Gravett, shooting helps spark win late
The signature of any Frank Martin-coached team will always be its defense, but this year’s Gamecock squad is already showing flashes of taking its offensive play to the next level as well.
Led by Hassani Gravett with 15 points, the Gamecocks defeated Western Michigan 78-60 Monday night at Colonial Life Arena. Gravett got off to a rocky start, picking up two quick fouls, but finished strong.
“He showed a lot of growth today because I dug into him the first half. He got that second foul and I kept digging in him about our point guard play not being good,” Martin said. “You saw the way he played in the second half, he engaged, he obviously paid attention to what was said and paid attention to the game and went off in the second half."
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While only scoring two points in his three minutes the first half, the junior came back and scored 13 in 16 minutes during the second half.
“Let go of the first half," Gravett said about his performance. "I just tried to come out and help my team the best I could."
This is exactly what Coach Martin wants from him, with his head coach saying, “He wants to lead, so I’ve got to give him responsibility and hold him accountable every opportunity I have”.
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Overall, the Gamecocks shot 45.6 percent from the field and nearly 40 from the three-point line.
Chris Silva, who had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds on the night, feels confident in his teams shooting capabilities.
“We feel like everybody on the team can score the ball,” he said. “Whoever we pass the ball to, we know we have confidence in them."
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So far in the early season, the Gamecocks have maintained their expected defensive intensity while also showing a consistency on offense that was often lacking in previous seasons under Martin.
Despite the loss of considerable star power from last season, the Gamecocks have managed to improve their offensive output by spreading the scoring responsibility among many role players rather than relying on a couple of key starters.