The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 02, 1997, ORIENTATION ISSUE, Page 18, Image 18
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LARRY WILLIAMS Senior Writer
USCs men's basketball team enjoyed
a roller coaster, record-breaking season.
But the record-breaking season
didn't begin in record-breaking fashion.
In the Maui Invitational Nov. 25-27,
USC suffered a 23-point loss to the
Virtnnia Cavaliers and managed tn
win two over Chaminade and LSU.
After back-to4)ack wins over Woffbrd
and UNOChariotte, USC led at halftone
against North Carolina, but was
overpowered by the Tar Heels and lost
by 11.
It got downright dismal for USC
Dec. 17, when Clemson came to Frank
McGuire Arena and crushed the
Gamecocks by 19 points, 58-39. Then,
Big South conference member UNCAsheville
came to Columbia and
stunned USC, 80-74.
After a "break" and a 79^0 win over
South Carolina State, the Gamecocks
were upset by yet another Big South
team, this one Charleston Southern,
in a disastrous 85-81 loss that made
USC's preseason expectations of an
NCAA Tburnament appearance seem
lieht vears awav.
The Gamecocks' record then stood
at 5-5, and the meat of the schedule
had yet to be played. Their shooting
was poor, their rebounding sloppy, and
their names the laughingstock of the
SEC.
Who would have imagined that the
next two months would see the
Gamecocks go on a record-breaking
tear through the SEC and reach as high
as No. 4 in the national rankings?
Certainly not many.
The following are game highlights
of the Gamecocks' improbable run to
the SEC title.
Dec. 30?Furman...USC rebounds
from its crushing loss to Charleston
Southern with an easy, 100-62 win over
the Paladins. Nothing special, though.
Secord: 6-5.
Jaa 4 ? Auburn... The Gamecocks
celebrate the new year, and the start
of their SEC schedule with a convincing
66-56 win over the Tigers. William
Gallman perhaps gives fans a glimpse
of the near future, scoring 19 points
and pulling down 13 rebounds, both
team highs. Previously, Gallman had
left much to be desired with a nagging
leg injuiy. All signs say Gallman is back.
Record: 7-5.
Jan. 15 ? at Florida... The
Gamecocks take their road show to
Gainesville to see if their good luck will
"follow them. Down 16 points with a
little over five minutes left, the
Gamecocks turn it on with a late 18-0
run and a lastseccnd shot by B J. McKe
to defeat the Gators 80-79. The win,
USC's fifth-straight, pushes it to first
in the SECs eastern division with a 40
mark. Record: 10-5.
Jan. 18?Georgia.. After falling
behind in the first half, the Gamecocks
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ord brcs
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Gamecocks guard Melvin \\
game. Watson led the team ii
blister the nets in the second sta
using a 30-15 run to put away th<
21 Bulldogs, 82-71. Record: 11-5.
Jan. 22 ? at Alabama... A
second layup by Melvin Watson {
USC a 62-60 victory over the Crii
Tide. McKie scores 18 points to
USC, and Gallman pulls dow
rebounds ? his third-straight g
loariincr fho foam in ffio rohmin
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column. Record: 12-5.
Jan. 25 ? Ole Miss... Inste:
having the expected brutal, low-scc
affair with the tough Rebels,
Gamecocks have some fun, blowing
Ole Miss 86-63. McHe pours in 26 p
and notches 11 rebounds to lead
Gamecocks, who win their eig
straight and improve their SEC re
to 7-0, which is tops in the confen
Record: 13-5.
Jan. 29 ? at Vanderbilt...
No. 25 Gamecocks earn the mon
"Cardiac Kids" with their third-stra
last-second win on the road, as a We
jumper with 16.7 seconds left lifts 1
65-64. Just two days earlier, stud
camp at the Russell House with h
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ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock
Watson lays the ball in at a 1997 home
i assists with 157.
inza, of obtaining tickets for USC's game
3 No. with Kentucky Feb. 4. Record: 14-5.
Feb. 4 ? Kentucky... In front of
last- a packed house reminiscent of the Frank
jives McGuire days, No. 19 USC beats No.
nson 3 Kentucky 84-79 in perhaps the greatest
lead win in the history of the program. In
nil cvertime,McI&sctHesei^t(fCai^ina,s
ame final 10 points to seal the victory, which
ding is broadcast on national television.
usl; tans storm tne court, ana are
id of last seen partying on Greene St. in the
>ring wee hours of the morning. The
the Gamecocks' winning streak, now at 11
I out games, is their longest since the 1970aints
71 team won 12 games en-route to a
1 the 23-6 season. Record: 16-5.
fhth Feb. 8?Florida.. The Gamecocks
cord keep it perfect with a 76-68 win over
;nce. the Gators. The Gamecocks come out
flat in the first half, but regain control
The with a 15-5 run down the stretch to put
iker away the Gators for the second time in
ight, the season. USC runs its SEC record
itson to 11-0, which is easily the best mark
[JSC in the conference. Record: 17-5.
ents Feb. 12?at Georgia... Hie bubble
opes bursts in Athens. USC falls victim to
5
asketbal
hot shooting by the Bulldogs and <
its 12-game wining streak. Davis 1<
USC with 24 points. Record: 17-6
Feb. 15 ? at Cincinnati... N<
USC rebounds with a shocking shot
display, beating the No. 8 Bear
handily, 97-83. The Gamecocks n
their first seven 3-point attempts,
proceed to connect on 15 of 24 attei
fcr a whopping 62.5 percentage. Care
which missed some crucial free tt
attempts down the stretch aga
fjpnrcrin arp crnnH nn 99 nf fVipi
attempts in the second half.
The Gamecocks' No. 12 record, w
seemed in jeopardy after the Geo
loss, improves. Record: 18-6.
Feb. 18 ? Arkansas... No. 91
dominates the Razorbacks from
outset and cruises to a 78-65 victor
national television. Larry Davis 1<
USC with 17 points, and Ryan S
grabs 12 rebounds, as USC impr
its conference mark to 12-1. Rec
19-6.
Feb. 26-VanderbOt... USC b
the Commodores 74-53 to grab at 1
a share of the SEC regular season
in its last home game of the sea
McKie leads the Gamecocks wit]
points, and Watson grabs nine reboi
Record: 22-6.
March 2 ? at Kentucky...
game almost no one gives them a ch
to win, the Gamecocks shock
DasKetDaii wona with a Y2-bt> trui
at Rupp Arena. Rick Pitino is eje
in the waning moments for argui
call with a referee. The win gives 1
sole possession of the SEC regi
season title, and pushes the Gamec
to a No. 4 ranking. Record: 23-6
March 7, SEC Tournamen
Alabama... USC cruises to a 72-61
over the Crimson Tide. The wi
characterized by what got them a
this year: hot shooting, scrappy defe
and tough rebounding. Record:!
March 8, SEC Tournamen
Georgia.. USC leads at halftime ag
Georgia, then the bottom drops
The Gamecocks go cold from the f
and are pushed around by the Bull
in the paint, as Georgia wins 78-(
knock USC out of yet another showc
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March 14, NCAA Tournam
? Coppin St.... While it's not lil
many in South Carolina heard of Co
State before the tournament, the f
money says they do now. And so <
most everyone around the coun
In an flop that rivals those for w
Arizona and Syracuse are famous,
2 seed USC was blown out by No
seed Coppin State, 78-65. The loss br
shock waves throughout the sp<
community, and tears to the I
community.
Quick feds about the recard-brea
1996-97 season: final record 24-8,
1 SEC); home record: 11-3; road rec
9-1; neutral: 44; television: 134.
ii BSBBi
i mwijim
mds
jads
). 12
tog Men's Golf
cats As of presstime, the team was
lake in Lake Forest, 111. competing in
flfld fkn MP A A Pliomninnakm TKn
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npts Gamecocks advanced after
dina, finishing ninth at the NCAA East
tow Regional in Hot Springs, Va. The
inst team finished in 22nd place at
r 35 last year's NCAA Championship.
hich Women's Golt
rgia Rebekah Lee-Owens shot a
309 (80-73-76-80) in the NCAA
JSC Women's Golf Championship at
the Columbus, Ohio. The senior
y on finished the event in 66th place,
iads
tack Men's Tennis
oves Columbia native Keith Brill
ord: fell 6-7,6-3,7-6 in the second
round of the NCAA Singles
lasts Championship in Los Angeles,
east Calif. Brill, ranked No. 32 in the
title nation, finished the season with
son- a 32-16 record.
hl8 Jerome Jourdon was
inds. defeated in the first round 6-1,
64. The No. 24-ranked Jourdon
In a finished 25-9.
ance
the Women's Tennis
mph Karolina Bulat and Tobi
cted Rakic fell in the first round of
nga the NCAA Doubles
USC Championship, held in Stanford,
ular Calif. The No. 21-ranked duo fell
ocks to the No. 1 ranked pair 6-3,76,
and ended their the season
tt- 13-7.
win
in is
3 far TRACK continued from page 16
mse, Watts won his second SEC title in
24-6 the 800 meters with a time of 1:47.91.
it ? "It feels good to win," Watts said.
ainst "It gives me a lot of confidence for the
out. NCAAs."
ield, The men's 4x100 relay team finished
dogs second with a school-best 39.53-second
>3 to finish. And LaBarbera finished second
lown in the javelin at 229 feet, just nine
inches short of the winning mark,
ent The team also did well May 24 at
kely the Georgia Ifech Invitational,
ppin Misipeka took first in the Vtammpr
jood (207 feet, 6 indies), with Ellerbe second
loes (203 feet, 2 inches). EDerbe also finished
itry. second in the discus (176 feet, 4 inches),
hich Mitchell was third in the javelin (158
No. feet, 3 inches).
1.15 Mannon won the men's shot put
mgs (60 feet, 3 inches), discus (177 feet, 9
orts inches) and hammer (212 feet, 2 inches).
JSC The men's 4x100 relay team also took
first place (:39.77).
? So while many students will be
king thinking about late nights on the job,
(15- these 16 USC athletes will be
?rd; concentrating on hurdles, hammers,
heptathlons and more.