Things are a bit different whenever Kentucky comes to Columbia, and Saturday’s gameday environment showed just that.
The crowd was bigger (and bluer for that matter), the game was broadcasted on ESPN instead of a smaller network and even Dick Vitale made an appearance.
But once the ball was tipped, nothing was out of the ordinary. The No. 1 Wildcats (19-0, 6-0) played just as their rank indicated, and South Carolina’s attempt to upset Kentucky two years in-a-row fell short with the visitors winning 58-43.
Out-skilled and undersized in comparison to a deep Kentucky team that utilizes a nine-man rotation, the Gamecocks were facing an uphill battle, but head coach Frank Martin’s team started the game off with great intensity and wasn't afraid to play a physical game with one of the nation's biggest teams.
For most of the first half, South Carolina (10-8, 1-5) kept pace with the Wildcats, and the Gamecocks’ pinnacle came when sophomore guard Sindarius Thornwell knocked down a three-pointer to give the home team a 24-23 lead.
Thornwell, the only Gamecock to score in double-digits, led South Carolina with 14 points.
But it all went downhill from there for the Gamecocks. Kentucky flexed its muscles and went on an 11-0 run to lead by 10 at halftime, completely changing the direction of the game.
“They went on that 11-0 run and it kind of killed our confidence,” Thornwell said. “It just put us in a hole.”
South Carolina’s shooting woes continued Saturday and the Gamecocks’ inability to establish a rhythm on the offensive front prevented any type of a comeback attempt, especially against the nation's second best scoring defense.
After Thornwell's three-pointer put South Carolina ahead briefly, the Gamecocks wouldn't make another shot from the field until 15:12 in the second half.
Kentucky made it hard for the Gamecocks to get good looks near the basket, thanks to its array of enormous post players like junior forward Willie Cauley-Stein, and freshman forward Karl-Anthony Towns.
South Carolina's guards also struggled to beat Kentucky's perimeter defenders off the dribble and the results showed. South Carolina made a season-low 22.6 percent of its shots.
“Us guards, we try to get up and pressure guards, so if they go by us, they have to go under Willie [Cauley-Stein],” Kentucky freshman guard Devin Booker said.
And to add insult to injury, the Gamecocks made just four shots from the field in the second half.
“We’ve got to make some shots, Martin said. “When you do get an opportunity against a team like Kentucky, you better make it. We didn't.”
Meanwhile, South Carolina tried to slow the game down to force Kentucky to play its offense in the half-court, but the Wildcats’ efficiency was too much to overcome.
Kentucky made 46.2 percent of its shots and made 19 of 27 free throw attempts.
Booker led Kentucky with 18 points, and sophomore guard Aaron Harrison added 13 points, as well.
Overall, Martin, who was upset with his team’s effort and energy after their loss to Tennessee earlier in the week, was much more pleased with the way his guys played.
“I had so much fun coaching today and we lost,” Martin said. “And I’m so proud of our guys and we lost. Because all I ever ask for is for guys to sacrifice as hard as they can.”
Moving forward, South Carolina will look to get back on track Wednesday night on the road at LSU.