Stories for South Carolina

• No. 14 Tennessee routs South Carolina
  posted on February 06, 2010 - 05:35:16 pm
  
  

  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Wayne Chism scored a career-high 30 points as No. 14 Tennessee routed South Carolina 79-53 on Saturday night.

  
  
  
• Double Downey: SC star scoring like Pistol Pete
  posted on February 05, 2010 - 11:55:14 am
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C.

  
  
  
• Double Downey: SC star scoring like Pistol Pete
  posted on February 05, 2010 - 12:10:19 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C.

  
  
  
• South Carolina-Tennessee Preview
  posted on February 05, 2010 - 11:25:03 am
  
  
  STATS Writer

  Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl was pleased with how his team defended one of the SEC's top scorers in its previous game.

  
  
  
• Landing Lattimore is sweet music for Spurrier
  posted on February 02, 2010 - 07:24:53 pm
  
  
  Ken Bradley
  
  
  
• Top recruit Marcus Lattimore chooses South Carolina over Auburn
  posted on February 02, 2010 - 03:23:26 pm
  
  

  SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Byrnes High School star runner Marcus Lattimore says he'll sign with South Carolina, spurning efforts by Auburn to land him.

  
  
  
• Starting Five: Who's the best college hoops team?
  posted on January 27, 2010 - 11:18:09 am
  
  

  Sporting News college basketball columnist Mike DeCourcy addresses five burning questions of the week.

  
  
  
• Downey helps South Carolina rally past Georgia
  posted on January 30, 2010 - 06:20:02 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey had 33 points including the driving basket with 50 seconds left that gave South Carolina a 78-77 victory over Georgia on Saturday night.

  
  
  
• SC's Horn on recruiting trail after beating No. 1
  posted on January 27, 2010 - 06:50:15 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Darrin Horn didn't stick around Wednesday to enjoy the campus buzz over the Gamecocks landmark win, not with all those recruits to visit.

  
  
  
• South Carolina's win over Kentucky to cost $25K
  posted on January 27, 2010 - 10:00:03 am
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's first victory over a No. 1 team will cost $25,000.

  
  
  
• Four Downs: Meyer's return, non-BCS hires and more
  posted on January 27, 2010 - 09:54:52 am
  
  
  Dave Curtis and Matt Hayes

  Sporting News college football writers Dave Curtis and Matt Hayes weigh in on the hot topics of the week in their sport.

  First down

  
  
  
• SC's Downey scores 30 to take down No. 1 Kentucky
  posted on January 26, 2010 - 08:30:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Kentucky's return to No. 1 might not last very long.

  
  
  
• Kentucky-South Carolina Preview
  posted on January 25, 2010 - 06:45:02 pm
  
  
  STATS Senior Writer

  John Calipari needed approximately two months to return the Kentucky basketball program back to prominence. Now, it's a matter of keeping it there.

  
  
  
• Drawing up a defense for Kentucky no easy task
  posted on January 24, 2010 - 09:42:41 pm
  
  
  Sporting News staff reports

  Kentucky's first challenge as the nation's No. 1 team—the Wildcats are expected to rise to the top of both polls today—will be Tuesday night at South Carolina.
  

  
  
  
• Florida's Parsons hits another game-winning 3; Gators top South Carolina
  posted on January 23, 2010 - 05:20:23 pm
  
  

  GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If the Florida Gators make the NCAA Tournament, they probably will have Chandler Parsons to thank for it.

  
  
  
• Warren leads Ole Miss over South Carolina
  posted on January 20, 2010 - 08:25:02 pm
  
  

  OXFORD, Miss. -- Chris Warren had 15 points and No. 22 Mississippi ended Devan Downey's hot streak to beat South Carolina 66-57 on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• South Carolina-Mississippi Preview
  posted on January 19, 2010 - 03:15:03 pm
  
  
  STATS Writer

  A healthier lineup had Mississippi's SEC title hopes looking brighter this season, but another slow start to league play is dimming them.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Vanderbilt quietly keeps winning in SEC
  posted on January 19, 2010 - 01:36:45 pm
  
  
  
  Each week, Sporting News college basketball expert Mike DeCourcy ranks the BCS conferences—an
  
  
  
• Vanderbilt defeats South Carolina 89-79
  posted on January 16, 2010 - 05:30:16 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A.J. Ogilvy scored 18 of 22 points in the second half and Vanderbilt remained perfect in Southeastern Conference play with an 89-79 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Downey's 29 leads South Carolina over LSU 67-58
  posted on January 13, 2010 - 07:40:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devin Downey scored 29 points and had seven rebounds to lead South Carolina to a 67-58 win over LSU on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Downey's 33 leads South Carolina past Auburn 80-71
  posted on January 09, 2010 - 01:15:02 pm
  
  

  AUBURN, Ala. -- Devan Downey scored 33 points to lead South Carolina to an 80-71 win over Auburn on Saturday in the team's Southeastern Conference opener.

  
  
  
• South Carolina defeats Longwood 88-85
  posted on January 05, 2010 - 06:10:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey scored 18 points to help South Carolina defeat Longwood 88-85 on Tuesday night and snap a two-game losing streak.

  
  
  
• Baylor beats South Carolina 85-74
  posted on January 02, 2010 - 12:00:11 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- LaceDarius Dunn had 21 points, Ekpe Udoh added a career high 20 rebounds and Baylor won its seventh straight with a 85-74 victory at undermanned South Carolina on Saturday.

  
  
  
• Baylor beats South Carolina 85-74
  posted on January 02, 2010 - 11:25:03 am
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- LaceDarius Dunn had 21 points, Epke Udoh added a career high 20 rebounds and Baylor won its seventh straight with a 85-74 victory at undermanned South Carolina on Saturday.

  
  
  
• South Carolina dismisses forward Holmes from team
  posted on January 01, 2010 - 11:19:50 am
  
  
  Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News

  Forward Mike Holmes, a double-figure scorer each of the past two seasons, has been dismissed from the South Carolina Gamecocks by coach Darrin Horn.

  
  
  
• Gamecocks bring offensive mystery against UConn
  posted on January 01, 2010 - 02:10:19 pm
  
  

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Lawrence Wilson and the Connecticut defense aren't sure exactly what to expect from Steve Spurrier in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

  
  
  
• Garcia grows into South Carolina leader
  posted on December 31, 2009 - 12:15:22 am
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Stephen Garcia figured he was just having fun before last year's Outback Bowl. Steve Spurrier thought differently.

  
  
  
• Sanders helps BC hold off South Carolina 85-76
  posted on December 30, 2009 - 08:25:06 pm
  
  

  BOSTON -- Rakim Sanders scored 22 points, Reggie Jackson 16 and Boston College held on for a 85-76 win over South Carolina after nearly blowing a 21-point halftime lead on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Arkansas moving up SEC ranks
  posted on December 28, 2009 - 11:45:55 am
  
  

  Conf.

  
  
  
• South Carolina beats Furman 81-57
  posted on December 21, 2009 - 06:30:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey and Sam Muldrow scored 16 points apiece to lead South Carolina to an 81-57 victory over Furman on Monday night.

  
  
  
• South Carolina's Archie out for season with injury
  posted on December 21, 2009 - 11:49:55 am
  
  
  Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News

  Veteran South Carolina forward Dominique Archie will be lost for the season because of a knee injury that will require surgery.

  
  
  
• Wofford beats South Carolina 68-61
  posted on December 19, 2009 - 06:40:11 pm
  
  

  SPARTANBUG, S.C. -- Noah Dahlman scored 19 points and Wofford ended a 21-game losing streak to South Carolina with a 68-61 win on Saturday night.

  
  
  
• Sporting News All-SEC first team
  posted on December 16, 2009 - 11:00:00 pm
  
  
  Sporting News

  Offense

  QB  Tim Tebow, Florida
  RB  Mark Ingram, Alabama
  RB  Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State
  WR  Shay Hodge, Mississippi

  
  
  
• South Carolina-Connecticut Preview
  posted on December 17, 2009 - 07:45:26 am
  
  
  STATS Editor

  Following a regular season marred by tragedy, Connecticut will get one more opportunity to win in honor of a slain teammate.

  
  
  
• South Carolina surges to beat Richmond 76-58
  posted on December 16, 2009 - 06:10:02 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey scored 18 points and South Carolina used a late 24-6 run to beat Richmond 76-58 on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Sporting News All-SEC freshman team
  posted on December 15, 2009 - 09:50:32 pm
  
  
  Sporting News

  Offense

  QB Morgan Newton, Kentucky
  RB Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
  RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
  WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

  
  
  
• South Carolina's Spurrier gets extra year on contract
  posted on December 14, 2009 - 11:31:29 am
  
  
  Associated Press

  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has been given another year to build the Gamecocks football program.

  
  
  
• SCarolina's Horn gets 2 more years; pay now $1.1M
  posted on December 14, 2009 - 10:15:03 am
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Darin Horn has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will increase his salary to $1.1 million per year.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Anthony Grant turning the Tide
  posted on December 07, 2009 - 05:16:00 pm
  
  
  
  Each week, Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy ranks the BCS conferences—and teams within each
  
  
  
• UConn, South Carolina headed to PapaJohns.com Bowl
  posted on December 06, 2009 - 04:00:03 pm
  
  

  STORRS, Conn. -- Connecticut, which finished a season marred by tragedy with three consecutive wins, will play South Carolina in the PapaJohns.com Bowl on Jan. 2 in Birmingham, Ala.

  
  
  
• No. 18 Clemson wins 6th straight over Gamecocks
  posted on December 06, 2009 - 12:15:06 pm
  
  

  CLEMSON, S.C. -- Tanner Smith and Demontez Stitt scored 14 points each and No. 18 Clemson won its sixth straight game over rival South Carolina, 72-61 on Sunday.

  
  
  
• South Carolina-Clemson Preview
  posted on December 05, 2009 - 01:20:03 pm
  
  

  Darrin Horn has only been South Carolina's coach less than two seasons. Yet, he's already heard far too much about the Gamecocks long losing streak to rival Clemson.

  
  
  
• South Carolina defeats Western Kentucky 74-56
  posted on December 02, 2009 - 06:30:05 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey scored 15 points to lead five South Carolina players in double figures as the Gamecocks defeated Western Kentucky 74-56 on Wednesday night.

  
  
  
• Officials recommend extension for USC's Spurrier
  posted on December 01, 2009 - 04:15:03 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is in line for another contract extension.

  
  
  
• Conference Call: Watch out for Donovan's Gators
  posted on November 30, 2009 - 03:44:02 pm
  
  
  
  Each week, Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy ranks the top six college basketball conferences -- and the
  
  
  
• Spurrier: Too much partying after last Clemson win
  posted on November 29, 2009 - 12:35:06 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Three years ago, Steve Spurrier crowed to anyone who would listen that his team's victory at Clemson could lead to great things in the Southeastern Conference.

  Spurrier won't make that mistake again after his second win against South Carolina's in-state rival, 34-17 on Saturday.

  "I think we celebrate too much when we beat them," Spurrier said. "I think we overdid it three years ago. I was guilty of it also."

  It's easy to lose your head in the Palmetto State's biggest sports rivalry. There are no major professional sports teams based in the state of nearly 4.5 million people, making this rivalry what fans on both sides talk about all year long.

  Maybe that's what fueled Spurrier that afternoon at Death Valley in 2006, in his second season at South Carolina and eager to step on the gas toward the top of the SEC.

  "Hopefully, whatever bad things happened to South Carolina football may be erased today," Spurrier said back then, after the 31-28 victory.

  Turns out they weren't. South Carolina is 20-17 since, including two losses to the Tigers.

  So this time, Spurrier and the Gamecocks (7-5) will be happy with the win over the 15th-ranked Tigers and the improved bowl prospects. But they'll dial it down to prepare for a bowl with eyes on a good showing and hope that carries into 2010.

  "I know we got a happy bunch of Gamecocks," Spurrier said. "We're going to try and win us a bowl game and try and make the offseason nice also."

  The offseason will be nice if South Carolina can repeat the rushing game that powered past the Tigers. The Gamecocks finished with 223 yards rushing, their best outing since September, and freshman Kenny Miles ran for 114, his fourth game of more than 100 yards.

  With two weeks to prepare, South Carolina's defense gave the Tigers and dynamic star C.J. Spiller no room to operate. Spiller opened the game with his NCAA record seventh kickoff return touchdown, but rushed for just 18 yards as he dealt with a stomach bug.

  "We just wanted to make a statement," South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia said. "Send the seniors out right."

  And perhaps give younger players a taste of what could be ahead.

  Garcia overcame an early interception to throw three touchdown passes. Stephon Gilmore, a freshman defensive back, ran a wildcat offense that helped South Carolina tie the score at 7.

  DeVonte Holloman, Gilmore's high school teammate last fall, had his first interception that led to the Gamecocks' go-ahead TD. Freshman receivers Alshon Jeffery and Tori Gurley combined for six catches and 115 yards, and Gurley added a 14-yard touchdown catch.

  There's a different spirit than last year, Spurrier said Sunday, when several upperclassmen were thinking of the NFL and many assistants were looking elsewhere.

  Spurrier added five new coaches before this season and doesn't plan any changes this winter.

  "We're a much more united team," Spurrier said. "Guys like each other."

  The victory brings a bit of validation to Spurrier's program. The Gamecocks had collapsed late the past two seasons with five straight defeats to close 2007, three in a row to end 2008.

  Having lost their final three SEC games heading into this one, a similar swoon appeared in full effect. Instead, South Carolina gave itself and its fans something to smile about.

  "The way things have been going this last part of the season, it was a great win for us and for Carolina fans," senior linebacker Eric Norwood said.

  Just as long as they keep this one in perspective.

  Spurrier and the Gamecocks will wait for their holiday destination, most likely one of the SEC's middle-tier tie-ins like the Music City or Chick-fil-A bowls. Be assured that the 64-year-old Spurrier won't ever again let the joy of beating Clemson distract him.

  "We'll try and enjoy the victory tonight and celebrate that," Spurrier said. "But after today, we'll go on to the next game."

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• Second No. 5 under center sparks Gamecocks' upset
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 12:44:05 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C.—The position was the same, and the number on the jersey was identical, but the threat was completely different. And that threat, that new offensive wrinkle, was exactly what South Carolina needed to spark a 34-17 upset of No. 15 Clemson on Saturday afternoon.

  Starting quarterback Stephen Garcia, the rifle-armed slinger who wears No. 5, had thrown an interception to end South Carolina's first drive after nearly throwing one a few plays earlier. With his team trailing 7-0—Clemson star C.J. Spiller had returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown—Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier went for a fresh look when his club got the ball back thanks to a momentum-shifting fumble recovery by star linebacker Eric Norwood.

  Spurrier turned to true freshman Stephon Gilmore, who has donned No. 5 as a starting cornerback all season. Gilmore, South Carolina's Mr. Football after his senior season as a dual-threat quarterback at South Pointe High in Rock Hill, hadn't taken a snap outside of the practice field all season. But there he was at QB in Spurrier's wildcat offense, picking up a combined 13 yards on three consecutive carries.

  "I told (Spurrier) if he wanted to run it," Gilmore said, "I'd be ready."

  He was. And Clemson wasn't.

  On his fourth play, Gilmore lofted a high-arching pass downfield—so much for a conservative first throwing attempt, eh?—that Alshon Jeffery hauled in for a 39-yard gain.

  "We practiced that during the week," Gilmore said. "My first read is Alshon on the post, and I threw to Alshon. It was kind of behind him but he made a good catch on the ball."

  Gilmore picked up seven more yards on two carries to put the Gamecocks on the Clemson 1. Garcia came back in for the final play, a touchdown run by Brian Maddox to tie the game 7-7.

  "Only took us 12 games to put Gilmore in there," Spurrier said. "We're not the smartest coaches in the world, but he kept running up in there for yards. And we thought we could hit that pass over their head, and I tell you what, Stephon hits that every day in practice. He hits that pass more than our quarterbacks hit that post route."

  Related Links

  • Recap: Gamecocks upset Clemson
  • Q&A: USC's DeVonte Holloman

  Gilmore wouldn't take another snap the entire game—"If we had to bring him back, we might have," Spurrier said. "But we didn't have to."—but a new tone had been set for the game. DeVonte Holloman ended Clemson's following possession with a 54-yard interception return to set up a 9-yard TD pass from Garcia to Weslye Saunders.

  The Gamecocks never trailed again.

  Gilmore, who took every defensive snap at cornerback and also returned three punts for 31 yards, finished with 20 yards rushing and 39 passing on that game-defining drive.

  "Stephon played great," Norwood said. "That's him. He's always going to make the first guy miss. He was the team MVP for today."

  Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.

  
  
  
• Garcia, defense help Gamecocks top No. 15 Clemson
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 12:45:04 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes and South Carolina's defense slowed down Clemson star C.J. Spiller in a 34-17 victory over the 15th-ranked Tigers on Saturday.

  Spiller opened the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record- setting seventh of his career. But the Gamecocks (7-5) bottled up Spiller and Clemson's high-scoring offense after that to end the Tigers' six-game win streak - and their dominance in the rivalry.

  Clemson (8-4) had won two straight, six out of seven and 10 of 12 against the Gamecocks, who had only one victory over the Tigers in the last 10 games at Williams-Brice Stadium.

  That changed against a South Carolina defense ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and fresh from a week off.

  Clemson had just 260 yards of offense, well off the more than 415 it averaged the past six games. Spiller finished with 18 yards rushing and 19 receiving.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  
  
  
• South Carolina's Holloman: 'Can't wait for next year, when it's in Clemson'
  posted on November 28, 2009 - 02:33:26 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C.—South Carolina freshman safety DeVonte Holloman's 54-yard interception return in the first quarter set up a short touchdown pass from Stephen Garcia that put the Gamecocks in front of Clemson for good Saturday afternoon. That was one of three turnovers the South Carolina defense produced in a 34-17 upset of the No. 15 Tigers. Holloman spoke with reporters, including Sporting News Today's Ryan Fagan, after the game.
  
  Q: What did you see on that interception?
  A: Just the receivers' route combinations and the quarterback's eyes, and it ended up good. Just watching the quarterback, really.

  Q: Did you think you were going to take it in for a touchdown?
  A: I did. (Jacoby) Ford snuck up on me. I looked back one time and he wasn't there, and I looked back again and he was right there. Yeah, he got me.

  Q: It's been several games between turnovers. How frustrating has that been for you guys?
  A: It's always frustrating. We do a lot of ball drills, then turn around in the game and drop interceptions. Today, those paid off. It just felt good to get them and get off the field quick.

  Q: What was the impact of that drive—where Stephon Gilmore came in for you guys at quarterback—in changing the momentum today?
  A: That changed the game. But as a defense, we always tell each other, "Don't get too up or too down, especially in the beginning of the game." Stephon, I guess he went in with that mindset and tried to change the game and he did.

  Q: Three Rock Hill guys (Holloman, Gilmore and Tori Gurley) had big games today. Did you guys push yourselves any more heading into this game?
  A: No, we're always on each other about when we're gonna make big plays. Tori had a lot at the beginning of the season and kinda fell off in the middle. We've all been on each other, just trying to be patient. Working hard.

  Q: How did this game against Clemson match your expectations?
  A: I knew it was a rivalry, but I didn't think it would be like that. Can't wait for next year, when it's in Clemson. I know it'll be hostile the other way, so I can't wait for that to hopefully silence the crowd there.

  Q: Being a former Clemson recruit, did that add anything to this win?
  A: It's added to the rivalry. Being committed there once and knowing some of those guys, and getting to go out and beat them, that was big. That was fun.

  Q: Can you talk about the impact freshmen have had on this team this year?
  A: It's been good for us to come in and contribute. That's a part of the reason some of us came here—Alshon (Jeffery), me and Stephon. That's why we came here, and we're taking advantage of the opportunities.

  Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.

  
  
  
• Downey helps South Carolina top Jacksonville 97-93
  posted on November 27, 2009 - 06:55:02 pm
  
  

  COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey scored 17 of his 34 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes to lead South Carolina over Jacksonville 97-93 on Friday night.

  Despite playing for the first time in four years without Dominique Archie, who injured his knee Sunday in a loss to Miami, the Gamecocks (5-1) won the highest-scoring game in Colonial Life Arena's nine-year history.

  Travis Cohn gave Jacksonville (0-3) a 75-74 lead before Downey and Brandis Raley-Ross, who had a season-high 18 points, took control. Downey hit two free throws to give South Carolina the lead, then added a layup on the next possession before Raley-Ross hit a free throw.

  Downey then hit a jumper, two free throws, and a pull-up 3-pointer to give the Gamecocks an 86-78 lead with just under 2 minutes remaining.

  Raley-Ross hit a lay-up before Downey made two more foul shots.

  Ben Smith led the Dolphins with 27 points.

  Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.