South Carolina will look to get back on track when it hosts Coastal Carolina on Friday night.
The Gamecocks suffered a 20-point defeat to Wofford earlier in the week, which marked their second home loss this season.
As for the Chanticleers, they’re off to a 4-3 start with their most recent win coming against Methodist.
Let’s run through what to watch for in this game.
Game Details
- South Carolina (3-3) vs. Coastal Carolina (4-3)
- Location: Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, SC
- Game Date: Nov. 30
- Game Time: 7 p.m. EST
- Watch: SEC Network
Players to Watch
Chris Silva (South Carolina)
Silva continues to struggle with staying on the court, as he’s played 21 minutes or less in three of the team’s six games due to foul trouble.
The 6-9 senior is averaging 10.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game, but for South Carolina to turn things around, it’ll need Silva to up his numbers in all three areas.
Zac Cuthbertson (Coastal Carolina)
The 6-7 senior has been the driving force for the Chanticleers this season, averaging 19.9 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor.
Cuthbertson has scored 12 or more points in every game this season, and Coastal Carolina’s offense will undoubtedly run through him in this matchup.
Key Stats
Something that stands out about the Chanticleers is their ability to get to the free-throw line, as they’re 13th nationally in putting up 27.5 attempts per game.
Coastal Carolina gets 26.1 percent of its points from the charity stripe (eighth nationally), and that would be a recipe for success against a South Carolina team that occasionally finds itself in foul trouble.
What could help the Gamecocks in this matchup in their ability to slow opponents down in the lane.
Frank Martin’s team is holding opponents to just 40.4 percent shooting from 2-point range, which ranks ninth in the nation.
Game Outlook
- Spread: South Carolina -12.5
- Over/Under: 146.5
- KenPom Projection: South Carolina, 86 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: South Carolina, 84 percent chance to win
South Carolina has become a very hard team to trust due to its inconsistency.
Silva can be the most impactful player on the floor for this team, but only if he’s actually on the court for extended minutes each game.
However, this matchup feels a bit better than the one against Wofford, as Coastal Carolina is still a fairly young team overall.
I’ll take the Gamecocks to pick up the much-needed win, but my trust level in this them is pretty low at this point.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 69-15
Game Prediction: South Carolina 75, Coastal Carolina 65
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