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Gamecock Sports Schedule s* ■ Men’s basketball vs. Georgia, 8 p.m. Wednesday ■ Women’s basketball vs. Georgia, 7 p.m. Thursday ■ Baseball vs. VCU at The Citadel Tournament, 10 a.m. Friday ■ Softball vs. Nebraska at the Fiesta Bowl Classic, 11 a.m. Friday tthe (Samecock * page h . IfflliWIMMOTlIlllffT^^ yjpBiBMiilMMimi, iirll' f iTOPillWPPiroTororTnIo C USC hoping to make statement to NCAA Jr by Shawn Skillman The Gamecock The road to the NCAA Tournament starts now for the South Carolina Gamecocks, but the journey is laced with uphill struggles tonight when the Georgia Bulldogs invade Carolina Coliseum. The Gamecocks (11-8, 3-5 SEC) stumble into the SEC match-up after a 94-61 loss to Kentucky. The 33-point landslide marked USC’s second-worst home defeat ever. Georgia (13-9, 6-3) also limps in after losing their last two games, most recently an 82-71 loss to Florida on Saturday. For the Gamecocks to get a serious look from the NCAA committee, senior forward David Ross said diey have to compile about eighteen wins because a team with a losing conference record has never made it to the tournament. “It’s better for us to know what it takes to get in because we realize the goals we have to meet and know we cannot have any slip-ups along the way,” Ross said. Georgia poses many problems that could lead to those slips. “I don’t think anyone could say that Georgia would be 6-3 in the SEC,” USC head coach Eddie Fogler said. “I thought they would be better. They are in a second-year system(under Jim Harrick), and those big guys are good.” Those “big guys” — seniors Anthony Evans, Shon Colemon and Robb Dryden — helped set a school record this season with 15 blocks against Tennessee. The three players are also averaging a combined six rejections a game in conference play. Guards D. A. Layne and Ezra Williams were each named SEC Players of the Week in January, adding another dimension to the Georgia attack. Layne, who is shooting 42 percent beyond the arc, averaged 25 points a game in wins over Tennessee and Vanderbilt two weeks ago. He played a whopping 46 minutes in the win over the Volunteers. Williams poured in 30 points against Auburn and followed it with 18 at Ole Miss. He also has a hot hand from behind the arc, making 38 percent of his 3-pointers in conference play. “Williams and Layne can really shoot,” Fogler said. “I knew they’d be better this season, and they’ve played the toughest schedule in the country.” Schedules aside, winning close games down the stretch is what separates these two squads. The Bulldogs are 8-2 in games decided by six points or less. In this category, the Gamecocks have only managed two wins out of six. Improvement in winning (be close game has been a crucial part of Fogler’s game plan this week. “Coach has been emphasizing all of practice about the last five minutes of games,” USC junior guard Jamel Bradley said. “What shot do we get versus what we give up. A bad turnover-can result in quick four or five points for the other team. That’s what we’ve been working fin, not being careless with the ball.” Fqgler insists the team is continuing to play hard, and that is seen as they consistently allow the least amount of points in the league. But the Bulldogs bring in one of the league’s best scoring offenses. Last season, the two teams split their two games. Georgia blew out USC 90 62 in Athens, but the Gamecocks got revenge in Columbia, 82-66. Georgia leads 38-36 in the overall series'. Tip-off for tonight’s game is sched uled for 8 p.m. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Ring drafted by MLS ■ USC goalkeeper taken 33rd overall by the Chicago Fire by Kyle Almond The Gamecock USC goalkeeper Henry Ring entered the professional ranks Monday when he was selected by the Chicago Fire in Ma jor League Soccer’s SuperDraft. King, wiio naa a stellar senior season for USC tliis past fall, was chosen in the third round (33rd overall) by the Fire and becomes the fniirtK C nn^rtort/'l/ t n RING pin MLS. He wits the first goalkeeper chosen in this year’s draft. “Wfe are very pleased that Henry Ring was the first goalkeeper selected,” USC men’s soccer head coach Mark Berson said. “He had an outstanding career at the University of South Carolina, and we hope that he will go on to have a tremendous professional career.” Ring finished his four years at Carolina with a 1.02 goals-against average. He is USC’s all-time save leader with 338. In his senior season. Ring allowed only 17 goals for a 0.93 GAA. He was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association and Collegesoccer.com. Along with teammate Jordan Quinn, Ring was also chosen to be a member of the All-South Region team. The Franklin, Tenn. native took additional postseason honors from Soccer America and Soccertimes.com for his outstanding senior season. Ring joins former Gamecock Josh Ring seepages GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR THE LADY GAMECOCKS Travis Lynn/The Gamecock Pervis Walker (left) and Ezell Parker (center) have been Lady Gamecock managers and practice players for all their four years at USC. Managers a valuable asset for USC by Charles Tomlinson The Gamecock earn managers have a busy job with many responsibilities. They have to make sure everything is in order to keep the team running smootltly. They also oiganize practices, make sure the team has adequate supplies and ensure that the gym is in order. However, Ezell Parker and Pervis Walker, two USC seniors who work as managers for the Lady Gamecocks basketball team, go a step beyond their managerial duties — they compete against the women as practice players. Parker and Walker both played basketball throughout their high school careers. When they were freshmen, they tried out for the USC men’s basketball team, but at that time the team wasn’t accepting walk-ons. However, Jimmy DeShazo, assistant coach for the Lady Gamecocks, was looking for men to practice against the women. Parker and Walker took advantage of the opportunity and have managed the Lady Gamecocks ever since. Over tliis time, Parker and Walker have grown close to the entire Lady Gamecock team and staff. “We’ve been here so long, and after you’ve been here so long, you grow with the players,” Parker said. “You want to see them do good, you want to see them elevate their game, try to do something in the best way possible to compete in tliis league.” During practices, Parker and Walker work mainly on defense with the players. They run drills and help the players run different plays. When practicing against the women, their main goal is to prove to them that their team can compete with anyone in the SEC. “The girls are very good, and they show us every day in practice that they can compete,” Walker said. USC head coach Susan Walvius credits Parker and Walker for their contributions. “Many people do not understand the value that managers have to the success of the team,” Walvius said. “It’s much easier to simulate the power and strength we will face in the league by playing against guys who are physically strong and quick.” Despite the importance of their role as practice players, Walker contends that their main obligation is managing the Lady Gamecocks. “We first have duties that we have to live up to Managers see page « ■ LOCATION: Frank McGuire Arena, Columbia, S.C. ■ TIME: 8 p.m. Wednesday ■ TV: Jefferson-Pilot Sports ■ RECORDS: Georgia (13 9, 6-3 SEC), USC (11-8, 3 5 SEC) Around The SEC Mumme resigns coaching position by Kyle Almond The Gamecock Facing an investigation by tlie NCAA over possible recruiting violations, Kentucky head looiuau coacu nai Munime resigned Tuesday. He was replaced by assistant coach Guy Morriss. Munime was 20 26 in four seasons with the Wildcats. He IUUK IVCIllUCNy IU two bowl games dur- MuMME ing his tenure. But his last season with the Wildcats was a disaster. UK failed to win a single conference game in 2000 and finished the season 2-9. Then after the season, former assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett admitted to sending $ 1,400 in money orders to a high school coach in Tennessee and improperly cashing a $500 check donated by a booster. “One of the most important things we can do is maintain the integrity of the football program, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Kentucky athletics director Larry Ivy said. Morriss has 15 years of NFL experience, having played 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and four with the New England Patriots as an offensive guard. He was signed to a one-year contract. Elsewhere around the SEC: SEC SEE PAGE 12 i Sean Rayford/The Gamecock Bottom of the batting order lifts USC to win by Kevin Turner The Gamecock The USC Gamecocks relied heavily on their bullpen and some vital hits from the last four batters in the lineup to beat Coastal Carolina Tuesday, 8-5. With the win, USC moves to 3-0 on the season while Coastal drops to 2-1. USC’s Tim Whittaker, Chris Bono, Chris Plummer ;uid Bryon Jcffcoat were a combined 8-14 with seven RBIs and four doubles on the day. “In baseball, you have to have a lot of people performing for you, and you need to have different people step up on different days,” South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner said. “Today, the bottom of the order emne up big for us. Jcfl'coai’s hits mid Plummer’s home run were huge for us. You’ve got to have things like that in order to have a good year, mid I was happy to see that.” -jj-1- I.:, . i. .■ • 1 .. ,..r.i to came off the bats of third baseman Chris Plummer, who launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning, and second baseman Bryon Jeffcoat, whose three doubles and three RBIs were crucial to the Gamecock cause. “I just came out and got some good pitches to hit,” Jeffcoat said. “The guy made a mistake in my first at-bat, and I just put the ball in play to score some runs. The key thing for me today was to just make contact.” Gamecock starting pitcher Matt Wilson threw 3 1/3 innings and gave up three runs while fanning one batter. Though the score was 4-2 in USC’s favor at the lime of Wilson’s departure, Gary Bell (1-0) got the win for his 2 1/3 innings of work. Tanner wasn’t hesitiuit in going to the bullpen Tuesday and used four pitchers to get the job done. Senior Lee Gronkicwicz recorded his first save ol the season in his iwo inning, two-strikeout stint. today, and they all combined to help us win a game,” Tanner said. “You’re happy to get a win anytime you play a good team.” The losing pitcher of the contest was Scott Sturkie (1-1), who was lit up for five of South Carolina’s eight runs. The Gamecock defense made some clutch plays in key situations. Shortstop Drew Meyer made a nice play deep in the hole to get out a sliding base runner, ;uid pitcher Lee Gronkiewicz started a 1 -4-3 double play in the ninth inning ' to dash any chances of a Coastal Carolina rally. USC, ranked No. 8 by Baseball America, will travel to The Citadel this weekend for thc school’s annual tournament. USC’s first opponent will be Virginia Commonwealth on Friday. Softball sweeps Georgia Southern USC’s softball team improved lo 1 —I—llw» niiiii- i.lli'r > ( Mitnn-i 8 5 Southern in Tuesday’s doubleheader. Megan Matthews (3-1) threw the third no-hitter of her career in the first game, a 12-0 Carolina rout. Stacey Johnson (1 -0) got the win in the second game, a 6-1 USC victory. Carolina’s Melissa Sandel hit a grand slam for her first collegiate hit Tuesday in game one. Amber Curtis and Joyce McMillin hit back-to-back homers in game two. USC will participate this weekend in the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Tempo, Ariz. They take on Nebraska and Arizona Suite on Friday. The sports desk am he reached at