Indiana will play its solely non-conference residence sport towards a high-major opponent this weekend. The Hoosiers host South Carolina at Simon Skojdt Meeting Corridor on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock.
The Gamecocks are 2-1 with wins towards South Carolina State and Towson and a loss to North Florida.
IU basketball will play its first high-major opponent this season on Saturday afternoon.
South Carolina, which received 26 video games final season and earned a No. 6 seed within the 2024 NCAA match, is coming to Bloomington.
Whereas the Gamecocks had been picked to complete within the backside half of the Southeastern Convention within the preseason, the roster nonetheless boasts loads of expertise to problem the Hoosiers.
MEET THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina is coached by Lamont Paris, a longtime Wisconsin assistant who is not any stranger to Meeting Corridor.
The 50-year-old Paris was on the Badgers bench from 2010 by way of 2017 earlier than touchdown his first head teaching job at Chattanooga. In 5 seasons with the Mocs, Paris led that program to an 87-72 file and an look within the 2022 NCAA match.
Paris landed the South Carolina job within the spring of 2022. Final season, he was named the SEC coach of the yr and a finalist for the Naismith coach of the yr award.
South Carolina misplaced a number of key gamers from final season’s crew, together with Meechie Johnson, BJ Mack and Ta’Lon Cooper. Nevertheless, a strong mixture of returnees and switch portal additions ought to make the Gamecocks aggressive in a loaded SEC.
The headliner on the roster is sophomore ahead Collin Murray-Boyles, a projected first-round decide within the 2025 NBA draft. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound massive man is averaging a double-double by way of three video games at 21 factors and 10.7 rebounds. He’s taking pictures 63.9 p.c from the sector and 73.9 p.c from the free throw line. Murray-Boyles has already taken 23 free throws. He’ll be a problem for the Indiana frontcourt and the expectation is Malik Reneau will begin out guarding him.
Becoming a member of Murray-Boyles within the beginning South Carolina frontcourt is graduate pupil Nick Pringle, who was on Alabama’s Last 4 crew final season. The 6-foot-10 massive man is a local of Seabrook, South Carolina and had 16 factors and 11 rebounds in Alabama’s Elite Eight win towards Clemson final March. Pringle is averaging 8.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocked photographs in 24.9 minutes per sport. He’s only a profession 51.6 free-throw shooter.
Senior level guard Jamarii Thomas and senior guard Jacobi Wright are the starters within the Gamecock backcourt.
Thomas transferred from Norfolk State, the place he was the MEAC participant of the final yr final season. He averaged 16.9 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and a pair of.1 steals at Norfolk State. He was additionally a key switch portal pickup for Paris and South Carolina. Thomas shot 49-for-127 (38.6 p.c) on 3s final season however is barely 0-for-4 from deep by way of three video games. By three video games for the Gamecocks, he’s averaging 10.7 factors, 3.3 assists and three.3 rebounds whereas taking pictures 52.9 p.c from the sector.
Wright got here off the bench within the season opener – a loss to North Florida – however has began the final two video games and has been in double figures in every of South Carolina’s first three video games. The 6-foot-2 guard is averaging 16 factors, 3.7 assists and two rebounds whereas taking pictures 62.1 p.c from the sector and 46.7 p.c on 3s.
Myles Stute, a 6-foot-6 graduate pupil, is in his second season with the Gamecocks after taking part in his first three seasons at Vanderbilt. He shot 38.5 p.c on 3s final season however is off to a gradual begin (30.8 p.c) from distance in his ultimate season. Final season, he made not less than three triples in seven video games and South Carolina went 7-0 in these contests.
The important thing reserves for South Carolina are 6-foot-7 junior Zachary Davis, 6-foot-6 freshman Cam Scott and 6-foot-4 sophomore Morris Ugusuk.
Davis is called a stellar perimeter defender and began the crew’s ultimate 17 video games final season. He’s struggled offensively by way of three video games. Davis is taking pictures 42.1 p.c from the sector and simply 10 p.c on 3s. He’s averaging eight factors, 5.3 rebounds and three assists in 24.5 minutes. After beginning the season opener, he’s come off the bench the final two video games.
Scott was a high 50 recruit out of highschool and a two-time Gatorade participant of the yr in South Carolina. He’s averaging 4 factors, three rebounds and is taking pictures simply 21.1 p.c by way of three video games.
Ugusuk is a local of Helsinki, Finland and performed in 30 video games final season for South Carolina. By three video games, he’s averaging three factors in 13.5 minutes and is 3-for-6 on 3s.
KEYS TO THE GAME
• Defend with out fouling: It’s been a parade to the free throw line for South Carolina by way of three video games. The Gamecocks have a free throw price (FTA/FGA) of 46.5 p.c by way of three video games. Reneau has struggled to defend with out fouling previously and has the duty of attempting to decelerate Murray-Boyles, who’s trying practically eight free throws per sport.
• Restrict second-chance alternatives: One other early power for South Carolina has been on the offensive glass. The Gamecocks rebound 36.6 p.c of their missed photographs, which presently ranks within the high 50 nationally. Indiana has struggled at instances to dam out early this season and might’t afford to provide the gifted and athletic South Carolina frontline second-chance alternatives.
• Don’t let South Carolina get any rhythm from the perimeter: It’s been a wrestle from the perimeter for the Gamecocks by way of three video games. South Carolina is taking pictures simply 29.7 p.c from distance on low quantity. Wright (7-for-15) has been the one participant connecting from distance to this point, however Davis, Stute and Thomas are all able to getting going.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO
The KenPom projection is Indiana by six with a 71 p.c likelihood of victory for the Hoosiers.
South Carolina misplaced its opener at residence 74-71 to North Florida however rebounded with a 22-point win towards South Carolina State and a 26-point win towards Towson.
Just like the Hoosiers, the Gamecocks are a piece in progress as they combine new gamers with returnees. Indiana has two comfy wins in its first two video games, however the degree of competitors steps up with South Carolina’s expertise, notably within the frontcourt.
Saturday might be a great gauge of early season progress for the Hoosiers, who’re lower than two weeks away from a visit to Paradise Island for Battle 4 Atlantis.
(Picture credit score: College of South Carolina Athletics)
Filed to: South Carolina Gamecocks
