The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 18, 1996, Page 10, Image 10
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LARRY WlllAMS Staff Writer
The University of South Carolina
men's basketball team got what it needed
Saturday: a tune-up.
In their second and last exhibition
game of the season, the Gamecocks beat
the Puerto Rico National Team, 89-70,
and in the process, got much-needed
practice for the start of the regular season,
which begins Nov. 25 in Hawaii.
"They're (Puerto Rico) a strong,
physical team," USC head coach Eddie
Fogler said. "I think that was geod for
our big people, particularly to play
against that type of physical (team)."
Puerto Rico came into the game
sporting a formidable resume of past
opponents. Before Saturday's game, they
played nationally-ranked teams down
to the wire. They played Utah tough
before a narrow, 83-78 loss to the Utes,
and followed with an overtime loss to
Boston College. The Friday(Nov. 15)
before they played USC , the Puerto
Ricans beat Seton Hall by 16.
Puerto Rico head coach Carlos
Morales said, of the teams his squad has
faced so far, the Gamecocks impressed
McKie lookin
JEFF BLOPQETT Staff Writer
He's one-third of "Lethal Weapon 3,"
which many consider if not the best,
then one of the best, backcourts in the
nation.
And one does not have to look far
past B.J. McKie to understand why.
This sophomore guard established
himself as one of the best young guards
in the country last year.
In doing so, he broke many of USCs
freshman rernrds and was named
Associated Press SEC Rookie of the Year
and to the Freshman Ail-American team.
His 15.4 points were second on the
team, 10th in the SEC and netted 478
points.
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him the most. 1
"They were the best team we have i
played. Utah played without Keith Van
Horn and beat us by five," Morales said.
"They (USC) are the toughest team we've 1
played, no doubt." 1
The Gamecocks were led by junior
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game-high 22 points on 8-13 shooting, i
"Watson was terrific tonight," Fogler
said. "He really played well." 1
After the Puerto Ricans ran to a 10- j
0 lead to open the game, Watson took i
charge, scoring eight of USC's first 10 {
points to pick up the slack. 1
"I wanted to be a spark plug for my s
team," Watson said. "Once I hit my first ]
two baskets, I figured I was giving my
team a little pep." f
Watson said he feels there are still (
a few kinks the Gamecocks need to work 1
out before he's comfortable with their c
play. 1
"We struggled a little bit tonight c
rebounding the ball, and I think coach t
wasn't particularly happy with the way i
we rebounded and played one-on-one
defense," Watson said. 'In order for our s
team to take the next step, we have to ?
[g to be a foro
This broke future Hall of Famer Alex i
English's freshman scoring record.
But most importantly he helped lead A
the Gamecocks to a 19 and 12 record
and on a trip to the NIT. t
Awards and winning are nothing new
to McKie. j
While in high school at Irmo right ?
here in Columbia, he led his-team to an i
impressive 101 and 10 record.
In his senior season he lead his team j
to the AAAlA South Carolina State e
championship.
Scoring only 42 points in the I
championship game. ?
His many awards in high school
include being named to the Parade Nike, c
National AAU and Street & Smith's All
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contact your Student Sei
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Spring of 1997/
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ins, now
aecome better defensively ? there's no
ifs, ands or buts about it."
After Ryan Stack tied the score at
18, at the 11:19 mark of the first half,
[JSC outscored the opposition 30-18 to
:ake a 48-36 lead into halftime.
Stack, who scored 14 points and
pulled down seven boards, gave perhaps
lis best effort yet as a Gamecock.
"Stack has made a dramatic jump
brward here," Fogler said of the 6-11
unior from Chapmansboro, Tenn., who
averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds a
jame last season". "He's playing with a
ot more confidence and a lot more
strength, and thafs a real boost for our
irogram."
Fogler also praised the play of
reshmen Herbert Lee Davis and Antonio
5rant, who combined for 13 points.
Perhaps a glimpse of the future was
iffered by the two when, with 33 seconds
eft in the game, Grant lofted an alley)op
pass to Davis, who slammed the ball
hrough the net and put the crowd on
ts feet.
The jam was the culmination of a
second-half in which the Gamecocks
illowed the Puerto Ricans to get no closer
e for Gamecc
American teams.
He also considered Tennessee. Florida.
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Virginia and Clemson.
But he decided to come to USC
jecause they were on the rise.
"I feel that USC was an upcoming
jrogram, and I believe in Coach Fogler
md his staff, and I think they believe
n me," McKie said.
Even though he had a great year last
rear, he is still working hard to improve,
ispecially on defensive end.
Tm an average defensive player and
can get a whole lot better," he said
ifter the Puerto Rico game.
But most of all, he wants to improve
>n the team's 19 and 12 record.
"Some of my expectations are to make
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than 12 points. USC took its largest lead
of the game when Stack sank a five-foot
hook shot to put the Gamecocks up 8262
with 3:33 left.
USC begins its regular season in the
Maui Invitational at Lahaina, Hawaii
a week from today.
Their first opponent will be the
Virginia Cavaliers ,(4:30 p.m. EST), with
possible match-ups looming against
UMASS, Chaminade, Kansas, LSU,
California(Berkeley) and Iowa.
Instead of playing weaker opponents
to begin the season, as has been the case
in recent years, USC will be thrown into
the fire, and will quickly have a good
idea of just how competitive they can be
after playing powerhouses in Maui.
"It's an outstanding tournament,"
Fogler said. "(And) tonight was a good
tune-up for us."
Sophomore guard BJ McKie, who
notched 14 points on 4-9 shooting
Saturday, said a competitive game against
Puerto Rico was expected.
"We knew coming in that it wasn't
going to be an easy game, (that) they
were not going to be a pushover team.
They know the game very well."
>cks this year
the NCAA Tournament and contend for
the SEC Championship," McKie said.
With himself, Larry Davis and Melvin
Watson in the backcourt, his expectations
are not far fetched.
But with all the talk of being one of
the best backcourts in the country also
comes pressure.
"We know the pressure is there, but
I don't think we feel it," he said.
With the numbers McKie put up last
year, he has established himself as one
of the best guards in the SEC, just like
Davis and Watson.
With the three in the backcourt,
McKie's dream of making the NCAA
Tournament just may come true.
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Game Notes
Red-shirt freshman Hagen Rouse
suffered a stress fracture in his right
foot in practice and will miss three weeks
of action.
Rouse could return to the lineup in
time for Carolina's games in the Harris
Teeter Pepsi Challenge, Dec. 6-7, in
Charlotte.
Fogler said he hopes forward William
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Monday, November 18, 1996
Rational
Gallman, who was injured last week,
will be back in practice Tuesday.
Women's Results
The Lady Gamecocks' basketball
tpfim siifffirpd a 67-62 sethark tn f!as?wi?
Kosice, of Slovakia, Saturday.
The Lady Gamecocks were led by
sophomore guard Nikki Miars, who
scored 17 points in 35 minutes.
ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock
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