2008 South Carolina Gamecocks Hoops Preview

Hand it to South Carolina’s players. They’re honest. They knew little (and probably close to nothing) about Darrin Horn prior to the 2008 NCAA tourney. That’s when they saw, on TV, the young Western Kentucky coach lead one of the dance’s darlings to the Sweet 16.

A couple of weeks later, Horn was introducing himself to South Carolina’s fanbase and those same Gamecocks.

The school went out in search of someone who could turn around the spiraling program. The brass is hopeful it has landed that person in Horn, who plans to spice things up with an end-to-end, aggressive brand of ball that stems from his own playing days at Western Kentucky.

“We’re hoping to be something and do things in such a way that excites and energizes people around here,” says Horn.

Under Dave Odom, energy had become a foreign concept inside the Colonial Center, a place that has potential but not potency. Odom was essentially pressed into retirement after back-to-back losing seasons and an abysmal 41–71 SEC record in his seven seasons.

Enter Horn and Co. Evidently youth is the ticket. Horn, 35, brought along Western Kentucky assistants Cypheus Bunton and Scott Cherry, who were also born in 1972. And Horn later rounded out the staff with former Gamecock point guard Mike Boynton, a 2004 grad who turns 27 in January.

Frontcourt

Yet again, South Carolina enters a season without a big man, in the classical sense. But Horn thinks the Gamecocks can survive, and thrive, with what they’ve got. For one, Horn says the infused style plays better if there isn’t some hulk of a center lumbering up and down the court, slowing things to a grind.

For another, sophomore Mike Holmes, who played better down the conference stretch than any post player in the league, has a 6'7" body that operates like it’s 6'10". Holmes had three double-doubles in five games just before the SEC tourney — three more than he’d had in the Gamecocks’ 22 previous games.

Still, the growing’s not done. “I think he’s a guy that, with continued improvement in our program, can be a consistent performer for us,” Horn says.

And it’s not all Holmes. Fellow sophomore Sam Muldrow is 6'9" but can run the floor and has a chance to be among the school’s best shot-blockers.

Even considering those youngsters, Dominique Archie could be the difference-maker. Archie is the team’s most athletic and versatile forward, but he sometimes disappears. The most seasoned Gamecock, Archie was held to five points or fewer four times in SEC play.

Evka Baniulis is a very different 6'7" than Holmes and Archie. He was a set shooter in Odom’s offense, but Horn believes there’s a more athletic role he can fill in the new philosophy.

Backcourt

Yes, we’re all aware of Devan Downey’s quickness and scoring ability, especially in transition. He’s the most dynamic true point guard returning this side of the “other” Carolina’s Ty Lawson. But that’s not the end of what Downey, a first-team All-SEC pick last year, brings to the team.

“I think what’s impressive about him, beyond his obvious talent level, is he’s a young man with a tremendous work ethic,” Horn says. “I don’t think that there’s any doubt that he wants to win.”

Downey, a transfer from Cincinnati, sometimes still sulks about the fact that his first season at South Carolina was a sub-.500, postseason-less one.

With a better understanding of shot selection, former Georgia Tech transfer Zam Fredrick can play the perfect 2-guard to Downey. Fredrick hit less than 50 percent of his shots in 24 of 32 games and shot 40.2 percent for the year.

Brandis Raley-Ross, when healthy and playing with confidence, is one of the better shooters in the league.

Final Analysis

South Carolina returns pretty much everyone — all but wing Dwayne Day. That’s a good thing, as experience always is, but it’s also largely the same group that has won only 28 games in two seasons.

For sure, the Gamecocks will be improved with Horn’s panache and style of play. People will want to see them play. But, problem is, there are still hurdles to jump in the SEC East. Tennessee isn’t going anywhere. Florida will be improved. It’s a tough climb, but this is a team capable of breaking even in the league, and maybe — just maybe — making a surprise NCAA trip.