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G OGAMECOCK S

WINTER 2015

2O15
BASKETBALL
PREVIEW

USC WOMEN

A TARGET ON HER BACK

South Carolina senior Tiffany
Mitchell has new role this year:
Team leader. Shell assume the
duties held last year by Aleighsa
Welch. Its a lot to handle. She has
to lead, on the stat sheet and off.
She has to cultivate next years
leaders. She has to play with the
target affixed to her back ever since
she was named an All-American.
PAGE 15

Plus

20

CAN DAWN STALEYS TEAM RETURN TO

THE FINAL FOUR AND WIN TITLE?

24

A LOOK AT THE GAMECOCKS THREE

NEW TRANSFERS FROM ACC SCHOOLS

USC MEN

BRINGING IN SOME BULK

The Gamecocks recruiting class,
featuring P.J. Dozier, Chris Silva and
Eric Cobb, brings the height and
weight the team has been missing.
PAGE 36

Plus

26

WITH ATTENDANCE RISING, USC MEN

READY TO BE THE NEW TALK OF THE TOWN

30

IS THIS THE YEAR COACH FRANK MARTINS

GAMECOCKS MAKE IT BACK TO NCAAS?

COVER PHOTO BY TRACY GLANTZ

8 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 8

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

YOUR AUTHORITY ON USC SPORTS

EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
Rick Millians
(803) 771-8450

rmillians@thestate.com
ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER
Meredith Sheffer
(803) 771-8519

msheffer@thestate.com
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Kevin McLendon
(803) 771-8337

kmclendon@thestate.com

WRITER
David Cloninger, dcloninger@thestate.com

PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTRIBUTORS
Tim Dominick, tdominick@thestate.com
Tracy Glantz, tglantz@thestate.com

THE STATE MEDIA CO.

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
Sara Johnson Borton, publisher@thestate.com
VP & EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Mark E. Lett, mlett@thestate.com

ADVERTISING
VICE PRESIDENT
OF ADVERTISING
Bernie Heller
(803) 771-8650

bheller@thestate.com
VICE PRESIDENT
OF DIGITAL
Bryan Osborn
(803) 771-8358

bosborn@thestate.com

P.O. Box 1333, Columbia, SC 29202

Phone: 771-8488 Fax: 771-8613

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10/8/15 7:08 PM

E D I TOR'S N OTE

RICK MILLIANS

USC's most honored

player with good reason
TIFFANY MITCHELL IS WELL ON HER WAY TO BEING THE MOST HONORED PLAYER
IN SOUTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL HISTORY.

his past March, she

was named first-team
All-American by the
Associated Press a
first for a Gamecocks
player. She joined the
likes of UConns

Breanna Stewart and Notre

Dames Jewell Loyd on the first
team.
She was a third-team AP
All-American in 2014 and has
been SEC Player of the Year the
past two seasons.

All due respect should go to

Sheila Foster, who still is USCs
career leading scorer and rebounder and whose jersey is
retired.
But you can already make the
case for Mitchell as the programs

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best player ever.

Mitchell does so many things so
well that she doesnt have to
concentrate on just one thing
like scoring. She could score a lot
more points if she took more
shots.
Whats more important is the
way she always shows up in
crunch time. She scored 39 points

in NCAA regional wins against

North Carolina and Florida State
to help USC get to the Final Four
this past season.
When the Gamecocks need a
basket at the end of the game, the
ball will be in Mitchells hands.
As she told GoGamecocks the
Magazines David Cloninger after
beating FSU: "I just made plays for

my team when I needed to.

The way she always does.
Hope you enjoy Davids cover
story on Mitchell, as she takes
over for Aleigsha Welch as the
team leader.

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oct2-40.indd 13

WINTER 2015 | 13

10/8/15 7:08 PM

14 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 14

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

MITCHELL
IN THE USC
RECORD
BOOKS

1ST

3-point field goal

percentage in a season:
.541 in 2013-14

1ST

Free throws made

in a season: 157 in
2013-14

1ST

Games started in
a season: 37 in
2014-15

TIED 1ST

Games played in
a season: 37 in
2014-15

the leader
(on the stat sheet and off)

TIM DOMINICK/TDOMINICK@THESTATE.COM

STORY BY DAVID CLONINGER

heres every
reason to believe
she will excel in
another position.
Shes done it
every other time.
South Carolina needed a
dynamic shooting guard?
Tiffany Mitchell became a
two-time All-American and
SEC Player of the Year. The
Gamecocks needed someone
fearless enough to take a last
shot in a Sweet 16 game?
Tiffany Mitchell drove, the
lane opened and she hit the
layup to finally dispatch the
nemesis Tar Heels.
In her senior year, Mitchell
will still play the two, still take
the last shot. She has been
asked to assume another
position, the most crucial as
USC attempts to win its third
straight SEC championship
and advance to a second
straight Final Four.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TRACY GLANTZ

USC senior Tiffany Mitchell shuns

attention so much that her awards, such
as her All-American plaques and SEC
player of the Year trophies, are sent home
to her mother.

And she must come

through.
Aleighsa was our vocal
leader, Mitchell said before
the season. A lot of times
when we didnt know what to
do, we looked at her. Now
shes gone.
Aleighsa Welch was the
backbone of the program, the
most indispensable player the
Gamecocks had. It was Welch
who started the run of in-state
talent committing to Dawn
Staley, Welch who turned a
solid team into an NCAA
Tournament staple, Welch
who more than any other
represented USCs ascension.
Nobody could replace
everything that Welch
brought. Points, sure.
Rebounds, yeah. Hustle, heart
and conviction, OK.

CONTINUED PAGE 16

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 15

WINTER 2015 | 15

10/8/15 7:08 PM

MITCHELL
IN THE USC
RECORD
BOOKS

2ND

Free throw percentage

in a season: .838 in
2014-15

4TH

Points in an SEC
season: 254 in
2013-14

5TH

Free throw attempts

in a season: 198 in
2013-14

4TH

Assists in an SEC
season: 54 in
2013-14

FROM PAGE 15

ll that and unquestioned leadership in

one player? Impossible to replicate.
But Mitchell is going to try.
She has to.
Does she have to be as
vocal? No, she just has to have
her own leadership style,
Staley said. She also has to
step up and communicate a
little bit more. Its out of her
comfort zone, but something
shes going to have to walk
away from this season with
that capability.
Mitchell is an outstanding
player. As vital as Welch was
in turning USC from solid to
good, Mitchell was the one
who transformed the Gamecocks from good to great.
Yet it was Welch who had a
hand in that. In Mitchells
sophomore year, Welch was
going to be the go-to part of
the offense. Often, she would
pass up an open shot because
Mitchell had a better look
and because she wanted to
get her teammate to take
over.
The talent was there. I
didnt have to do much of
anything, said Welch, who
always downplayed the role.
Once she got a nudge, she
took off full-speed.
Mitchell never failed to
credit Welch, despite Welchs
refusals. Perhaps thats what
made them work so well
together.
I feel like Aleighsa could
have taken more shots than
she did, but thats who she
is, Mitchell said. She always

16 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 16

A LOT OF
PLAYERS
DONT SEE
THE BIG
PICTURE
LIKE
ALEIGHSA
SAW THE BIG
PICTURE.
LEADERS,
YOU LOOK
AT THEM AS
MOST OF
THEIR
PEERS HAVE
EXPECTATIONS OF
LEADERS.
TIFFANY HAS
TO LIVE UP
TO THOSE.
DAWN STALEY

Tiffany Mitchell, jumping into the arms of teammate Aleighsa

Welch after a big win this past season, has been groomed by
Welch to be the leader on this year's team. Mitchell would defer
to Welch in past seasons.

felt if she was open, I was

open.
There was no symbolic
passing of the torch when
the season ended last
year, because Welch had

already groomed Mitchell

to be the leader through
small doses. The shots,
the pointedly not saying

CONTINUED PAGE 18

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

1ST

1ST

Free throw percentage

in an SEC season: .855
in 2014-15

3-point field goal

percentage in an SEC
season: .567 in 2014-15

16TH

1ST

Points in a career
(1,364)

Free throw percentage in a

game: 1.000 (10-10) vs.
Georgia, 2/27/14

USC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER

SHAY
COLLEY

5-8

FR

Brampton, Ontario, Canada/St.

Edmund Campion Secondary

BIANCA
CUEVAS

5-6

SO

Bronx, N.Y./Nazareth Regional

KAYDRA
DUCKETT

5-8

SO

Columbia/Dreher

DONIYAH
CLINEY

6-0

FR

Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz

KHADIJAH
SESSIONS

5-8

SR

Myrtle Beach/Myrtle Beach

10

ALLISHA
GRAY

6-0

JR

Sandersville, Ga./North Carolina

15

TIFFANY
DAVIS

5-7

JR

Houston, Texas/Westbury Christian

22

A'JA
WILSON

6-5

SO

Hopkins/Heathwood Hall

23

TINA
ROY

5-11

SR

Kaplan, La./Kaplan

24

SARAH
IMOVBIOH

6-2

SR

Abuja, Nigeria/Virginia

25

TIFFANY
MITCHELL

5-9

SR

Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day

31

ASIA
DOZIER

6-0

SR

G/F

Columbia/Spring Valley

35

KAELA
DAVIS

6-2

JR

Suwanee, Ga./Georgia Tech

40

JATARIE
WHITE

6-4

SO

Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day

41

ALAINA
COATES

6-4

JR

Irmo/Dutch Fork

44

INDIA
FARMER

6-0

JR

North Myrtle Beach/North Myrtle Beach

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 17

WINTER 2015 | 17

10/8/15 7:08 PM

MITCHELL
IN THE USC
RECORD
BOOKS

1ST

Free throws made in

an SEC season: 75 in
2013-14

5TH

Free throws made in a game:

13 vs. Cal State Northridge,
3/23/14

5TH

Free throw attempts in a game:

17 vs. Cal State Northridge,
3/23/14

FROM PAGE 16

anything in a late-game huddle

so Mitchell could, the addressing
a younger teammate and then
privately explaining to Mitchell
why and how she did so it was
all the means to an end.
Welch didnt want the program to backslide after her
departure. She knew how good
the Gamecocks were and how
much it meant to them to get to
the Final Four.
Were here now, she said
before she graduated to international ball. We want to stay. Tiff
is the one to make us stay.
Mitchell has no fear of taking
the last shot to win a crucial
game. Shes not afraid of filling
Welchs king-size sneakers,
although there is a little concern.
Maybe a little anxiety, she
said. Ive never been in that
position. I kind of had a taste of it
at the end of the year. Now its
full force.
Staley and others have
encouraged her. Nikki McCrayPenson, herself a two-time SEC
Player of the Year, told her of the
WNBAs system. Mitchell is
considered a lock as a top-five
pick in next years draft.
I told her there are two buses
in the WNBA. One leaves shortly
before game time, one leaves a
lot earlier so you can get shots

Mitchell is comfortable taking the

final shot in key situations, such as
in this past season's game against
North Carolina. She is considered
to be a top-five pick in next year's
WNBA draft.

oct2-40.indd 18

10/8/15 7:08 PM

1ST

3-point field goal percentage in a

game: 1.000 (6-6) vs. San Diego
State, 11/23/14

up, McCray-Penson said. I asked

her, Which bus do you want to ride
on?
Tiffany has had three years to
watch how different people have
stepped up in that role, Staley said.
She was a freshman when Ieasia
Walker led our basketball team.
Ieasia wasnt probably as vocal as
Aleighsa. Now Tiffany has to figure
out what kind of leader shes going
to be.
The most difficult parts are the
words. Mitchell shuns attention so
much that her awards All-American plaques, Player of the Year
trophies are shuttled home to
mom. Theres a room at her Charlotte home reserved for the accomplishments of Mitchell and her
brother. What am I going to do with
it here? Mitchell asks.
Words are tough enough, moreso
when theyre critiquing. Despite five
seniors, its still a young team
Mitchell is discovering how to treat
the ones who havent been around
as long.
They need guidance, and with
them, its talking to them, Mitchell

BEST

Free throw percentage in a

junior season: .838 (98-117)
in 2014-15

MITCHELLS HONORS
LAST SEASON
G Dawn Staley Award winner
G Wooden Award finalist
G Naismith Trophy finalist
G Wade Trophy finalist
G SEC Player of the Year
(Coaches, AP)
G All-SEC First Team (Coaches, AP)
G All-America First Team (ESPN,
AP, USBWA)
G WBCA All-America
G NCAA Greensboro Region
All-Tournament
G Capital One Academic AllDistrict 4
G SEC Academic Honor Roll
said. Criticism, you have to say it.
But they know it comes from a good
place.
Its a lot to handle. She has to lead,
on the stat sheet and off. She has to

BEST

3-point field goal percentage

in a sophomore season: .541
(40-74) in 2013-14

cultivate next years leaders. She has

had to play with the target affixed to
her back ever since she was named
an All-American.
Theres the example in Welch. A
lot of players dont see the big
picture like Aleighsa saw the big
picture, Staley said. Leaders, you
look at them as most of their peers
have expectations of leaders. Tiffany
has to live up to those.
Mitchell has never crumbled
despite the immense weight of
having to be herself through close to
40 games. She has no plans of
changing that despite the 24-karat
pressure on her to be another Welch.
She could win a third All-American honor and an unprecedented
third SEC Player of the Year prize.
She could achieve the dream she,
Staley and her teammates have
signed on to chase a national
championship.
All of it starts here with a title
shell never have on a piece of paper
or trophy to send home.
Leader.
GG

It'sanotherCarolinafirstdown
withEssexHomes
Scorebig,Savebig!

essexhomes.net
GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 19

WINTER 2015 | 19

10/8/15 7:08 PM

DAVID CLONINGER

USC BASKETBALL

Long
road to
the top
WHEN A GOAL BECOMES
AN EXPECTATION, THE
JOURNEY GETS HARDER

outh Carolina knew it had the

talent to reach the Final Four
last year, so there was no
problem setting it as a goal.
So what happens when
goal becomes expectation?
What happens is Dawn Staley, whos
had the gas pedal floored for seven
seasons, starts to tap the brake.
Dont get the wrong idea. Shes not
limiting what she wants this team to
strive for, because she knows it is as
talented as last year, if not more so.
But as much as she wants to make this
program like Tennessee or Connecticut,
there are a lot of miles left to travel
before the Gamecocks are there.
Were going to keep it a goal, Staley
said, as in not labeling the Final Four an
expectation. I think sometimes our
players get into thinking, because we

20 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 20

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

Cutting the nets after winning the

NCAA Regional and advancing to
the Final Four, USC coach Dawn
Staley says she knows the expectations are that her team will make it
back again this season. But Staley
cautions that 'this team isn't last
season's.'

accomplished going to the Final

Four, its automatic.
Then she said something that
seemed curious, until I realized it
was simple truth.
This team isnt last years team.
Staley didnt say it to be negative.
She said it because she knows that
talent isnt everything. While the
Gamecocks are still extremely
stocked with basketball Xs and Os,
talent doesnt always win.
The Gamecocks reached the Final
Four last year because they won two
possessions Tiffany Mitchells
bucket against North Carolina and
Khadijah Sessions swiping a ball
from Florida State. It was that close.
Staley knows how hard it is to
keep repeating Final Fours. She
went to three straight as a player at
Virginia. And while she wants USC
to someday be compared to
Tennessee and UConn, shes not
sure if she wants it to be a disappointment if the Gamecocks dont
get to the Final Four, as its viewed
in those programs.
The Huskies have never gone
more than three years between
Final Four appearances since they
started going in 1991. The Lady
Volunteers could say the same
except for their current drought

oct2-40.indd 21

TRACY GLANTZ/TGLANTZ@THESTATE.COM

STALEYS RECORD AT USC

Year

Record

Postseason

2008-09

10-18

None

2009-10

14-15

None

2010-11

18-15

WNIT 2nd round

2011-12

25-10

NCAA Sweet 16

2012-13

25-8

NCAA 2nd round

2013-14

29-5

NCAA Sweet 16

2014-15

34-3

NCAA Final Four

without a Final Four since 2008.

Its a really hard feat, she said.
Were going to keep it a goal,
because its hard.
This team has the talent to get
back. Mitchell is one of the countrys
elite players. Aja Wilson has only

scratched the surface of her immense talent. Alaina Coates will be

one of the nations best big girls
and Staley reloaded with a new face
that also happens to be the best
rebounder in the ACC. I would be
lying if I said I havent thought that
Final Four site Indianapolis is really
convenient for me, since its a
two-hour drive from my fiancees
home in Kentucky.
This team is very, very good. But
the SEC got stronger. USCs
schedule got tougher. The Final
Four remains a goal, not an expectation.
Sort of.
I think it is an expectation. From
here on, we expect to be a Final Four
team, Mitchell said. It is still a
goal, but it will be disappointing if
we dont make it back.
GG

10/8/15 7:08 PM

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10/8/15 7:08 PM

2O15-2O16

USC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

TV

Nov. 6

vs. Newberry (exh.)

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Nov. 13

vs. Ohio State

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Nov. 15

vs. UNC Greensboro

Columbia

3 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Nov. 18

at Clemson

Clemson

7 p.m.

None

Nov. 22

at UCLA

Los Angeles

4 p.m.

Pac-12 Network

Nov. 27

vs. Arizona State*

Waikiki, Hawaii

7:30 p.m.

None

Nov. 28

vs. CSU Bakersfield*

Waikiki, Hawaii

6:30 p.m.

None

Nov. 29

at Hawaii*

Waikiki, Hawaii

10 p.m.

None

Dec. 6

vs. Duke

Columbia

2 p.m.

ESPN2

Dec. 13

vs. Winthrop

Columbia

2 p.m.

SEC Network

Dec. 16

vs. Hampton

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Dec. 20

vs. East Carolina

Myrtle Beach

1 p.m.

None

Dec. 22

vs. Elon

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Jan. 3

vs. Arkansas

Columbia

3 p.m.

ESPNU

Jan. 7

at Vanderbilt

Nashville, Tenn.

9 p.m.

SEC Network Whip Around

Jan. 10

vs. Missouri

Columbia

Noon

SEC Network

Jan. 14

at Kentucky

Lexington, Ky.

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 17

vs. Texas A&M

Columbia

1 p.m.

ESPN2

Jan. 21

at Auburn

Auburn, Ala.

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Jan. 24

at Mississippi State

Starkville, Miss.

5 p.m.

ESPN2

Jan. 28

vs. Ole Miss

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Jan. 31

at Texas A&M

College Station, Texas

6 p.m.

ESPNU

Feb. 4

vs. Kentucky

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Feb. 8

vs. UConn

Columbia

7 p.m.

ESPN2

Feb. 11

vs. Florida

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Feb. 15

at Tennessee

Knoxville, Tenn.

7 p.m.

ESPN2

Feb. 18

vs. Georgia

Columbia

7 p.m.

SEC Network Plus

Feb. 22

at Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Feb. 25

at Ole Miss

Oxford, Miss.

9 p.m.

SEC Network

Feb. 28

vs. LSU

Columbia

TBA

ESPN2/U

March 2-6

SEC Tournament

Jacksonville, Fla.

* Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown

oct2-40.indd 23

10/8/15 7:08 PM

USC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

SARAH IMOVBIOH
POSITION

HEIGHT CLASS

FORWARD 6-2

SENIOR

ACCs leading rebounder immediately eligible

after leaving Virginia.

The

new
girls
TWO TRANSFERS MUST SIT OUT
THIS YEAR, BUT IMOVBIOH AND
COLLEY READY TO CONTRIBUTE
BY DAVID CLONINGER

oct2-40.indd 24

KAELA DAVIS
POSITION

HEIGHT CLASS

GUARD 6-2 JUNIOR

Redshirting after leaving Georgia Tech, where she

would have been the ACCs top returning scorer.

awn Staleys never had a problem working

her newest players into the core of her
team. The rookies have been a large part of
the past four years success.
She wont have any problems with it this
year, although its a different type of class.
There are four new Gamecocks, although
only two will play. Transfers Kaela Davis and Allisha
Gray will sit out this year before resuming their careers
in 2016-17, while a third transfer, Sarah Imovbioh,
comes in as a senior and Canada native Shay Colley is a
freshman.
Staleys approach doesnt change. Shell have the
quartet ready to play every night, although only two of
them can.
Coming off the success that we had last year, a lot of
people want to make an impact on our team, Staley
said. They have to understand that the way they want
to make an impact is not the way we need them to make
an impact.
Staley keeps the same simple principle all will
contribute in some way. Gray and Davis will practice

10/8/15 7:08 PM

THE HATCHLINGS

shay colley

allisha gray

POSITION

POSITION

HEIGHT CLASS

USC'S NEW PLAYERS

HEIGHT CLASS

GUARD 5-8 FRESHMAN

GUARD 6-0 JUNIOR

Four-year veteran of the Canadian national team.

Redshirting this year after transferring from UNC,

where she led the team with 15.2 points per game.

against their teammates and work on intangibles so

they can eventually take over, while Imovbioh and
Colley will try to fill holes vacated by three seniors.
Imovbioh, a rebounding force at Virginia, will
take Aleighsa Welchs spot at power forward. Its
fortunate to get a proven player who should
automatically start; its unfortunate in that she has
just the one season to merge with her teammates
and Staleys style.
Thus far, there have been no problems. Sarahs
been around the block. Shes going to bust down
doors no matter what, Staley said. Shes going to
attack. Her work ethic is incredible.
Colley will have four years to learn American
basketball, South Carolina customs and Staleys
legendary toughness on point guards. A stint with
the Canadian national team has helped her skills,
but shes getting used to being a full-time U.S.
resident.
Culturally, things are different. Academics are
different, Staley said. Probably the only consis-

tent thing is nutrition for her, because shes a pretty

good eater. All those other things are coming out
for her. We need her to step up.
Gray and Davis, used to being stars at North
Carolina and Georgia Tech respectively, will have
to scale themselves back to the scout team. Yet,
Staley wont waste their learning season.
I want them to approach gameday as if theyre
going to play. They need to have that mindset,
Staley said. Thats to be prepping on Tuesday if we
play on Thursday. They also have some shortcomings when it comes to communicating, so they have
to get better in that department. Well ask them to
do some intangible things that maybe they werent
asked to do at their former schools.
Staley has taken her program from 10 wins in
2008-09 to the Final Four. She did it by improving
the talent she had, replacing it with better talent
and keeping the cycle rolling.
Her newest talent is smaller in number, but the
rotation didnt stop.

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 25

WINTER 2015 | 25

10/8/15 7:08 PM

USC MEN'S BASKETBALL

THE NEW TALK

OF THE TOWN
USC men want to be the hottest ticket in town, just like in the McGuire days
BY DAVID CLONINGER
26 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 26

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

Coach Frank McGuire's ACC championship team, when the

Gamecocks were the princes of Columbia, set the standard
that all USC teams try to live up to.

F
TRACY GLANTZ/TGLANTZ@THESTATE.COM

rank Martin
always remembers.
First game I
walked onto the
floor and looked
around and thought, Where
are the people?, he has said
numerous times in four years.
It was Nov. 11, 2012, and his
first game as South Carolinas
basketball coach. He walked
into Colonial Life Arena for a
game against Milwaukee and
saw something hed hardly
ever seen.
Empty seats. A lot of them.
Coming from Bramlage
Coliseum (The Octagon of
Doom) where it was almost
always packed with purpleclad loonies rooting for
Kansas State, the experience
was shocking and unsettling.
Martins goal was always to
take the Gamecocks to
prominence. The wins
havent been there, but his
relentless passion and
enthusiasm for promoting the

program has resulted in

increased ticket sales, more
fans and plenty of buzz.
Simply, USC fans are ready
for a winner. As long as its
been, the days when Frank
McGuires teams ran roughshod over the ACC and were
the princes of the city still
glow. They want the CLA to
thunder with applause and be
the hottest ticket in town, as
Carolina Coliseum did.
Martin makes no promises.
Hes not ever going to say that
this team is going to be the
one to achieve the dreams.
But he smiles and flourishes
in the knowledge that this
team is the best equipped of
his tenure to start that
journey.
My first year, I couldnt get
people to talk basketball
during the season, Martin
told Spurs and Feathers over
the summer. I was sitting
there by myself thinking and

CONTINUED PAGE 28

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 27

WINTER 2015 | 27

10/8/15 7:08 PM

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all I could think of was, Oh, boy, whatd I

get myself into?
But now you hit fast forward and you
average over 11,000 fans a couple years later
and youve got people talking about mens
basketball in the summer.
Again, he wont grandstand and make
predictions about where this team is going.
Theres still a lot of unknown and minefields
where the Gamecocks have been blown up
for the past 25 years to navigate.
Yet anyone whos interested in basketball
cant help feeling, This is the one hes been
waiting on.
The Gamecocks finished 17-16 last year,
certainly not a party-throwing occasion, but
enough to restore hope to the long-suffering.
Its not the record, its the way they obtained
it battling through the end-of-season
stretch with basically an eight-man team.
Their last win, the one that clinched the
.500 finish, was amazing. Seemingly having
thrown away an SEC tournament game, the
Gamecocks still won. When Ty Johnson hit
the go-ahead free throw against Ole Miss,
the frustration and pent-up emotions from a
draining season crested the dam into one
foot-stomping, teammate-hugging celebration. Although the run ended the next day,
USC had its heads held high then and
throughout the offseason no matter the
record, the Gamecocks never quit.
Its time for that belief and conviction to
pay off. Martin has a team with a great mix of
veterans and youth. He finally has the
height, bulk and depth to make a dent in the
league standings. A conducive non-conference schedule can have the Gamecocks
feeling good before the annual albatross flies
in, and if they can manage to grab a wing and
hold on instead of roping it around their
necks, they can start moving forward.
The SEC has rarely been kind to USC. The
Gamecocks are embarking on their 25th
season in the league, and have had a scant
five .500 or better seasons.
Two of those spawned titles the 1996-97
and 2009-10 SEC East championships and
the 1996-97 SEC regular-season prize and
all put the Gamecocks into the postseason.
The precedent seems to be there break
even in the SEC, play in March.
The league got better during the offseason.
Following a five-team appearance in last
years NCAA tournament, the SEC brought

10/8/15 7:08 PM

MENS ATTENDANCE
A look at home games this past season:
Opponent

Attendance

North Florida

10,473

Baylor

13,291

UNC Asheville

8,330

Oklahoma State

12,007

Clemson

11,992

Coker

8,419

NC A&T

8,156

Florida

12,181

Alabama

11,085

Tennessee

12,032

Kentucky

18,000

Georgia

13,031

Missouri

8,840

Texas A&M

12,309

Mississippi State

14,022

Arkansas

10,065

in four new coaches and a sheaf of blue-chip

recruits. LSU and Kentucky brought in the
No. 1 prospect in the country (depending on
what recruiting service is credited) while
Texas A&M and Mississippi State signed
classes brimming with Top-100 pledges.
Martin also signed a strong class, headlined by McDonalds All-American P.J.
Dozier. The rookie point guard and Gamecock legacy leads a group of freshmen ready
to merge with Martins vets and break
through the glass ceiling.
On paper, Martin told Spurs and
Feathers. On paper and through the
summer, Im extremely, extremely comfortable and pleased with the guys we got to
complement our team.
Its time. Its past time. Martin always says
hes only interested in improvement every
day, but for a man whos used to winning
and winning big, his first three years at USC
have been disappointing. Setbacks and never
catching a break have led to this moment.
When he takes his team out to an adoring
18,000-strong crowd, hell know it has
arrived.
GG

oct2-40.indd 29

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10/8/15 7:08 PM

DAVID CLONINGER

USC BASKETBALL

All
the
right
parts
With a real team falling into
place, USC's drought of postseason appearances could
finally end

ve always felt sorry for Frank

Martin.
I know ridiculous to feel sorry
for a guy who won so much at
Kansas State, that overcame so
many hardships in his life to succeed,
that makes more dollars in a year than
you and I will see in our lifetime.
I feel sorry for him because hes the
mens basketball coach at South Carolina, and he doubtless had no idea what
that entailed when he came here. I feel
sorry for him because he, in three years
on the job, has had every break hes
caught trumped by five he hasnt.
I feel really sorry for him because he
never realized that as passionate as USC

30 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 30

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

MARTIN'S RECORD AT USC

Record

Postseason

2012-13

14-18

None

2013-14

14-20

None

2014-15

17-16

None

fans can be, they insist on thinking that

the years since Frank McGuire are an
aberration and the Gamecocks are a
historically great program. One bad year
for whoevers in charge, and its time for
a change.
I dont feel as sorry for him anymore,
because as his fourth year dawns, he and
I know that the reckoning is coming. His
time where he can silence his critics and
take this team where he always knew it
could be the postseason is approaching.
I know he wont scream or Tweet at
the venomous with I told you so!
because thats not his way, although
hell certainly fire back at the Twitter
Tough Guys if he feels it necessary. Hell
let his team do the talking a team that
never gave up believing in him, survived
the numerous derailments and love him
like the father figure he tries to be.
The smile and a shake of his head in
the summer was all I needed to know
about this group. Dave, hed say, we
finally look like a team.
The Gamecocks have height, finally.
Depth, finally. Real basketball talent,
not just guys playing well over their
abilities, finally. Im not saying to make
reservations in Houston, but I think USC
fans will have a March sporting event to
watch besides the baseball series against
Clemson.

t
t

Coach
Frank
Martin
finally has
the height,
depth and
talent that
he needs
to have a
competitive team
in the SEC
and one
that could
still be
playing in
March.

Year

FILE/THE STATE

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 31

WINTER 2015 | 31

10/8/15 7:08 PM

USC MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER

No.
5
24
14
23
2
15
4
31
25
20
10
21
30
35
1
0

Name
TeMarcus Blanton
Michael Carrera
Laimonas Chatkevicius
Eric Cobb
Raymond Doby
P.J. Dozier
Jamall Gregory
Jarrell Holliman
Mindaugas Kacinas
Justin McKie
Duane Notice
John Ragin
Chris Silva
Brian Steele
Marcus Stroman
Sindarius Thornwell

COACHES

Pos.
G
F
F
F
F
G
G
F
F
G
G
G
F
F
G
G

Hgt.
6-5
6-5
6-11
6-9
6-6
6-6
6-2
6-7
6-7
6-4
6-2
6-2
6-9
6-5
6-2
6-5

Wgt.
215
214
245
296
233
200
202
200
229
197
218
177
220
204
185
215

Frank Martin - Head Coach

Matt Figger - Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Perry Clark - Assistant Coach
Lamont Evans - Assistant Coach
Andy Assaley - Director of Basketball Operations

Cl.
FR
SR
SR
FR
FR
FR
FR
SO
SR
JR
JR
FR
FR
SR
SO
JR

Hometown/Last School
Locust Grove, Ga./Luella
Anzotegui, Venezuela/Montrose Christian School
Klaipeda, Lithuania/South Kent School
Jacksonville, Fla./St. Francis Academy (Baltimore)
Cahokia, Ill./Montrose Christian School
Columbia/Spring Valley
Washington, D.C./Coolidge
Alpharetta, Ga./Elmhurst College
Klaipeda, Lithuania/Word of Life Fire Traditional School
Columbia/Irmo
Woodbridge, Canada/St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.)
Eastover/Cardinal Newman
Libreville, Gabon/Roselle (N.J.) Catholic
Greenville/Wade Hampton School
Columbia/Keenan
Lancaster/Oak Hill Academy

Doug Edwards - Student-Athlete Development

Scott Greenawalt - Strength and Conditioning Coach
Mark Rodger - Athletic Trainer
Jarett Gerald - Special Assistant to Head Men's Basketball Coach
Patrick Schulte - Director of Men's Basketball Video Services

TERRY
BISHOP
is
G
N
I
H
T
Y
R
EVE

L
L
A
B
T
FOO

SELLING
HOMES
ONE YARD
AT A TIME

Terry Bishop

3006 Devine Street Columbia, SC

803-665-1442
www.terrybishopteam.com

32 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 32

AG

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

FROM PAGE 31

f course, a lot has to go right.

The Gamecocks have to
work their five freshmen in
and have them contribute,
especially P.J. Dozier, a
McDonalds All-American who could start
at point guard. They have to navigate what
looks to be a soft non-conference schedule
with only one or two bumps. They have to
survive what the program barely ever has
the SEC.
Theyre already winning some aspects.
This team succeeded when the season was
assumedly gone last year with basically an
eight-man roster, claiming five of their final
nine after Demetrius Henry and Shamiek
Sheppard were suspended. This team has
improved despite near-crippling setbacks.
The first year was going to be a failure no
matter what Martin did. An awful season
the year before and having the two most
talented players on the roster encouraged
to go elsewhere left USC no hope. With a
freshman-stocked roster the second year,
there wasnt much hope to dramatically
improve.
The third year, three-quarters of Martins
best recruiting class was wiped out before
the season started. There went the hope of
adding them to an experienced mix to
really break through, although USC did
improve. And then there were the complaints of Martins sideline demeanor,
which, if he was winning 20 games,
wouldnt have drawn one bellyache.
Martins players love him, but the public
never sees that. USCs public, especially,
expect to see McGuire wins, despite USC
barely ever scraping that since the Old
Irishman left. When the Gamecocks dont
win, theyll find something to complain
about (see Spurrier, Steve, 2014-15).
The feeling sorry for Martin is because
hes had to endure all that while not having
the body of work Spurrier had (at least, not
at USC). But again, that feeling has left me.
The Gamecocks drought of postseason
appearances stands to leave with it.
GG

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 33

WINTER 2015 | 33

10/8/15 7:08 PM

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34 | GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 34

WINTER 2015

10/8/15 7:08 PM

2O15-2O16

USC MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

DATE

OPPONENT

TIME

TV

Nov. 8

Allen (exhibition)

4 p.m.

SEC Network

Nov. 14

Norfolk State

TBD

SEC Network

Nov. 16

Oral Roberts

7:30 p.m.

SEC Network

Nov. 20

vs. DePaul (Paradise Jam)

6 p.m.

CBS Sports Network

Nov. 21 (or Nov. 22)

TBD (Paradise Jam)

None

Nov. 23

TBD (Paradise Jam)

None

Nov. 27

Lipscomb

2 p.m.

SEC Network

Nov. 30

Western Carolina

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Dec. 5

USF

4 p.m.

SEC Network

Dec. 15

Drexel

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Dec. 18

Clemson (at Greenville)

7 p.m.

ESPN3

Dec. 22

vs. St. Johns (Uncasville, Conn.)

9 p.m.

CBS Sports Network

Dec. 30

Francis Marion

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 2

Memphis

6 p.m.

ESPNU

Jan. 5

at Auburn

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 9

Vanderbilt

3 p.m.

ESPNU

Jan. 13

at Alabama

9 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 16

Missouri

1 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 19

at Ole Miss

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 23

at Tennessee

Noon

SEC Network

Jan. 26

Mississippi State

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Jan. 30

Alabama

6 p.m.

SEC Network

Feb. 2

at Georgia

7 p.m.

ESPN/U/SEC Network

Feb. 6

at Texas A&M

4 p.m.

ESPNU

Feb. 10

LSU

7 p.m.

ESPN2

Feb. 13

Kentucky

Noon

ESPN/2

Feb. 16

at Missouri

7 p.m.

SEC Network

Feb. 20

Florida

Noon

SEC Network

Feb. 24

Tennessee

9 p.m.

SEC Network

Feb. 27

at Mississippi State

2:30 p.m.

SEC Network

March 3

Georgia

7 p.m.

ESPN/2

March 5

at Arkansas

5 p.m.

SEC Network

March 9-13

SEC Tournament at Nashville, Tenn.

TBA

GOGAMECOCKS THE MAGAZINE

oct2-40.indd 35

WINTER 2015 | 35

10/8/15 7:08 PM

USC MEN'S BASKETBALL

Bulk

rate

NEWCOMERS PROVIDE
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

BY DAVID CLONINGER

rom taking what he could get to

depending too heavily on freshmen to
having three of four recruits lost before
the first game, Frank Martin has run
the full circle of recruiting.
Hes glad the expression Good things come
to those who wait has finally come true.
Heading into his fourth season at South
Carolina, Martins latest recruiting class has
exactly what he needs new talent to add to a
veteran core, one elite player and the kind of

oct2-40.indd 36

height and weight he never had in his three

previous years. Five scholarship prospects and
two walk-ons have the Gamecocks ready to take
their long-awaited leap into the top half of the
SEC.
Going into the end of the season I continued to tell our staff that we needed to be more
athletic and bigger, Martin said in the spring.
And weve done that.
Eric Cobb is a player that can leave his share
of bruises on the rest of the SEC, just as the
Gamecocks undersized posts have been turned
black and blue for the great majority of the past
25 years. Raymond Doby, physical but also
gifted as a slasher from the wing, will help.
Chris Silva, a player whose upside is nearly
matched by his ability to float above the court,
will be dotting highlight films soon after the
season-opener.
Jamall Gregory is an athletic dunker who can
direct the point, soar from the wing and
challenge Silva in statuesque jams. John Ragin
and Jarrell Holliman are walk-ons and supply
depth.
That leaves P.J. Dozier, just the fourth
McDonalds All-American to sign with USC and
somebody who stands to make an immediate
impact. The 6-foot-6 son of a Gamecock (and
nephew and brother of a Gamecock) may start
at point guard and gives USC a dimension it
hasnt had.
Hes got that ball on a string to his hands,
Martin said. That ball never, ever leaves his
area. Hes equally adept at going to either hand
and that ball always stays tied to him.
Martins toughened bunch banded together
when the season seemed lost last year and
fought to a winning season. The plan not just
the hope is the freshmen add to those veterans
and finally get the Gamecocks where Martin
knows they deserve to be.
The postseason is a birthright to some
programs. USC is not one of them.
That doesnt mean it cant become one, and
this class could be the one that begins it.
Theyre all going to be good for us, guard
Marcus Stroman said during the summer. I
know what we can do this year. Our main goal is
to keep winning.

10/8/15 7:08 PM

READY TO HELP

POSITION

raymond
doby

jamall
gregory

p.j.
Dozier

POSITION

Combo guard who can attack the rim and

defend multiple perimeter spots.

POSITION

oct2-40.indd 37

HEIGHT CLASS

GUARD 6-6 FRESHMAN

McDonalds All-American who might start

at point guard.

HEIGHT CLASS

GUARD 6-2 FRESHMAN

Walk-on who averaged 13 points at

Cardinal Newman HS.

HEIGHT CLASS

FORWARD 6-9

FRESHMAN

Massive back-to-the-basket post who

finally gives USC an interior threat.

HEIGHT CLASS

FORWARD 6-9

FRESHMAN

Jumping jack who will block shots and

dunk with equal aplomb.

POSITION

JARRELL
HOLLIMAN

HEIGHT CLASS

GUARD 6-2 FRESHMAN

POSITION

CHRIS
SILVA

FRESHMAN

Burly forward who hails from same high

school as Michael Carrera and Ty Johnson.

POSITION

ERIC
COBB

HEIGHT CLASS

FORWARD 6-6

POSITION

john
RAGIN

USC'S NEW PLAYERS

HEIGHT CLASS

FORWARD 6-7

SOPHOMORE

Walk-on who played one year at

Elmhurst (Ill.) College.

10/8/15 7:08 PM

I am a night owl, so I like to

see what The State newspaper
presents that social media
didnt cover the night before.

Dawn Staley

USC Womens Basketball Coach

oct2-40.indd 38

10/8/15 7:08 PM

Bring In This Ad
For An Additional
$1,000 Off
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oct2-40.indd 39

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