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6 Gamecock BRYAN JOHNSTON Asst. Sports Editor s tl Ifs the middle of October and football is in urn swing, Dut anotner uac atoienc ^ team has started practice for their e upcoming season. ti As Eddie Fogler's men's basketball c squad took to the court for the first time e Tuesday, they took with theip a load of p expectations. With nine players, a redshirt returning j, from a team that went 19-12 than to the f, third round of the NIT, along with two ^ > wvf msgm / wamm wtI J plfs < | M. i wm^ W ;| I ? * %r1 1 I W ^^y'n jr smK^J jfpr A ? .^h a M|&v' '"$ <4^ A ^/',, 'A^y .i>Vs /, ,, , + I Junior Melvln Watson will bo ono Improve on last year's 19-12 record. We need yoi Carolina C We're making a special effort tc for the fall of 1997 to welcome How about lending us a hand phone accepted freshmen ea until 7:00 PM. We'll have snacks for you ant distance telephone call to the lc can't pass this up! Interested? Call Robert Rhinel you the details. Don't forget, you for Carolina Outreach. s' 'triple t UUU 11 CoillllCll UJUllllg 111, VV11J S11UUIU11 I lie expectations be high? "We believe we can have a very good asketball team here," Fogler said. "Our xperience factor, our guard play and he number of returning lettermen are ertainly positives. Plus our team's xperience in last year's NIT also is a ositive as we head into this season." After making a'good showing in the JIT, the team is looking to challenge )r the SEC championship and make it 3 the NCAA tournament. . KHBP' I _ ' * >:#v , w i. >-<3$L>-<*& ^& *-*****"* *"**> *??*?>* ' "- - 1 of the SEC's premier guards this The Qamecock's goal this year Is 1 Bring ho .ir help with )utreach! 3 reach alt accepted freshmen them personally to Carolina. ? We're planning to telech Tuesday, from 5:15 PM J we'll give you a free longived one of vour choice! You lart at777-4070 and he'll give We've reserved a phone for SPOl rouble' bei 1 "I think we're ready to take that step t [from the NTT to the NCAA tournament]. \ If s going to be a huge step, and we can't j folrn if ir\rii\ndnoll\r n annVinmnra T3_T \1V?ITio r wuvt it uiuifiuuauj, svpwuiuit jlw i said. ? \ "My expectations are always going to be high," senior Larry Davis said. "I t expect for us to win the whole thing, but i we have to take it step by step." c The guard play will be one of the ? many highlights for this year's squad. ? ' Davis, McKie and junior Melvin Watson are being touted as one of the 1 ) c ( 1 i c 1 1 c ? ] ? 1 1 C C 1 ? 1 t 4rl * r * * J > / * ? Fit* Photo The Gamecock yoar as ths Gamococks hops to :ho NCAA Tournament. me your own damn bacon! University of J | Depart] | Epidemiology a I Open for Interested 1 ? Stud I Friday, Octo 3:00 - 5:00 pi Ssr'VirkrJ nf Pi JN kJVyllUUl V71 JL 1 I Sumter and G RTS gins race op-five backcourts in the nation. Davis vas named to the first team Athlon preseason All-SEC team. Watson was lamed to the second team while McKie vas selected to the third team. The trio led the Gamecocks in scoring, hree point shooting and steals last year rnd were in the top five of most Carolina >ffensive category. The three combined in average of more than 45 points a year igo. "Our trio of guards are outstanding," Eogler said. "We believe they can play vith anyone's backcourt in the nation." Co-captain Davis, in his second year it USC after transferring from North Carolina, averaged 18.0 points per game ast year and set four 3-point shooting ecords in the process, including a seven)f-seven performance against Davidson. "Larry is a very good athlete and is /ery explosive. He is more of a scorer ;han a shooter and can take the ball to he basket, but can certainly get it going rom the outside," Fogler said. Co-captain Watson emerged as one )f the guards in the league the past season. The Charlestonian averaged 12.2 points and 4.5 assists per game last season. Watson improved his shooting rom his freshman year by making 34 percent of his 3-pointers and 74 percent >f his free throws. After starting 30 out )f 31 games last year, Watson comes into his season having started 57 out of 58 career contests. "In Melvin Watson, we believe we lave one of the better lead guards in the SEC and in the country. He has remendous strength and the ability to jenetrate and make good thing3 happen," fogler said. McKie came into the league, proving le belonged right away. The AP SEC Rookie of the Year averaged 15.4 points ser game while breaking four of Alex English's freshman records, including joints (478) and scoring average. The sophomore from Columbia improved as he season progressed last year, averaging L8.4 points per contest over the last 15 james. "BJ is an exceptional competitor and s extremely good at taking the ball to the basket, He was one of the finer freshmen last year," Fogler Also expected to contribute I to the backcourt, redshirt I freshman Hagen Rouse and H true freshman Herbert Lee I Rouse averaged 20.4 points H -;-v per game as a senior at J.L. i Mann High School two years Bj|J| ago. Davis, a native of I.??-? Georgetown, attended yi* Winchendon Prep, Mass., the MB past two years. He averaged more than 21 points per game mUm Although the backcourt will jBMB receive most of the attention BNfl for Carolina, the frontcourt is Jlrj solid, also. TTie forwards will provide Fogler with height and quickness. Butifthe Gamecocks play the three-guard lineup, look for Davis to play the role of small forward on defense. "We think our forward play brings a lot of versatility to our team," Fogler said. "We can go small with a three-guard lineup or we can go very big BJ Met and play Ryan Stack at 6-foot- In ths finish i (Whistle Sound Here) TIME OUT! Read Gamecock Sports. (Game On) >outh Carolina ment of nd Biostatistics House Undergraduate lents ber 18,1996 n, HESC 103 iblic Health Ireene Streets 7353 for nation; 11 at the small forward, as well." Stack averaged 4.2 points per game and will see action at small forward The junior from Chapmansboro, Tenn., has above-average agility and can hit the outside shot. Stack continues to improve his shooting, making better than 50 percent of his field goals and 77 percent of his free throws. "Ryan Stack shows the skill level to be a very good basketball player at USC. Ryan can play both the three and four positions for us, which is highly unusual for someone of his size to be able to play small forward," Fogler said. Arthur Carlisle, a swingman who played at the small forward last year, will be looking for more playing time. The sophomore from Goose Creek averaged 2.2 per game, but played just 77 minutes in 17 games last year. Freshman Antonio Grant from North Augusta will step in and contribute at small forward. At 6-foot-5,225 pounds, Grant has the size to play the position. A strong player who can run the floor well, Grant averaged 22.0 points last season at New Hampton Prep. Stack, William Gallman and Bud Johnson will take the roles of power forward. Gallman, a sophomore, played in 29 games last year averaging 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. A native of Chester, Gallman is one of Carolina's better athletes and has low-post skills. Johnson, who will see time at power forward and center, was a part-time starter a year ago. The ?foot-10,240-pound sophomore from Columbia started 14 games and played in all 31 games. Johnson averaged 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and ranked sixth in the SEC with 1.2 blocked shots per contest. "Last year, I was playing the game as a freshman, and this year, I'm a sophomore so I'm looking to step up my game offensively and defensively," Johnson said. "Bud is our best shot blocker, and we hope he has improved in the offensive area to give us a low to medium post scorer," Fogler said. * Uo Is an Important part of tho roturnl nation by Athlon Sports. Ths magazl kocond to Kontucky this year In tho SI 'I ^^^' F^prv 11 Wednesday Oct. Friday, October 18.1996 )l respect Three players, Johnson, Nate Wilbourne and George Formanek, will vie for time at the center Dosition for the Gamecocks. Wilboume averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. The senior will be expected to pick up the rebounding slack after Malik Russell, the lone senior from last year's squad. Wilboume is regarded as one of the most under-rated players in the conference by some magazines. "Nate Wilboume, at his size, gives us a very good offensive basketball player. He can catch, pass and shoot the basketball well, and has very good skills and feel for the game," Fogler said. George Formanek is back for his fourth and final season at USC. The senior from Slany, Czech Republic averaged 0.5 points and 1.1 rebounds per game last season. Fogler will be preaching defense this season. According to Fogler, the better defense one plays, the more one will play. "I think we have a lot of offensive threats on the team, but I think our main focus this year will be on defense. I don't think we guarded the ball particularly well last year," McKie said. The Gamecocks will be playing perhaps their toughest schedule ever. With the highly competitive Maui Invitational and the Hairis Teeter Pepsi Challenge, Carolina will be challenged early. USC will be the host for Clemson Dec. 17. The Gamecocks head into their 16game SEC schedule beginning Jan. 4 against Auburn. "Our schedule is extremely challenging," Fogler said. "We believe it's one of the toughest schedules USC has ever had and is definitely the most difficult since we've been here." "If you want to be up there with the elite, you have to play with the elite," McKie said. The Gamecocks have hit the hardwood for what promises to be an exciting year. Larry Davis sums up perhaps all of the South Carolina faithfiils' thoughts saying "Tm just excited about the season. I just wish we could go out there and play tomorrow. I can't wait, I can't wait." 4(B^p FN* Photo The Gamecock ng backcourt that was rated No. 5 lite also picked the Gamecocks to EC East WSFTWSTTTrirtBn M rvji HII11 3lk~H id Best DJs "T^M Have ay $1 Bottled Beer 18 Acoustic Circus