Gamecocks Push for Chance at the Dance
February 12, 2010
Filed under Sports
The University of South Carolina basketball team has usually taken the backseat to the Gamecock’s football and baseball programs. This season Devan Downey has given Gamecock fans a reason to follow his team. Downey has even powered the Gamecocks into the national spotlight giving them the chance to be a part of March Madness.
Most recently the Gamecocks knocked off the Florida Gators at home by a score of 77-71. Although Downey had been held out of practice with an ankle injury, the Gamecocks pulled out the win with some help from the 2009 SEC “6th Man of the Year,” Brandis Raley-Ross. The Gamecocks defeated a Gators teams that is projected to be a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament.
South Carolina will need Raley-Ross to step up to get them to the "Big Dance"
The Gamecocks defining moment came when they played #1 ranked Kentucky at the Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks were lead by point gaurd Devan Downey who scored 30 points. Downey’s perfomance immediately put him in the discussion for Player of the Year awards. This victory gave South Carolina it’s first win over any #1 ranked team in school history.
The remaining schedule includes two tough road games – at Kentucky and Vanderbilt – and a home matchup with Tennessee, which embarrassed USC. If the Gamecocks don’t win at least one of these games, they might have to run the table to earn an NCAA bid.
The Gamecocks have won only one road game, which was against Auburn. South Carolina is fortunate to have a 5-4 record in the SEC considering their lack of road wins. Darrin Horn’s team is 14-9 going into a tough SEC stretch to wrap up conference play. If the Gamecocks can win 5 of the next 7 then the chance at the dance can become a Cinderella story.
