyman has officially put a stamp on his tenure at South Carolina. 

Over the last month, Hyman has silenced the critics by landing two up-and-coming basketball coaches—and paying top dollar for them as well. 

The Colonial Center, where Gamecock basketball is played, is one of the best venues in the SEC, and possibly in the country.  Finished in late 2002, the state-of-the art complex seats 18,000 and contains several luxury suites, club rooms, an expansive hospitality room, and plush seating.    

A fancy arena is great, but not when the teams playing in them are terrible, as Gamecock basketball teams have been in recent history. 

Now the level of play will presumably match the venue. 

Back in April, Hyman nabbed Darrin Horn, whose former team, Western Kentucky, had just completed a tournament run to the Sweet Sixteen.  Horn is only 35-years-old, a tireless recruiter, and is respected by all who interact with him. 

Horn’s salary, a five-year $750,000 deal, is by no means a bank-buster, but is competitive with SEC coaches. 

This week, Hyman stole 38-year-old Dawn Staley, a Philly native, from Temple University, signing her to a lucrative five-year deal of $650,000 per year, incentives included. 

But Staley’s salary is getting more publicity than her success as a basketball coach. 

And that, fellow droogs, is a shame.    

As a player at Virginia, Staley led her teams to three consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances.  In the WNBA, Staley was a five-time all-star and led the Charlotte Sting to the WNBA Finals in 2001.    

When Staley took over the Temple program, the team did not have a winning record in the decade before her arrival.  In her eight seasons as head coach, Staley racked up four Atlantic Ten tournament titles, six NCAA appearances, the program’s first national ranking, and an overall record of 172-80.    

While Horn was somewhat of an unknown, he won over Columbia in less than 24 hours after his arrival.  Staley, however, is an absolute slam dunk of a hire—and every analyst agrees that South Carolina got the best possible candidate to fill their vacant spot. 

Clearly, Eric Hyman is out to make a statement. 

By hiring Staley, Hyman is now paying his women’s basketball coach more than his veteran baseball coach—and himself. 

South Carolina baseball is a big deal in Columbia, as well it should be.  Ray Tanner’s teams have churned out successful seasons year in and year out, with this season serving as no exception. 

But there is such a thing as a good ole boy left in South Carolina, and when a 38-year old black woman gets paid more than the 50-year-old baseball coach with a mile-long list of achievements, feathers get ruffled. 

And that’s what makes this hire so beautiful.    

Hyman is not catering to anyone with this move.  He had the opportunity to improve his women’s basketball program, and he took advantage of it. 

In the past, South Carolina was generally regarded as a school with poor facilities and the unwillingness to pay its coaches. 

That trend appears to be changing—and might just be completely gone in a few years.  

The Colonial Center should be bubbling over with excitement for the next few seasons.  Spurrier’s team seems poised to finally get over the hump. 

In 2009, a multi-million dollar academic center, named “The Dodie,” will open on campus.  Next season, the baseball team will begin play on its brand new field.

Expectations are higher than ever in Columbia.  Now it’s up to the teams and coaches to meet them.   

It’s official:  The Eric Hyman era has started at South Carolina. 

It’s no secret that South Carolina sports are lacking in winning tradition.

With Dave Odom’s recent “retirement” announcement, the Gamecocks have a chance to make a major splash that could affect the SEC for years.   

My suggestion:  Hire Anthony Grant.  Offer a large contract competitive with the top coaches in the league.  Throw everything you can at the guy and outbid the competition.     

The Gamecocks stole a Florida coach (Spurrier) once and the improvements came immediately.  If Athletic Director Eric Hyman is smart, he should raid the Gator cupboard again and nab Grant, the former Gator assistant now running the show at Virginia Commonwealth.

When Billy Donovan arrived at UF from Marshall, he embraced the success of the football team—and used it as a recruiting tool, despite being told by everyone that he could not have success in Gainesville.  Looked at as only a football school, no one (even Gator fans) realized the sleeping giant the Gator basketball team was.  

There is no doubt Anthony Grant could duplicate this effort at South Carolina, especially since he was part of Donovan’s staff—the one that put Florida basketball squarely on the map—and in the living room of every American sports fan.  

Simply put, Anthony Grant has everything South Carolina is looking for.

For starters, he is young and African-American.  From there, his list of accomplishments is more than impressive:

- SEC coaching experience:  After serving as Billy D’s assistant for 10 years at Florida, Grant is more than familiar with the league he would be coming to.

- A winning tradition:  Grant has been present for three national championship games and won two national championship rings, several SEC championships, and countless tournament appearances.

- A tireless work ethic:  Grant has more than paid his dues—serving for 12 years as an assistant to Donovan (two at Marshall and 10 at Florida).

- Excellent recruiter:  Grant became Donovan’s go-to guy with recruiting.  Grant has a knack for developing not only the big-name kids, but also the “projects” and formerly unnoticed kids.

On top of that—and what many people do not know—is that Grant coached high school ball in Miami for six years, winning three state championship and rolling up a ridiculous overall record of 172-11.  

This is the chief reason Grant has such strong recruiting ties in the Miami area—and probably one of the biggest reasons Florida rarely allowed in-state high school talent to leave the state for collegiate play.  

- Continued success and proven track record as a head coach:  Grant led VCU to a 28-7 record in his first season, including a huge upset of Duke in the first round of the tournament—and a near upset of third seeded Pitt in the next round.

This year, Grant has VCU right back where they left off—tournament bound and some team’s first round nightmare match-up.  

Athletic Director Eric Hyman has only made three hires during his short tenure at South Carolina, and each has been less than spectacular so far.  The Gamecock fans are getting restless on this one—they pushed Odom out the door and are eager for a new and young coach to resurrect the program.  

With this season’s success at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, Gamecock fans are wondering why not us, and why not now?  

After LSU’s firing of John Brady yesterday, and Mike Gottfried struggling at Alabama, both schools might have openings next year.  And both schools have quality facilities and programs to offer.    

If Eric Hyman wants to stick around in Gamecock territory, he’ll need do everything he can to get Anthony Grant in Columbia.