The Daily Gamecock

Thornwell out for Gamecocks' first Final Four practice

South Carolina's heavy travel schedule during its NCAA Tournament run may be starting to take a toll on the Gamecocks. 

The team arrived in Phoenix Wednesday after a two-day layover in Columbia following their Elite Eight win in New York City. 

"I've got a bug myself," South Carolina head coach Frank Martin said. "Luckily I don't have to play."

Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell missed the team's first Final Four practice Thursday with an illness. 

"He had a little body temperature last night when we landed," Martin said. "And he was a little better this morning. But I kind of told our trainer, just feed him fluids, do what the doctors do and let him rest rather than stress him out right now." 

The SEC Player of the Year has averaged 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds through four NCAA Tournament games. 

Martin doesn't expect the missed practice time to affect Thornwell's preparation for South Carolina's semifinal matchup with Gonzaga Saturday. 

"He's our most intelligent player," Martin said. "He understands basketball at a high, high level. He doesn't need to be on the practice court to understand what we're doing."

Thornwell was also recognized as a CBS first-team All-American Thursday. Kansas' Frank Mason, Purdue's Caleb Swanigan, UCLA's Lonzo Ball and Villanova's Josh Hart also received the distinction. 


Comments