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USC point guard aims for respect Tom Benmng FOR THE (IAMECOCK All Tre’ Kelley wants is some respect. “My goal this season is to gain some respect in the conference,” said the junior point guard. “I can play with these guys. It has never been a problem.” Despite being USC’s top returning scorer and assist man (8.9 ppg, 3.6 apg), Kelley was left off all preseason AI1-SEC lists. Analysts’ views aside, Kelley’s efforts have not been lost on USC coach Dave Odom. “Tre’ is a very important player on our basketball team,” Odom said. “He is the engineer of our team, both offensively and defensively.” Kelley, entering his second season as a starter, will be crucial to building on last season’s NIT championship. He excelled at I the point for USC in his sophomore campaign. Last season, Kelley ranked ninth in the SEC in assists and had the eighth-best assist-to turnover ratio. He also showed he had the ability to take over games, as he did in a 15-point, 7-assist, 3-steal performance against Georgetown in the NIT quarterfinal. With the graduation of All SEC forward Carlos Powell, last year’s leading scorer and rebounder, Kelley believes he can fill some of that void. “If I it looks like we need a bucket, then I’ll do it,” Kellet said. “If somebody is hitting it, then I’m going to find them. I’m just going to play the game how it’s supposed to be played.” Kelley won USC’s 2005 Most Assists Award, and, like a true point guard, he lights up when talking about dishing the ball to his teammates. “I don’t look at this season as ‘I need to score more points,’ but I would like to raise my assists average,” he said. The loss of Powell also means that a new leader will have to emerge for USC. Kelley has already stepped forward to take on that role. “I’m just trying to build a chemistry with these guys, especially off the court,” he said. “I think that’s the most important thing. If you can get it off the court, then it will come on the court.” “Carlos Powell is gone, and I think Tre’ is doing well from a leadership standpoint,” Odom said. “We just have to make sure he stays healthy and on track.” Odom’s confidence in Kelley might come from the junior’s calm demeanor on the hardwood. “Pressure is not in my vocabulary,” he said. “I just try to do the best I can. This is my team, and I’ve been playing with these guys for two and three years now. They know the plays and I know the plays. I don’t think it’s right for anybody to feel any pressure when it comes to running this basketball team.” Kelley credits his composure to his childhood experiences of playing on the blacktops of Washington, D.C. “When I was young, I used to play basketball against a lot of older guys,” he said. “When you HELLEV • 3 --m1 Katie Kirkland/THE GAMECOCK lunior point guard Tre’ Kelley will be looked to for leadership this season. Basketball Ticket Distri ■ Tickets Available 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Russell to ^ Toledo, UNC Greensboro Georgia/ Florida Mississippi State, Alabama Kentucky Vanderbilt, Lousiana State February 13 & 14/ 2006 February 20 & 21/