Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TH#%AMECOCK game schedule /'“NJ “■—v /^\ - k ryy WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Georgia Southern, 7 p.m. Tuesday L 1 l/l IT | L 1 MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. UNO Greenshpro, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday |—* I I . I SWIMMING AND DIVING at U.S. Open, TBA Thursday Monday, Nov. 28,2005 _I_ V_X - L. -L K—’ Page 9 If we rekindled ‘cranking it up, ’ we would win t Basketball team’s first loss shows need to bring back last season’s magical cheer I know why USC’s basketball team lost to Marquette on Saturday in the championship game of the Great . Alaska Shootout. It wasn’t because ' Marquette’s Steve Novak was raining 3-pointers like he was shooting [M&M’s into the Atlantic Ocean. It wasn’t because some guy named Ryan Amoroso scored 30 points and was playing so far out of Jake his mind that at one BrOOID point he even Third-year convinced himself that political the “AMMO” tattoo student on his upper arm was, in fact, a good idea. Carolina lost for one reason and one reason alone — they | didn’t get it cranked up. For those of you who either don’t remember or weren’t here last year, the basketball team, usually led by Carlos Powell, Josh Gonner and Renaldo Balkman, would raise both arms in the air and move their hands at the wrists like they were revving a mnrnrrvrle. nr. mnre likelv. a scooter. Marquette freezes title hopes They would do it before the game started, after a big shot, after Brandon Wallace swatted some poor kid’s shot into the fourth row of the stands, generally after anything good happened. When I asked one of the players to explain it to me about a year ago, he just laughed and ^ responded “that’s how we get it cranked up.” But, for whatever reason, nobody wants to get it cranked up this year. I didn’t see one player get it cranked up during the Great Alaska Shootout, and I haven’t seen them do it this year at all. I can’t stand back and just let this thing die. I just can’t. It is my duty as a sports columnist to ensure that future generations of USC basketball fans get to enjoy this. So I’m on a personal mission to get it cranked up again. I am single handedly bringing back the “let’s get it cranked up” sign. From now on, every time I something goes well in my life, even if I’m in a public place and nobody knows what I’m doing, I’m putting both arms high above my head, and I’m getting it cranked up. If I make an A on a test, I’m getting it cranked up. If I walk in for the first day of classes next semester and my professors all say they don’t believe in homework or taking attendance, I’m getting it cranked up. If somebody mentions Steve Spurrier, even if I don’t know them and I am not a part of the conversation, I’m getting it cranked up. BROOm • 10 I The Associated Press USC’s Renaldo Balkman, left, passes the ball against Marquette's Ousmane Barro during the first half of the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout. Three-point play ends championship run in Alaska Shootout Tom Bennmg FOR THE GAMECOCK The stage was set for USC’s men’s basketball team to come home from the Carrs-Safeway Great Alaska Shootout victorious. Down 80-76 with 43 seconds left in Saturday’s contest, senior guard Tarence Kinsey stroked up his big shot magic from the NIT and hit a 3-pointer to bring USC within 1. Fouled on the play, Kinsey calmly sank the free throw to force overtime at 80-80. After battling back and forth in the extra period, USC again found itself trailing, needing a clutch shot. Junior forward Brandon Wallace responded by hitting a 3 to put Carolina up 89-87 with less than a minute to go. The Gamecocks seemed poised to remain undefeated in this early 2005 season. However, Marquette forward Ryan Amoroso had other ideas. Coming off the bench to lead all scorers with 30 points, Amoroso put his stamp on the game in the final moments of overtime. After Wallace’s trey, Marquette clanked a potentially game-tying shot off the basket. Amoroso pulled down a tough offensive rebound and completed a 3-point play to put the Golden Eagles up, 90-89. “The key factor was the rebound at the end,” Kinsey said. “If we had come up with (it), they would have had to foul. They made an awesome play.” On the next possession, Carolina missed a shot to win the game, and Amoroso came down with the rebound. He hit two free throws to seal the game. USC guard Tre’ Kelley missed a last-gasp 3-point attempt, making the final tally 92-89. Junior forward Renaldo Balkman carried USC early, but foul trouble prevented him from playing extended minutes in the first half. With seven minutes to go in the first stanza, the Gamecocks appeared to break the game open with an 11-2 run, making the score .27-19. Marquette quickly responded and cut Carolina’s lead to 43-42 at the half. Kelley' led Carolina with 23 points, and Kinsey added 20 points, five assists and six rebounds. Balkman continued his all-around play with 16 points, six assists, eight rebounds and three blocks. In addition to Amoroso, Marquette was propelled by forward Steve Novak (28 points, 10 rebounds) and guard Dominic James (12 points, nine assists). This was the second time the Golden Eagles won the Shootout. Their last title came in 2001. While the Gamecocks lost, USC coach Dave Odom said the team played at a highly competitive level. “That was . certainly a championship game played at a championship level,” he said. “My guess is that you could go back a long time and not find a better championship game played in that building.” The final game was a vast improvement over the first two games of the Shootout, where USC struggled against Alaska-Anchorage and Monmouth. While Carolina never trailed in its first-round game against UA-A, the pesky Division II squad refused to go down easily. After a solid first half, Carolina went into the break with a 10-point lead. In the second period, the lead slowly evaporated behind the play of Seawolves’ guard Kemmy Burgess (28 points, seven rebounds). While Anchorage kept it close to the end, the Gamecocks pulled out a 65 60 victory. SHOOTOUT • 10 SEC bowl berths taking shape as regular season concludes Brian Davis FOR THE GAMECOCK Two bowl-game selection committees are considering Carolina. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is USC’s optimal opportunity — a matchup in the Georgia Dome against a top ACC competitor. Unpredictable losses by Miami and Florida State have left the Peach Bowl committee and fans in utter confusion. If USC is not invited to Atlanta, it could head Shreveport, La., to likely face a Big 12' competitor. If it’s Atlanta, expect USC to battle Georgia Tech in a battle of the Southeast and the nation’s toughest conferences, but a matchup with Florida State can’t be ruled out. In Shreveport, the Gamecocks would likely battle unsteady, slumping Colorado. At this point, experts assume the Peach Bowl committee is enthralled at this potential matchup. Don’t be surprised if a surprise irivitation from the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., comes Carolina’s way. Florida Selection committees must be confused by the Gators. Florida won the Cocktail Party with Georgia and the Vanderbilt shootout, was tamed by USC, then stomped Florida State’s once-stellar defense. Nonetheless, Saturday’s output likely earned a contest with run-heavy Wisconsin in Tampa’s Outback Bowl. If not, the Gators should head to the Independence Bowl and could face a different type of running — senior quarterback Brad Smith and the Missouri Tigers. Georgia The Bulldogs will be playing close to home. They could accept an invitation to the Outback Bowl and should confront a potent offense in Michigan. The two well-traveled teams would be a delight for Outback Bowl marketers and advertisers. The Bulldogs might remain in their home state, as some experts predict Georgia will land a Peach Bowl matchup against the ACC’s newest member, Boston College. Either way, the Bulldogs will be playing in a place not unlike their home, against competitors from far, far away. Alabama Tide fans no longer have the backing to holler for the BCS’ head. Alabama ended its season with consecutive losses to bitter rivals LSU and Auburn. Experts are certain an invitation to the SBC Cotton Bowl is imminent. Likely competitor? Texas Tech. Imagine a pass-heavy Red Raider offense versus the grind-it-out offense and stifling defense of the Tide. This game might display every style and strategy in football. Auburn The Tigers revived their season after choking in the opener to Georgia Tech. Since then, Auburn is 4 points away from a tremendous, one-loss season. Auburn should appear in the Capital One Bowl against either Wisconsin or Ohio State. The SEC’s most prolific offense could face a tremendous test from the Buckeyes’ stout defense and bstfanced offense. Either game will conclude an unexpected response to last year’s undefeated season. LSU - FOOTBALL • 10 Katie Kirklandmw. GAMECOCK USC will know its bowl destination by Sunday. Carolina finished 7-4 overall.