Final Four: Road to Phoenix paved when Thornwell, Dozier stayed home
NEW YORK, NY – If Sindarius Thornwell and P.J. Dozier had done what many elite prospects from the Palmetto State had decided to do before them, they wouldn’t currently have starring roles on one of the unlikeliest Final Four teams in years.
Instead, they would have signed with an out-state school, perhaps one in the ACC or the Big East or maybe elsewhere.
But they didn’t.
Both prep standouts chose to stay loyal to the Gamecocks, signing with USC mainly for one reason: Frank Martin.
Sunday, the trust those two players demonstrated in Martin to lift USC past the doldrums of five straight losing seasons (2009-2014) paid off handsomely as the Gamecocks earned a cross-country trip later this week to University of Phoenix Stadium, located in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale for the greatest show in college basketball.
Prior to Thornwell, a Lancaster native, signing with the Gamecocks as part of the 2013-14 recruiting class, USC had suffered through four straight losing seasons, three under former coach Darrin Horn.
He was undeterred. And Martin made no promises.
“Growing up in South Carolina, all we asked for was a chance to make it,” Thornwell said. “Coach didn’t guarantee us anything except to come here and just work hard and give ourselves a chance. All we wanted was to make it. All we wanted was a bid in the tournament, to see our name on the board. When we got our name on the board, the rest took care of itself.”
Similar to Thornwell, Dozier had a long list of offers coming out of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, including bluebloods North Carolina, Kansas, Indiana and Louisville.
The Gamecocks went 17-16 during Dozier’s senior year at Spring Valley, and he sensed things were heading in the right direction at a place where his family enjoyed a strong bond. His older sister Asia played for the USC women’s team, while his father Perry (1986-88) and uncle Terry (1986-89) played basketball for the Gamecocks as well.
For Dozier, the opportunity to play for Martin convinced him South Carolina was the right place for him.
“Personally, I didn't know where this program could go,” Dozier said. “But I knew that when Frank Martin stepped foot on campus, you just got this vibe that the ball was rolling. You could see the progress every year. Statistically, it showed. Coach Martin didn't promise us anything, but he did promise us that if we had faith in him and we listened to what he had to say, and we did what he had to say, and we did what we had to do, we would be successful here.”
Dozier, who acknowledged USC’s Final Four run left him “speechless,” appreciates the players that came before him and played major roles in igniting the turnaround of the Gamecocks program.
“When Coach Martin came in five years ago, he was on a mission,” Dozier said. “He had an objective to turn this program around by getting great players like Sin, Justin McKie, Mike Carrera. So, I thank those guys that came before me, that paved the way to be able to have this opportunity to put this program in the position that it's in now.”
As soon as the Gamecocks got the NCAA Tourney bid, Martin’s message to his teams was simple – keep listening to me and we’ll go far.
“He said we had listened to him all season and don't stop now because we got our name on the board,” Thornwell said. “So, when he said that, we all locked in and didn't listen to any outsiders, didn't listen to anybody else but coach. We trusted everything in him. We had this thing where we said don't let go of the rope, no matter what happens, no matter the outcome of anything, don't let go of that rope.”
Thornwell, now recognized by many analysts as arguably the most underrated player in the country, kicked his game into gear Sunday when the Gamecocks trailed 55-53 with seven minutes remaining. He scored eight straight points as USC took a 61-59 lead with less than five minutes left before driving and feeding Maik Kotsar at the foul line for one of the biggest baskets of the game, a jumper by the Estonia native that gave the Gamecocks a vital 67-63 lead.
In other words, Thornwell took over the game in crunch time.
“I was in a situation where I just made plays,” Thornwell said. “I feel like we are the most underrated team as a whole in the country. I just felt like plays needed to be made down the stretch and I stepped up and was in a situation where I was able to make the plays.”
After earning a trip to Phoenix for the Final Four, Thornwell says the next step is to win the national championship. First up is Gonzaga on Final Four Saturday at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oddsmakers have made the Bulldogs a 6.5 point favorite over the Gamecocks.
“We're still going into that game thinking we can win,” Thornwell said. “Why not? Why not us, why not go win it all. That's our mindset. We feel like we can compete with anybody in the country right now.”
ELITE EIGHT RESULTS (March 25-26)
Sat., March 25
Gonzaga 83, Xavier 59
Oregon 74, Kansas 60
Sun., March 26
South Carolina 77, Florida 70 (East)
North Carolina 75, Kentucky 73 (South)
FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE (Sat. April 1)
South Carolina vs. Gonzaga, 6:09 p.m.
Oregon vs. North Carolina, Approx. 8:49 p.m.
(All Times Eastern).
