Former USC guard tells fans to support team
Former South Carolina point guard Devan Downey knows about adversity.
Most recently, when playing for a team in Turkey, Downey was faced with a decision when a new coach was brought in, leaving him unsure of what to do.
“When you’re playing for a coach and then another one comes in, you don’t know anything about their style of basketball or anything like that,” Downey said. “It’s definitely a weird feeling. I didn’t really want to stay and put myself in a bad position.”
Downey left Turkey and signed with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Developmental League.
As someone who’s played for USC in the past, Downey knows the hardships the USC men’s basketball team is enduring.
“It’s definitely a struggle,” Downey said. “I know the guys and I know the staff, so I think they’ll find a way to get it done. They’ve hit a little bit of adversity right now, but I still believe in them. I think they’ll find a way to turn things around and end on a high note.”
Downey’s adversity began when he transferred to South Carolina in 2006 after one season with Cincinnati, but had to sit out his first season. He made an immediate impact the next season, earning All-SEC first team honors and leading the team in scoring, but after his first season, Downey was arrested for a minor altercation in Russell House.
Downey came back the following year and didn’t let the offseason incident affect his performance, earning All-SEC first team honors again and honorable mention for the AP All-American team.
As a senior, Downey was on a team that finished 15-16, but knocked off No. 1 Kentucky in a 68-62 victory. Though the fans famously rushed the court after the win, Downey looks back on it and doesn’t think the win was that big of a deal.
“Honestly, it was great, but we had beat them two times the previous year,” Downey said. “Beating them wasn’t really that special to me. They were the No. 1 team and that was special, but beating Kentucky really wasn’t all that special.”
Because of how the team struggled in his senior season, Downey understands how his former teammate and USC’s lone senior, Malik Cooke, must feel.
“Every once in a while I might talk to Cooke,” Downey said. “It’s Cooke’s senior season, so he’s just playing his heart out. As a senior — I know the feeling — he’s just playing his heart out.”
The adversity continues for Downey, who is now having to transition from European basketball to the NBA, where the ball is a different size and the 3-point line is farther from the basket.
“It’s more physical, and overall, it’s just a different game,” Downey said. “I’m still trying to transition. I’ve only been here a couple of days, so I’m still trying to learn the NBA game. I think I’m catching on pretty quickly. I think the first few games, I played very solid for me not having practiced or have any NBA experience. I think with practice, I’m only going to get better.”
Even with his own career to focus on, Downey still keeps up with USC basketball and watches every game he can. With the team’s struggles, he understands fans’ frustrations with USC coach Darrin Horn,and though he didn’t directly defend Horn, he wished fans would continue to support the players.
“He’s got a young group of guys. Just keep supporting and don’t give up on the guys. You should support the team, regardless of how you feel about the situation. Those guys still go out and put on Carolina uniforms every game and play. The last thing they need is lack of support from the fans. Keep supporting the guys.”
With what he’s seen, Downey believes that the team can surge in the second half of the season.
“People always say that it’s hard to cheer for a team that’s losing,” Downey said. “With the team they have and the talent they have, eventually they’ll turn it around.”
Downey was able to “turn it around” at a new program and now, just starting his transition to the Mad Ants, he’s encouraged by not only the Gamecocks’ future, but also by his own.
“I’m new to the D-League,” Downey said. “I’m just trying to do what I do — play great basketball. I’ll just see what happens in the D-League. It’s nothing really new. It’s still just basketball.”