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^ A recap of the Gamecocks' game against Florida. ^ A look at both the baseball and s< ball teams' weekend series. Walvieball plays its final home gai Page 6 use glad" f rv Vi QT TCk Williams larry WILLIAMS t Scoop Shots Two years ago, when Billy Donovan replaced Lon Kruger as head coach of the Florida Gators, he had a problem with his best player, forward LeRon Williams. Donovan let people know about it, hitting the booster club circuit, telling loyal Gator backers that Williams didn't have the desire or work ethic to see significant playing time in the 1996-97 season.. Williams, Florida's "Mr. Basketball" in high school, had averaged 10 points and 4.8 rebounds as a sophomore. He was a mainstay in the Gators' starting lineup under Kruger. Invariably and predictably, Williams eventually heard Donovan's unfavorable comments. He went to his coach and said he wanted to transfer. Donovan picked up the telephone and made the calls for him. More than a year later, Donovan's prescience has been rewarded. His team finds the open man well. It shoots well. But the Gators can't rebound, or play defense for falling flat on their faces. The Gatort are last in the SEC in scoring defense. The team is 11th in rebounding. Had Williams stayed in Gainesville, Fla., he'd be a senior now, presumably doing what he's doing for USC in Columbia: establishing himself as a fearful presence in the low post. He's averaging 11.3 points per game. He's pulled down four rebounds per game. He adds dimension and makes formidable a weak frontcourt. In his first meeting against his old coach, last month's narrow victory in Frank McGuire Arena, Williams brought the Gamecocks from 12 down almost all by himself. He showed poise, tenacity, unflappability and desire. Williams did all the things Donovan, in his infinite wisdom, believed were impossible. Perhaps Donovan was trying to light a fire under his star player. Maybe he was using a familiar tactic of his old boss, Rick Pitino, trying to tick a player off so bad with his insults that he becomes a terror on the court, taking frustrations out on his opponents. Williams took out his frustrations, all right. All over Donovan. Lefs ponder, for a moment, Donovan's accusations. If Williams is bereft of the "desire" and "work ethic" to play basketball, how do you explain his performance in a Gamecock uniform? Fogler suspended Williams for Wednesday's game at Arkansas. The extent of Fogler's explanation was that Williams violated academic policy. The brevity of Fogler's response means one thing: We can't speculate on Williams' academic transgressions because we don't know. USC undoubtedly missed Williams' presence in its 96-88 loss in Fayettville, Ark. But we can't say USC wins if Williams plays. When a team like Arkansas makes almost every 3-pointer it tosses up, when a team is running the floor as well as UA was, it makes things difficult, no matter who plays. But consider what Williams does on the court, then think for a moment about Donovan's imprudent comments. If you want to play for Fogler, desire and work ethic are the first things you bring to the table. If they're not, you're out the door, plain and simple. If he is truly the slacker on the court that Donovan said he was, then Williams doesn't play 22 minutes in the Florida game, doesn't score 14 points, doesn't pull down seven rebounds. He doesn't have the opportu nity to mane nis oia coacn eat every word he carelessly babbled two years ago to those loyal Gator boosters. If Williams didn't have the work ethic, things would have happened differently. If he doesn't have the desire, Florida beats USC last month. Now, after he's been proven wrong, Donovan should admit he lacked the precognition two years ago to realize just who and what he was giving up. He'll have another chance tomorrow when USC visits Gainesville. Good thing for USC, Williams is the model of consistency in the frontcourt that Eddie Fogler has been searching for in his four-and-a-half years here. He was there when his team needed him the most in that Florida game, in the last four minutes, when the Gamecocks hadn't yet solved Florida's inside-out game. WILLIAMS page seven 4 ( )ftne. ^ Gameco asst. sports editor NATHAN BROWN sunk two 3 Five minu This little piggy went to the mar- found itse ket. This little piggy stayed home. This largest del little piggy had roast chicken. This lit- Gamecocks tie piggy had none. And the Arkansas On a 16-3 r "Piggies" sent the No. 13 Gamecocks ]ea(^ to tw( (19-5,9-4 SEC) crying "wee, wee, wee" b ^ntoni all the way home with an 88-96 loss Wednesday night. he game . It wasn't the first'thne that Car- ?a W11 olina lost in Arkansas. In fact, USC pU has yet to win in Bud Walton Arena ^Ver'??, since joining the SEC in 1992. .e And it wasn't the first time that the While Gamecocks got behind early and theGamec then battled back. There was the mirac- floor, ulous 23-point comeback against cen* Cincinnati and the 12-point comeback percent fo against Florida. fhis ?>ame, But with No. 15 Arkansas (20-6, outshot th 10-3 SEC) playing tough defense and a^so ^-0 > with Pat Bradley shooting USC's eyes turnovers, out, the Gamecocks were unable to have *? W( climb out of their hole and dropped perfect st their second straight road game. ball over 1J "Their basketball team was a little olina's tur better than we were tonight," USC the Hogs, coach Eddie Fogler said. "I saw some Anothi good things for us. We didn't quit.. Jf s came from veiy disappointing that we did not win." way to sco: HPn erfemf fVio ao/wnrl Kalf Avl^cmeQC!, wont 7-fnr. A. VS UVU1 V fliv UUVV11U 11U11 j A XX 1VU11UUU TV VUV IV/1 Bradley, who finished with 33 points, arc and 12 Lady Gan sports editor BRYAN JOHNSTON The new lights at Beckham Field were not supposed to be used officially until March 11 when the Lady Gators of Florida come to town. But if it weren't for the new lights, the Lady Gamecock softball team's opening games against Georgia Southern would have been postponed due to darkness. The first game started at 3 p.m., and nearly four and half hours after the first pitch by Sky Brown, the Lady Gamecocks had swept the Lady Eagles, winning 5-0 and 5-2. But the two victories didn't come without a heavy price. Carolina lost shortstop Kendra McCutcheon for the year when she broke her ankle while sliding into second base. But not all was as gloomy as the chilly weath r> j t> ] CI, <19 JDIUWH OI1U 111IY.AJ uccia LU11UUUCU LIIC 1111pressive winning streaks. "We've been so anxious to play," USC coach Joyce Compton said. "I thought we did a good job of coming out. I thought we had some good at bats, and I think it showed today." In Game 1, Carolina opened up with two runs in the first when freshman Megan Donohoo and junior Kim Pietro crossed the plate. USC added three more in the third when it put together five consecutive base hits with two out. Pietro opened the rally with a double, followed by a single fh>m Sondra Hall. Carrie Elliott-Hoshour singled in Pietro, and Brown's single drove in Hall from second base. Sophomore Leanna Troesh finished the rally with a single up the middle, driving in Elliott-Hoshour. That would be more than enough for Brown, who went five innings, allowing no runs and one hit while striking out one. The win was Brown's 21st in a row dating back to 1996. Freshman Joyce McMillin came in to pitch two scoreless innings for the Lady Gamecocks. In the second game, Carolina once again put two on the board in their first at bat. McMillin led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Donohoo. Pietro also drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, setting up Elliott-Hoshour. The senior drove the 1-0 pitch through the infield to score the two baserunners, giving USC a 4-0 lead. Carolina added two more in the second when sophomore Kim Schultze and freshman Kendra Meano were driven in by Donohoo and Pietro, respectively. Georgia Southern scored two unearned runs in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-2, but the Lady Gamecocks would answer. Hall led off the cm. : ; 4- _:?U4 c_i J j in til iiuiing wiui a mpie iu uecp iigHt nciu cinu scored when Elliott-Hoshour drove in her fourth run of the day. Beers went the distance, allowing no earned runs and nine hits while striking out two. The win marked the 16th in a row for Beers, going back to last season. But the big story of the day had to be that of McCutcheon. The second-team All-SEC shortstop from a year ago was lost for the year just two batters into the Lady Gamecocks' season. Leading off The No. 16 base- The No. 6 softball team vs. ball team vs. Cleveland State Georgia State Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.n Saturday, 2 p.m. Beckham Field Sunday, 1 p.m. Sarge Frye Field 5P in> The Gamecock cks falter -pointers to spark a 9-2 run. "Most of the time his tes after the run, Carolina contested," Ryan Stack sj sii down Dy 10 points, tne tne time good snooters 11 ficit of the game. Then the hit so many and then go 3 made their patented move, couldn't [go cold]. Our gi un, USC cut the Razor-backs' him. The defense was g< > points on a 2-point bucket just hitting shots. There's o Grant with 5:20 left in you can really do. You j Arkansas answered Granf s set." h a 3-pointer to essentially Stack put his frustrat ame away as the 'Backs use scoring 17 points anc id back, outscoring USC 14- game-high nine rebound ast five minutes. ing was the only category Arkansas outscored USC, Gamecocks had an advan ocks outshot the Hogs from na outrebounded Arkans knocking down 53.3 per- "Coming into this gam iir shots compared to 48.5 phasized how good of a reb r the Razorbacks. Prior to Davis is," Stack said. "Tha Carolina was 12-0 when it phasis of our game [to < e other team. Carolina was them]." vhen committing fewer Davis, a native of Co But the Gamecocks didn't ished with five rebouni irry about blemishing this points, reak as USC turned the Another Columbia nat ) times to Arkansas' 11. Car- a good game is Bj Mckie novers led to 27 points for the Gamecocks' leading sc points. Mckie's All-SEC < jr 33 points for Arkansas Melvin Watson, scored II i n... JI__. r\~ i_:_ J* i__ J i.i_ _ l 11 _i_i. x one piayer, oramey. un nis uisneu on me nan eigni i ring a career-high, Bradley Carolina in assists. 11 from behind the 3-point With the loss, USCs hi :-for-19 from the field. as SEC-Champions was lecocks wii ^ "'f SEAN KAYFORD The Gamecock Above: Sophomores Leanna Troesh (No. 10) and Kim Schultze congratulate junior Kim Pietro (with bat in hand) in the Lady Gamecocks' victory over Georgia Southern. At right, senior Sky Brown picked up her 21st-consecutive victory with the opening game win. in the bottom of the first inning, McCutcheon reached first on an error. Freshman Megan Donohoo grounded the ball to second base, forcing the out at second. But as McCutcheon slid into the base, her right ankle remained between the base and the ground as her momentum carried the rest of her body over the ankle, snapping it instantly. After being taken to the hospital, McCutcheon was diagnosed with a double fracture of the ankle with ligament damage. The Lake City, S.C., native is gone for the season and had surgery Wednesday night. She will be redshirted and will return next year as a junior. That forced the sudden shifting of Coach Compton's lineup. Compton decided to move Donohoo to shortstop, and Donohoo played the position like a veteran, not the freshman she is. "I was really nervous at the beginning of the game," Donohoo said. "I was just thinking 'don't mess up.' I've played a lot of shortstop, and I felt comfortable playing shortstop." Playing in her first collegiate game, Donohoo 1 e i? *1 4 auiiiiiieu iici pciiuiiudiitc was lesB-uimr-pei- 1 feet, despite committing no errors in ground-ball 1 attempts, including a nifty 6-3 double-play. She did commit one throwing error. 1 "I've got a lot of work to do," said the Chat- ? tanooga, Tenn., native. "I've watched Kendra play and just from watching her, I've learned a lot. But s I've still got a lot to work on." t Compton said she was pleased with Donohoo's 1 performance. t "I thought Megan did a great job," Compton said. "She's been working some at shortstop, but 1 I thought she did a great job in a tough situation." I The No. 2 men's track and field, a No. 6 women's track and field sqi host the Gamecock Invitational, v., Throwing, 11 a.m., Weems-Baskin Track. All other competition, noon, Indoi Facility Nate s: first- ai ^ the 19" eligibil t first te; / Jordan in Fayei I shots were stroyed as the Gamecocks moved two aid. "Most of games behind division leader Kentucky, ke that will Kentucky avenged its loss earlier in cold. But he the season by pounding Florida on ays were on Wednesday 79-54. Kentucky must still )od. He was face the Georgia Bulldogs in Rupp Arenothing that na and Auburn on the road before comiust get up- ing to USC for the season finale. Carolina, on the other hand, also dons to good has to face Georgia, a team that has 1 snagging a been on a roll lately grabbing wins s. Rebound- against Arkansas, Alabama, Florida in which the and Vanderbilt prior to the Kentucky tage. Caroli- game. as 35-32. "Everybody has three [games! left, e, coach em- and nothing is easy," Fogler said. >ounder Nick "That's just the way it is in our league, t was an em- LSU seems to be the only team that's jutrebound really struggling. Outside of that, everyone looks at their remaining three lumbia, fin- games and says Wow.'" ds and four Next up for the Gamecocks will be the Gators (13-10, 6-7 SEC). Earlier ;ive who had this season, Florida came into Frank . Mckie was McGuire Arena and gave Carolina a :orer with 23 scare as USC found itself down by 12 counterpart, points in the second half. But the Game 3 points and cocks battled back to grab the victory imes to lead when Grant tipped in the winning bucket with nine tenths of a second left, ope to repeat A major difference between Sati all but de- urda/s contest and the previous meet12, lose 1 b?I |HpR|tak 7 Wi ; * > I:;...,' *$ f ' V ! iC " ;i . ' ' *"*' ^ * <:- - I The Lady Gamecocks are looking for more offense this year and got it in a big way from ElliottSoshour. The native of Birmingham, Ala., who recenty got married, went three for five, with two singles, a double and for RBI. T just had fun," Elliott-Hoshour said. "I just sat back and said, 1 can't stress,' and I've been ;hinking in the box too much lately. Coach and I lave been working individually on my swing over ;he past three weeks and it paid off." The No. 6 Lady Gamecocks (2-0) return to Becklam Field Saturday for a meeting with Georgia State. The double-header begins at 2 p.m. ind Lady Gamecock The No. IS jads basketball team women's t vs. Kentucky team vs. / 7 p.m., Frank Sunday, 1 McGuire Arena Maxcy-Gre >r Tennis Coj 4 ays more than half of the All-NBA ad second-team selections since 79-80 season departed school with ity remaining, including all five amers in 1988-89 (Barkley, Magic, , K. Malone and Olajuwan). Friday, February 20,1998 tteville ing is that Florida will be playing without its leading scorer Jason Williams who was suspended earlier this week. Another Williams, who will be returning to the court after a suspension, is USC's LeRon Williams. Williams was suspended for the Arkansas contest for violating a team academic policy. That does hurt Florida [losing J. Williams]," Fogler said. "But they have two more days to adjust to playing without him by the time we play. And it will be nice to have LeRon back. That was a one-game suspension. Nothing major, but the message needed to be sent." To offset the loss of UF's J. Williams, the game will be played in Gainesville where the Gators are notoriously tougher to play. In the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Florida leads the series 6-4. The Gamecocks have won the past four contests against the Gators, and Grant sees Carolina coming away with its fifth consecutive win if the team works together. "If we can keep playing well together, then I think when we go down to Florida that I like our chances," Grant said. Bauer leads Carolina over WCU staff writer JOE QUINN Freshman right-hander Peter Bauer struck out 11 Western Carolina batters in seven innings Wednesday, and third baseman Eric Stanton had three hits to pace the South Carolina baseball team to a 3-0 win. The shutout was the first by South Carolina's staff since a 25-0 win over West Virginia March 2,1997. Bauer improved his record .to 2-0 as the Gamecocks moved to 5-2 on the young season. Sophomore Jamie Poston pitched the eighth inning and Jason Pomar the ninth for USC with Pomar earning his first save of the season. The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead with an unearned first-inning run. Western Carolina left fielder Matt Stillwell dropped Mike Curry's leadoff fly ball for a three-base error. Curry scored on a balk. Bryon Jeffcoat's single drove in Tripp Kelly to make it 2-0 in the fourth inning. USC's final run came in the fifth inning, when Stanton's double, the only extra-base hit of the day, drove in Ryan Bordenick. Curry had two singles, both of them infield hits, and Derick Urquhart singled twice for the Gamecocks. Bauer gave up two singles to the first two batters he faced but pitched out of the first inning with the aid of a double play. The No. 16 Gamecocks host Cleve1 1 x 1_ 1 J f. .. _ A1 lanu oiaie mis weesena ior a inreegame series. USC and CSU play at 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Carolina plays at Sarge Frye Field, located behind The Roost dorm. I 1 -t??' ' MtmNr SEAN RAYFORD The Gamecock Freshman Peter Bauer picked up his second win of the year Wednesday against WCU. ) The No. 22 men's ennis tennis team vs. Auburn UNC-Charlotte p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m., :gg refill LUMIIICI mplex Tennis Complex