These are the types of games that make me the most nervous.
As a fan, you never want to see your team lose to an opponent that hasn’t won a conference game yet.
In this case, the Kentucky Wildcats will face off against South Carolina, the only SEC team without a conference win, at Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon.
However, Kentucky’s strong second-half performance on Tuesday night could carry over into this matchup.
Despite falling 98-84 to Ole Miss, the Wildcats put up 53 points in the second half, cutting a 27-point deficit down to just 11 with under eight minutes remaining.
For a moment, it even made me wonder if they could pull off the comeback. Credit to Kentucky for fighting back after a rough first half.
With reports indicating that Lamont Butler has returned to non-contact practice and could be back in game action soon, the Wildcats are entering a crucial stretch where they have a chance to climb back into the SEC race.
Saturday’s matchup is very winnable—a game Kentucky should take care of—and there’s optimism that they can secure victories in their next three games against Tennessee, Texas, and Vanderbilt before heading to Alabama on February 22nd.
However, the Wildcats can’t afford to overlook South Carolina. The Gamecocks had a strong 10-3 record in non-conference play and statistically have two standout players.
Additionally, five of their nine SEC losses have been by single digits, proving they can compete.
With that in mind, here are the key players to watch for South Carolina in Saturday’s game.
Murray-Boyles is the standout player for the Gamecocks.
He made an immediate impact as a freshman last season, posting a 59.7% field goal percentage—the fourth-highest in program history. His presence on the boards was also crucial in helping South Carolina return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years.
This season, Murray-Boyles has recorded six games with 20 or more points and six double-doubles. Defensively, he’s been just as impressive, tallying multiple blocks in 11 games and multiple steals in another 11.
His endurance has been evident in SEC play, logging 30 or more minutes in seven games, including at least 35 minutes five times. Overall, he has scored in all but three games this season.
After an impressive season in which he was named MEAC Player of the Year and a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year, Thomas is now making his mark in his first year with the Gamecocks.
He has scored in double figures in all but four games this season, including a 22-point performance against ECU in early December.
Thomas has been a consistent threat from beyond the arc, recording five games with three three-pointers, three games with four, and knocking down five triples against ECU.
He has also made three three-pointers in each of South Carolina’s last two games.
His durability has been evident, playing 30 or more minutes in 11 games this season, including each of the Gamecocks’ last three matchups.
