Kershaws Corner: Saint Marys

Here are all the statistics and notes you need to know for South Carolina's appearance in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Dec. 22-25 courtesy of USC statistician and spotter Doug Adams, aka "Kershaw."

Starting Five for Carolina

* Thornwell, Johnson, Kacinas, and Henry are the only 4 Gamecocks to start every game this season.

* Johnson, Thornwell, Ellington, Henry, and Kacinas have been the starting five for the last two games. (Manhattan and USC Upstate)

Sindarius Thornwell

* Leads the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game.

* Scored in double figures in five of the seven games this season.

* Led the team in scoring in three of the seven games this season including the last two games.

* Scored 17 points against Manhattan and followed up against USC Upstate with 19.

* He went to the free throw line 13 times against Manhattan and six against Upstate. He went a combined 14 of 19 from the free throw line in those two contests.

* Had a career high seven rebounds against Upstate. He has at least four rebounds in five of the seven games this season.

* Shot at least 40% from the floor in the first four games of the season but has hit 33% or less in the last three.

* He has 13 assists to 16 turnovers on the season.

* Leads the team with eight steals and tied for the team lead with Brenton Williams with eight three pointers made.

Tyrone Johnson

* Second on the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game

* Leads the team with 29.9 minutes per game.

* Leads the team with 28 assists. Thornwell, Shaw, and Notice are all tied in 2nd with 13.

* Leads the team with 36 free throws made in 49 attempts.

* Attempted at least seven free throws in five of seven games this season. The two games he did not were at Clemson (1-2) and at Oklahoma State (3-4).

* Scored in double figures in five of seven games this season including the last four games.

* Had eight assists versus Baylor and 7 assists versus Florida International. In the other five games, he has combined for 13 assists.

* In the two Gamecock wins, he is 11 of 19 (.579) from the floor. In the five Gamecock losses he is 12 of 41. (.293)

Thornwell and Johnson

*Combined to hit 67 of their 92 (72.8%) free throw attempts this season. The rest of the team is 54 of 87 (62.1%) from the charity stripe.

* Gamecocks are averaging 67.9 points per game this season. Thornwell and Johnson are combining for 25.6 points of the 67.9. (37.7%)

Mindaugas Kacinas

* Started all seven games this season.

* Second on the team with 29.3 minutes per game.

* He is 10 of 18 on the season from the free throw line but is 2 of 6 in the last two games.

* Leads the team with 56 rebounds for an average of 8.0 per game.

* Has at least five rebounds in six of seven games this season.

* One of three players on the team averaging 7.1 points per game. (Williams and Henry)

* Led the team in rebounds in five of the seven games this season.

Laimonas Chatkevicius

* Played in six of the seven games this season.

* Averaging 11.0 minutes per game this season.

* Last two games he has played a total of 28 minutes and went 6 of 12 from the field scoring 13 points. He has also pulled down 10 rebounds. In the prior four games, he was four of seven from the field for eight points and has nine rebounds.

First Seven Opponents of 2012-13 Compared to the First Seven Opponents of 2013-14

*2012-13 - Milwaukee, Morgan State, Rider, Elon, Missouri State (N), Arkansas Little-Rock (N), and at St. Johns.

*2013-14 - Longwood, at Baylor, at Clemson, Florida International, at Oklahoma State, Manhattan, and USC Upstate.

* USC is 2-5 this season compared to 5-2 after the first seven games last season

* None of the first seven opponents in 2012-13 were ranked while Carolina played a ranked Baylor and ranked Oklahoma State team. The Bears, 9-1, are currently ranked 12th in the AP, and 15th in the Coaches Poll. The Cowboys, 10-1, are currently ranked 7th in both polls.

* The Gamecocks played their first four games of the 2012-13 season at home while the two of the first four games of this season were played at home.

* Current records as of 10:00am on December 21, 2013 - Longwood 5-7, Baylor 9-1, Clemson 8-3, Florida International 8-4, Oklahoma State 10-1, Manhattan 8-2, and USC Upstate 6-5.

Scoring 30 or More In A Half

*In the first seven games of the 2012-13 season, the Gamecocks scored 30 or more points in the first half in three of them. The Gamecocks have reached 30 or more points in the first half in five of the seven games this season (at Clemson and at Oklahoma State).

* The only game this season they have failed to score 30 or more points in the second half was at Baylor where they scored 25. Carolina scored 30 or more in the second half in each of the first seven games last season.

Scoring and Rebounding Comparison

* In the first seven games of last season, USC averaged 74.7 points per game. This season, they are averaging 67.9 points per game.

* In the first seven games of last season, USC averaged 38.9 rebounds per game. This season, they are averaging 37.9 rebounds per game.

* Gamecocks have out-rebound their opponents this season 265-243. 37.9 to 34.7. They are +3.1 in rebounding margin.

Assists and Turnovers

* The Gamecocks have 93 assists to 101 turnovers this season (0.9 assists to turnovers). After the first seven games of the 2012-13 season, Carolina had 90 assists to 135 turnovers (0.7 assists to turnovers).

* USC has turned the ball over at least 12 times in six of seven games this season. In the last three games, Carolina has turned the ball over 52 times. (24 at Oklahoma State, 16 to Manhattan and 12 to USC Upstate). The season high in turnovers is 24 at Oklahoma State. In the first seven games of 2012-13, USC turned the ball over at least 17 times in six of those contests. They turned it over 20 or more times in four of the first seven games last season.

Getting to the Free Throw Line

*USC has hit more field goals than their opponents this season, 160-149. They have only hit four less three pointers than their opponents. (34-38) The biggest difference is free throws made and attempted.

* USC is 121 of 179 (.676) from the free throw line while their opponents are 156 of 216 (.722).

* Four of the seven opponents this season for the Gamecocks have attempted 30 or more free throws in the game. Baylor 22-41, Oklahoma State 24-32, Manhattan 34-39, and USC Upstate 20-35. The Gamecocks have attempted 30 or more in only two of the seven. They went 25-36 at Baylor and 22-38 vs. Manhattan.

* Clemson (.923), Florida International (.857), Oklahoma State (.750), and Manhattan (.872) shot 75% or better at the free throw line in their games against the Gamecocks. USC hit 75% at the free throw line against Longwood (.833) and Florida International (.762). USC defeated Longwood 82-44 and Florida International 84-72.

Gamecocks Defense

* Carolina is allowing 70.3 points per game and have allowed at least 71 points in their last five contests.

* Opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field against USC and hitting 30.4% from three point range.

* Gamecocks are forcing 13.3 turnovers a game.

* USC is averaging 5.7 steals a game and 4.1 blocks a game.

Diamond Head Classic

* Gamecocks play Saint Mary's on December 22nd. They will play either Boise State or Hawaii on December 23.

* They could also play Iowa State, George Mason, Oregon State or Akron on December 25.

* USC will play Akron on December 28 in a non-bracketed game at Colonial Life Arena.

Gamecocks vs. Saint Mary's - Saint Mary Numbers as of December 21, 2013

* The Gaels Head Coach is Randy Bennett. He graduated from UC San Diego in 1986. He is 272-125 in 13 seasons as a head coach.

* Saint Marys went 28-7 last season and finished second in the West Coast Conference with a 14-2 record. They made the WCC Tournament final.

* Gaels return eight letterwinners from last season including two starters.

* The Gaels are 9-0 on the season.

* This will be the first meeting ever between the Gamecocks and Gaels.

* The Gaels have four players averaging in double figures. Brad Waldow leads the team in points per game with 17.6 and rebounds per game with 7.3.

Gamecocks vs. Akron (Possible matchup) - Akron Numbers as of December 21, 2013

*The Zips are coached by Keith Dambrat. His Alma Mater is Akron, 1982.

*As Head Coach of the Zips, he is 215-96 in 11 seasons and he is 323-166 overall in 16 seasons.

* Akron went 16-7 last season and tied for first in the MAC with a 14-2 record.

* Akron advanced to the NCAA 2nd round last season.

* They return 11 letterwinners from last years team which includes two starters.

* The Zips are 5-2 this season.

* The Gamecocks and Zips have never played each other in men's basketball. They could meet in Hawaii and will also play on December 28th in Columbia.

* Demetrius Treadwell (14.6) and Quincy Diggs (12.7) are the only two Zips averaging 10+ a game.

* Treadwell leads the team averaging 8.7 rebounds a game.

Gamecocks vs. Boise State (Possible Matchup) - Boise State Numbers as of December 21, 2013

* 8-2 on the season. They have lost their last two games at Kentucky (55-70) and Saint Mary's (74-82).

* Four players averaging in double figures in points. Anthony Drmic leads the way with 18.6 while Derrick Marks is next with 17.7. Ellorriaga is third with 12.9 and Watkins is the other with 10.1.

* Watkins is leading the team in rebounding with 9.7 per game.

* Leon Rice is the Head Coach of the Broncos. Rice is in his fourth season as head coach and has a 64-43 record.

Gamecocks vs. Hawaii (Possible Matchup) - Hawaii Numbers as of December 21, 2013

*7-2 on the season. They have won five in a row since losing to Missouri (80-92) on November 16, 2013. That game was played in Kansas City.

* The Rainbow Warriors have five players averaging in double figures. Standhardinger 18.4, Nevels 14.2, Fotu 13.0, Shamburger 10.9, and Spearman 10.3.

* Standhardinger leads the way with rebounding with 7.8 a game and Fotu is next with 7.2.

* They are averaging 86.4 points a game. Scored 80+ in six of their nine games this season and that includes both of their losses. Scored 80 in a loss to Missouri and 88 in a loss to New Mexico State.

* Gib Arnold coaches the Warriors. He is 59-46 at Hawaii.

Other Teams Playing in the Diamond Head Classic That The Gamecocks Could Face

* Iowa State - 8-0 on the season and ranked 17th in the AP and 13th in the Coaches' Poll.

* George Mason - 5-4 on the season. They have lost their last two games to Oklahoma (66-81) and South Florida (66-68).

* Oregon State - 6-2 on the season. Their two losses are to DePaul (81-93) and Coppin State (73-78).