Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Gamecocks ?YAN JOHNSTON Staff Writer The USC basketball team is one game away from taking a trip to the Big Apple. With a win tonight against Alabama, the Gamecocks will advance to the semi-finals of the National Invitation Tournament. One positive for tonight's game is the Gamecocks have already beaten the Crimson Tide. On Jan. 20, with 24 points from Larry Davis and 17 points from BJ McKie, USC soundly defeated Alabama 90-67. The Gamecocks were 59 percent from the floor and connected on 11 three-pointers. The other positive note is the game is being played in the Frank McGuire Arena, where USC is an impressive 16-1 at home this season. For the Gamecocks to advance to Final Four, they must continue to shoot the ball welL In the opening round against Davidson, USC had its third best shooting night in school history, with 69.4 percent. Monday night against Vanderbilt, South Carolina shot 54.2 percent from the floor. In the two NIT games thus far, USC is averaging 90 points per game and hitting 61.9 percent of their shots. The Gamecocks are a combined 10 for 20 from three-point range. Four players are averaging double figures, including Davis (19.5 ppg), McKie (19.0), Malik Russell (16.5) and Melvin Watson (11.0). The Gamecocks need production from these players and others if they want to make the trip to New York. As for Alabama, they are coming off a 7249 victory over the Missouri Tigers Monday night in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide are led by guard Eric Washington and center Roy Rogers. Washington is averaging 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. As for the big man, he's averaging 13.5 points per game. But the bigger factor will be Roger's presence inside. He's averaging 9.2 rebounds and 5.1 blocks per game. The success of the Gamecocks has led to a fan interest unlike any other this year. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, there were only OUU tickets remaining for the game. The arena will be packed and rocking when USC and Alabama tip it off. The frenzy and excitement has sparked the crowd. Over the last three games, the Frank McGuire arena has been at its loudest. Besides the cheerleaders and pep band leading the way, a new act has arisen. In the second row of Section U, the Painta "eople have lit a spark and are hoping to start the tradition of the Carolina Crazies. Look for something new and crazy from this group tonight. r,lk ?" o*ror* pnnrlrn/^ or* mforoof XHe gallic lido cvcu opaiiicu an uii^ivow 1 A TO BetoThetoFi Beta Theta Pi Delta Upsilon I 1 Kappa Alpha 1 Sigma Nu 1 Kappa Sigma 1 Phi Delta Thet 1 TKE 1 Phi Beta Sigm 1 Chi Psi I 1 Pi Kappa Alph ? | Alpha Phi Alpl 1 Sigma Phi Epsil 1 IAE j Sigma Chi 1 Lambda Chi All 1 Omega Psi Ph I Malik Russell has been on fire as of la the two NIT games. Russell hopes to Ic in the media. Tonight's match-up will b televised nationally on ESPN. This is th first nationally televised game of the seaso for USC. Because of the coverage, tip-off ha been move up to 7 p.m. If the Gamecocks win tonight, one play* will get to play in front of his hometowr Senior Malik Russell, who is definitely playin awe VVVPWJPPPVPPPW'W" filKlIwIlAflm III "7'i : MaliiiiiiniiiBM I r | ATO ^ A TO Kappa Alpha ATO , Kappa Sigma a Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma ia Mon. 3/18 7:30 p Pi Kappa Alpha ia Pi Kappa Alpha la Alpha Phi Alpha Ion Omega Ps Sigma Chi Omega Psi Phi aha Omega Psi Phi >i NOW EDGE* GEL EXTTM has more friction-reduci; protect you from nicks ai For a closer smoother sha\ ?JUI $5 - - - B 4 HE - rWM^T ^r ^W'^fr- flHnL^H ^L^tr B _ iii'^B r tSffl DAN CHESNEYThe Gamecock to, averaging 33 points and 11 rebounds in tad the Gamecocks to the Big Apple. e in his last home game, will play in a building e close to his home. The Brooklyn native hopes n to lead the Gamecocks into Madison Square s Garden next Tuesday night at 9 p.m. The cards are set and a trip to New York ir is up for grabs tonight. The Gamecocks are l. looking for their twentieth win of the season. 8 ., 'S f: ^ Jtiou .m. 1 i Phi E' '%sm? University of South Carolina HHRlON FORMULA ig lubricants than ever to id cuts better than foams. /e, its just in the nick of time, i/ [MATE CLOSENESS. * L* I MATE rAucrurr itwwrmv mm vw?t? iT'S THE EDGE. Gamecocks maturing. It's mid-March, the I robbie j Gamecocks are still meek playing, the Carolina faithful are packed in the Carolina Coliseum and a New Yorker is leading the way. No, it's not the Gamecocks of the 70s, Frank McGuire isn't calling the shots and it's not John Roche, Mike Dunleavy or Tom Riker leading the way. It's the 1995-96 Gamecocks coached by Pnfflor nntti Mow Vnrlror MVllilr Rlisspll leading the way. And this year's Gamecock basketball team is growing and maturing as a team in post-season play, and this is the first step in getting back to the national prominence that the Gamecock teams of the '70s enjoyed. Hie Gamecocks advanced to the third round of the NIT Monday night with a win over Vanderbilt 80-70. The Gamecocks' leading scorer didn't score: Larry Davis finished with' only 6 points. The second man in that category, BJ McKie, didn't show up until halftime. The Gamecocks, however, still won because other Gamecocks stepped up to carry the load. That's a sign that Carolina has come a long way. Russell and Melvin Watson both had excellent games, finishing with 17 and 16 points, respectively. McKie threw himself into the scoring mix in the second half and finished strong with 16 points. The Gamecocks still have a tough road to follow if they want to reach the NTT Final Four in New York next week. On Wednesday, the Alabama Crimson Tide come to town. The Crimson Tide left Columbia on Jan. 20 after a 90-67 thrashing, compliments of the Gamecocks. You can be sure tonight's game won't be a blowout as the angry Crimson Tide return looking for revenge. The Gamecocks are getting experience playing in the NIT that could be invaluable to the future of Gamecock basketball. With only one senior, Russell, a NIT championship or even Final Four appearance could be the start to great things for the Carolina basketball team. This season, Coach Fogler's third at Carolina, holds some resemblance to Frank McGuire's third season at Carolina. The Gamecocks, now Summ Employi Account Exe For more infor 4 >p by 4th floor, R or call 777-! Student Medi , building for future 19-11, were 16-7 in 1964-65 after going 6-17 and 11-13 in McGuire's first two seasons at Carolina. The Gamecocks were 9-18 and 1017 in FogleFs first two seasons. From there, McGuire led the Gamecocks to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and a preseason No. 1 ranking in 1969-70. Could history repeat itself? Could Fogler fnllnw McGuire's footsteDs as the next great ?1994SC Johnson ? Son, me All nghlorsseived hungry for tl . jMP1 % ^ t - Smf JA 18 iH Gamecock basketball coach? The next week and a half could prove to be a big step in that direction. Russell catches on fire! Malik has scored 33 points and pulled down 11 boards in the two NTT games. Hie underrated senior forward is the top rebounder, with 5.9 rpg; a great passer and definitely the best Gamecock defender. Fogler calls Malik "one of the better defensive players in the SEC, if not the country." If the Gamecocks win tonight, the Brooklyn native will get to play the last two games of his collegiate career at home. "If we win one more game," Russell said, "I get a free trip home." Good luck Malik. Thanks for your contributions to Gamecock basketball. SEC dominates post-season play. The SEC placed four teams in the NCAA tournament. All four?Arkansas, Georgia, Vonhiolnr 1r\A Miooi'aoinni havp mnrtp it to the Sweet Sixteen. The SEC also placed five teams in the NIT. Carolina and Alabama are still alive. No other conference has done that well. Yes, the SEC does play something besides football! Nolan for Coach of the Year. If I were Nolan Richardson of Arkansas. The man lost ten players offlast season's National Runnerup team, then lost his top rebounder and top scorer for academic reasons at the end of the season. Guess what? That hasn't stopped Richardson's Razorbacks, who are back in the Sweet Sixteen despite the loss of 12 players in the last year. Arkansas plays UMass Thursday. Look out, Minutemen. a * - *r- - '-?# *? v? ** -? :? ier nent cutives mation ussell House 5064