 "Photo: Juan Blas")
The 2006-2007 basketball season holds a lot of questions for the Gamecocks. The first game of the season, a Friday night match up against South Carolina State, gives the team a chance to answer some of them.
The biggest buzz of the basketball preseason so far surrounds redshirt freshman Dominique Archie. The guard/forward rode the bench last year and is now expected to replace Renaldo Balkman.
And those are big shoes to fill. Balkman finished last season averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds per game. However, the 6-foot-7, 204-pound Archie has a lot to prove to the Gamecocks' fans to garner the respect and adoration that Balkman had gained before his departure for the NBA.
S.C. State appears to be the perfect opponent to get the season off on the right foot for Archie. The Bulldogs have one of the smallest rosters that the Gamecocks will see this season. With only three players measuring in above the 6-foot-6 mark, Archie will be one of the taller players on the court.
Experience in key positions should provide Carolina with another edge over the younger and less experienced Bulldogs. The Gamecocks return three of five starters and five lettermen from last season. Senior point guard Tre' Kelley and senior center Brandon Wallace are the keys to a successful season and an easy victory over S.C. State.
The Bulldogs bring senior guard Brian Mason, who was selected as a preseason All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference first team player. Last season, Mason was in the Top 10 in the MEAC in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
Kelley and Mason will square off against each other in a battle of guards that lead their teams. In this battle, Mason is not the only one with something to brag about. After a strong 2005-2006 campaign, when he averaged 12.5 points per game and held a two assists-to-turnover ratio, Kelley was selected as a preseason second team All-SEC player.
South Carolina's bench will be another key factor in deciding the outcome of the game, especially in the low post. At the college level, a game can wear down a frontcourt player quickly, and S.C. State will depend on a freshman and a sophomore for most of its post play - 6-foot-9 forward Gerald Carter and 6-foot-8 center Julius Carter. After those two players, the size of the Bulldogs drops off quickly.
The Gamecocks expect to add to their depth in the post this season. With Archie coming out of his redshirt season and junior center Ousmane Konate returning from injury, head Coach Dave Odom will be able to wear down the Bulldogs and dominate as the second half rolls on.
The Gamecocks want to make a run at the NCAA tournament this year. The SEC is looking as tough as ever, so Carolina will have to play strong in its non-conference schedule to impress voters and improve its record. Friday's 7 p.m. game against S.C. State is a great opportunity for the Gamecocks to get off on the right foot in what could be a promising season.
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