The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 12, 1999, Page Page 7, Image 7
SOFTBALL
USC's softball team opens its
season at the Fiesta Bowl
Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.,
hosted by Arizona State. The
Lady Gamecocks open play
against No. 7 Texas 11a.m.
today, and then against
No. 2 Arizona at 5:30 p.m.
Fridav. February 12. 1999
(^ otv^lino
\jcl i wiiiia
dwells in
SEC cellar
? What a
- Hiffprfvnpo n
t\v e e k
makes.
winning
two
straight
matches,
I the Caroli_ll
,
David Cloninger na men s
From the Cockpit basketball
? team has
dropped three consecutive games to
once again assert its stranglehold on
the Southeastern Conference cellar.
That's not what this week's column
is nhfmt thniiaVi
This is about the shameless referees
who snatched a Gamecock defeat
from the jaws of victory Wednesday
night.
Since Arkansas is a very tough
team and is having a great year, I figured
that Wednesday's game would be
a blowout and that no effort by myself
or my insane 'Pit friends would be
enough to overcome this.
Well, I was shut up at the opening
tip-off, first because USC actually
grabbed the tip, and secondly because
it went to my personal punching bag,
Bud Johnson.
I was treated to another surprise
as Carolina came out roaring, looking
like an inspired and confident team
for perhaps the first time all season.
rrn ii.
men tmngs
turned uglier "I WAS
than Monica treated to
Lewinsky back- anothef
ing out of pri
outhouse. surprise
SEC officials as
Boudreaux, Hig- Carolina
Ts7dA?'NeA! came out
decided to get
into the act f^a^ing,
by whistling looking
two quick fouls like an
Sweet" McKie! illSPired
both of which in- Convolved
some ndent
kindofchaigeor team for
contact. perhaps
The rule K
book clearly the IlTSt
states that a time all
charge occurs season."
whpn an nffpn
sive player
plows into a planted and motionless
defensive player.
With this definition in mind, the
refs clearly saw how BJ ran into
Arkansas forward Derek Hood, whose
feet were off the floor at the time.
Also, never mind that McKie got a
swift kick in the unmentionables from
Hood; it was still a foul.
Of course, my friends and I cried
bloody murder, and even a bit ruder
than that, but when's the last time refs
listened to fans?
To borrow a line from fellow cellmate
Shawn Singleton, refs are among
the smartest people on Earth until they
pull on that uniform.
It's like Kryptonite on Superman.
The officials proceeded to never call
a foul on Arkansas, even when McKie
was knocked down a record five
times.
He had to wear knee pads because
of floor burns, for the love of God.
Wouldn't you think this would bring
a closer eye on Nolan Richardson's "40
Minutes of Hell" defense?
Apparently not. Of course, the foul
everybody saw was the McKie
charge with 10 seconds left in the second
half that basically lost the game 1
for USC. 1
Well, duh. The point is, if the .
refs had actually blown the whistle in
3Q-nlns mirm+f>c Hofr>T-aVian^ Par
olina wouldn't have been in that situation.
Never before have I seen such
flagrantly blown calls.
The only reason I can think of to
explain it is Arkansas already lost to
Vanderbilt this week.
God forbid they lose to another
last-place team.
That could upset the SEC power
structure.
Is it any coincidence one particular
ref never blew another whistle on
a Razorback after coach Nolan talked
to him during a timeout?
I think not. So thank you, Mr. Official,
for robbing the fans and team of
a victory that could've brightened a
dismal season.
* * s
MEN'S TENNIS
Carolina's No. 9 men's ten- /
nis team lost Wednesday to A
N.C. State, 4-3. Winning in ^
single matches for USC were
Jerome Jourdon, Olof
Akesson and Juan Gamboa.
viuvnvir
by Brock Vergakis
Assistant Sports Editor
In a hard-fought battle at Frank McGuire
Arena, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Carolina
on Wednesday night, 72-66.
A highly physical game resulted in two
Arkansas players fouling out and an exhausted
Gamecock squad afterward.
"I expected a very physical basketball game,"
TTOr?? D T * K ~T/"* : J
(jo*^ s Dd ivicrut; saiu.
McKie led his team with 25 points, dominating
scoring in the second half for USC (7-16 overall,
2-9 SEC) while facing continuous double- and
triple-teaming by Arkansas (17-7,6-5).
His scoring was so prevalent on the Gamecocks'
scorecard that for a stretch of eight minutes,
no other player for Carolina scored a single
point.
While his play in the second half boosted his
own point totals, other Gamecocks suffered in
that department. USC's other starters combined
for only 10 shots in the second half, as McKie
drove into the lane time and again.
"He's got to get to the point where he pitches
the ball more," USC coach Eddie Fogler
said.
The scoring distribution for Carolina in the
second half was remarkably different from in the
first. Herbert Lee Davis led all scorers in the first
half with 10 points, yet he was unable to score
in the second, missing his only shot.
"I've got to trust my teammates when they
get an open shot," McKie said.
TTTl *1i1 />l 1 lllil
wnue me uamecocKs were lea oy me same
man who has taken charge all season, Arkansas
received help from some unexpected players.
Upset with a lack of senior leadership from
stars Kareem Reid and Pat Bradley in last week's
loss to Vanderbilt, Razorbacks' Head Coach Nolan
Richardson decided to start freshmen in their
places.
Ultimately, three freshmen contributed 30
of Arkansas' points, led by T. J. Cleveland, who
led all Arkansas scorers with 13.
"We talked all week about our freshmen stepping
up big for us," Richardson said. "If the team
is sick and needs medication, you give it to them.
I thought that our freshmen would be our medicine,
and that turned out to be true tonight."
In comparison to USC, the Razorbacks had
the advantage of getting results from nearly every
member of the team. Only one player for Arkansas
didn't score. "Our defense was better tonight, but
Spring 01;
by Brock Vergakis
Assistant Sports Editor
The USC Olympic sports teams begin their
seasons in earnest next week, with squads like
baseball and track and field looking to build on
past successes while others look to begin winning
traditions.
Men's and Women's Track and Field
The USC men's track and field team has had
one of its best starts ever. Last year, they finished
in the top 10, and this year they want to finish
even higher. Part of Carolina's advantage is that
it now has an American record-holder in one of
its throwers, Ryan Harrison.
"We're so proud of him," Head Coach Curtis
Frye said.
The team has risen through the rankings,
peaking at No. 2 this season. Carolina won't be
intimidated by anyone and has ambitious, but
very realistic goals.
"Our goal is always to win an NCAA championship,"
Frye said.
Returning for Carolina in the sprints is Terrence
Tramell.
Tramell broke a 16-year-old SEC record in the
55-meter hurdles last year, and looks to break
some more records in 1999. He has already qualified
for the NCAA championships this year.
"Tramell is an outstanding athlete," Frye said.
Other Gamecock qualifiers include Stanislavs
Olijars and throwers Harrison, Bert Sorin and
Brad Snyder.
The women's, track team is just as talented.
With a strong freshman class, USC looks to improve
from its No. 11 finish last year and get into
the top five. "Our kids have a possibility of beT
* *
Hfrirr
Jophomore Michelle Dosson and the Lady Gan^ei
>on and look to have success in postseason com
0amccock A
opon
The Gamecock
-pork bat
we still gave up too many easy shots," Fogler
said.
"When you have a lot of depth and a lot of talent,
you can get away with things," McKie
said.
With the high-intensity game Arkansas plays,
it's imperative that its opponent has depth to
keep up. The Razorbacks utilized their pressure
defense, forcing 19 turnovers on the night.
Fatigue began to play a role for Carolina as
the game went along and the physical defense
by Arkansas started taking its toll. The Gamecocks
played with an active roster of only nine
players.
While onlv 40 total fouls were called on both
While the Gamecocks are destined to have a
losing record, their coach tells them not to have
a losing attitude.
"We tiy to play as hard as we can every game
and play with a lot of pride," Gallman said.
ympic spo
ing one of the top two or three teams in the nation,"
Frye said.
Two of the team's freshmen sensations are
twins Mikele and Me'Lisa Barber. As members
of the 4x400-meter relay team, they have already
broken a school record and qualified for the NCAA
championships. In all, Mikele Barber holds three
school records, while her sister holds two.
"We have 23 new people on our team. They're
young, and they're doing some great things," Frye
said.
Both the men's and women's track teams
are looking to bring home SEC team championships
and a host of individual national champions.
If all falls into place, Carolina will have two
national champions in one season.
"We're trying to do snake eyes this year [No.
1 in men's and women's]," Frye said.
Men's and Women's Golf
The Carolina golf teams rarely receive a lot of
publicity, but they're some of the best at USC.
Coached by Puggy Blackmon, the men's squad
has the ability to do great things this spring.
"We have the talent and depth on this year's
team to contend for the NCAA championship if
our key players perform at All-American standards,"
Blackmon said. Blackmon has taken his
past 14 teams to the NCAA championships.
While some coaches might be pleased to be
one of the top 20 teams in the country, Blackmon
expects more. "We had a 15th-ranked team in the
fall. We could be a lot better than that," he said.
Success for the team only looks to grow, with
the talented underclassmen it has. There's only
one senior on the roster, Stewart Ginn. Regarding
that kind of youth, Blackmon said, "The team
we have is fairly unique."
- *
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Special to Tlic Gamecock
cock swimmers are in the midst of their seaipetition.
teams, there were several questionable no-calls
on both sides.
"It was a real physical game," USC's William
Gallman said.
The Gamecocks were knocked down physically
and mentally by the Razorbacks. "The team
gets disappointed when it comes up dry offensively,"
Fogler said. "They unintentionally stop
competing. We're not tough enough to face adversity."
Carolina held the lead for the first five minutes
of the game but never regained it afterward.
Several times in the second half, the Gamecocks
came close to a tie, but each time Arkansas responded.
trn j i I l 11
?ivery time we gave tnem a puncn, tney countered
and gave us a punch back," McKie said.
Perhaps the biggest punch was self-inflicted.
With less than a minute remaining and USC
down by only three, McKie drove into the lane
like he'd been doing all night but was called for
a charge.
The crowd, which had been in a loud, supportive
frenzy, suddenly began to realize history
was about to repeat itself. The Gamecocks
were on their way to yet another loss, and
Arkansas supporters began to sing "It's hard to
be humble when you're an Arkansas Razorback
fan."
USC hopes to learn something from its loss
and play just as competitively in the rest of their
games, which include LSU and Kentucky. "If we
win a couple, we can get a decent seed in the SEC
tournament." McKie said.
SCHEDULE
Baseball vs. Davidson,
p.m. Saturday and Sund
Saige Frye Field.
/ Men's basketball at
Kentucky, 4 pun. Saturd
televised on IP Sports.
tie goes t
JM
HK x
Senior BJ McKie tries to get a shot off before
block his shot. McKie led all scorers for Carolin;
rts ready 1
The team's staff increased by one this year
with the addition of Tom Shaw, a former NIKE
Tour professional.
"Fve not had an assistant since I've been here.
Tom is going to be a great part of our staff," Blackmon
said.
The women's golf team will be making its mark
this spring, as well. "I'm very proud of our acrnmnlishmpnts
fhns far " HppH Pnnrh Kric+i Prior.
gins said. The Lady Gamecocks have been ranked
as high as 22nd nationally this year.
"Going into spring, we're excited," Coggins
said. "We've got a transfer from Tulsa currently
ranked No. 2 in the country. She also spent three
years on the Swedish National Team."
The women's golf team will finish its fall schedule
in Gainesville, Fla., Feb. 26-28. It will begin
its spring season in the sunny Dominican Republic
over spring break, March 12 and 13.
Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving
The swimming and diving teams at Carolina
already have their regular seasons under their
kJ*o 1 t J A A
mens auu aic luuivuig tuiwaiu tu pusiscasuu
competition. The men's team, ranked 24th, has
proved itself in one of the toughest conferences in
the country.
"We're a week away from the SEC Championships
in Lexington, Ky., and that's where we'll
peak," Head Coach Keith Switzer said.
The hours of hard practice are paying off for
this youthful team, which has only four seniors.
"We've been led through this year by the underclassmen,"
Switzer said.
It doesn't hurt to have swimmers from all over
the world competing and making a difference as
freshmen. One of these is Hungarian native Zsolt
Gasper.
Gasper is not only ranked nationally in the
100- and 200-meter butterfly, but is ranked on
the world level as well and should have a good
weekend in Lexington.
The women's team hasn't been quite as successful
this year but is still hoping to have a good
cVinwincr at ttio STTP Phamninnchins "Wd'vd
had a rough season this year," Head Coach Beth
Harrell said.
Due to the difficult task of swimming in the
SEC, the women's record is not as good as
they'd hoped for, but it does give them hope.
"We finally have a chance to break in and move
up in the conference," Harrell said.
One of the women's team's strengths has been
its divers. Michelle Davison goes to Lexington as
a defending conference champion.
"She may be one of the best divers in the
history of this school," diving coach Todd Sherritt
said.
Men's and Women's Tennis
At USC's 1999 Spring Sports Press O inference,
both men's and women's tennis coaches introduced
NATE SAYS...
1:30 Nate says American Airlines
lay, saved $40,000 in 1987 by
eliminating one olive from
each salad served on firstclass
flights. The company's
lay, pilots were ordered by a federal
judge Wednesday to end
a "sick strike."
Page 7
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Sean Rayford l'hoto Editor
Derek Hood of Arkansas has a chance to
a with 25 in their loss to the Razorbacks.
for action
what each called the strongest teams they'd seen
in years.
Ranked No. 1 in Region II, the men's team
i x i AL . i. c <i i* .1
nupes lo piace in me lop nve in tne nanon tnis
year. However, Head Coach Kent DeMars leads
Carolina into one of its toughest schedules. As the
fourth-ranked team in the SEC, it faces tough
competition, as three of the top five teams nationally
are also in its conference. The nation's
No. 1-ranked team, Stanford, is also scheduled.
The absence of seniors on. the team "bodes well
for next year," DeMars said, but it puts the
pressure on the juniors this year. This year's starting
lineup includes Jerome Jourdon, a GTE AilAmerican,
Vladimir Pavicevic, the 1998 Intercollegiate
Tennis Association Rookie of the
Year, Guillaume Legat and Olof Akesson. The
Gamecocks also boast their recent transfer from
Tennessee, Juan Gamboa.
An important tournament coming up for the
men is the ITA National Team Indoors Championship,
where the top 16 teams in the nation play.
With three of his plavers ranked amone the top
20 in the nation, "We line up well with the other
teams," DeMars said.
The women's tennis team has its work cut out
for it, too. "We've got one of the toughest schedules
in the country this year," Head Coach Arlo
Elkins said.
The Lady Gamecocks will be a strong contender
in the SEC. Leading the way is senior Celine
Regnier, who finished last season ranked No.
80 in the country.
Regnier and freshman Katarina Markovski
will pair up for doubles.
Along with being the strongest team Elkins
has seen here, "It's also one of the youngest teams
I've had," he said. Four freshmen will help fill the
six starting positions.
Tamara Sutton, ranked No. 5 in Florida last
year, Jennifer Radman and Lynn-Yin Tan round
out the freshmen starters. Leigh Eichelberger, a
returning sophomore, will complete the lineup.
The women must play powerhouses in their
own conference, including Ole Miss, Mississippi
State and Georgia.
The wonjen's first SEC match will be Feb. 21
against Kentucky at the Indoor Tennis Center.
The men face off with Alabama March 5 in their
first home SEC match. The men's next regional
home match will be Feb. 26 against Davidson at
the Sam Daniels Tennis Center.
Staff Writer Emily Gifford^contributed to this
article.