SEC Network analysts break down Gamecocks-Marquette NCAA Tourney matchup
According to SEC Network basketball analysts Dane Bradshaw and Antoine Walker, South Carolina must successfully do two things in order to beat Marquette Friday night in an opening round NCAA Tournament game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.
-- Get back to playing exceptional perimeter defense;
-- Have other players step up to support Sindarius Thornwell on the offensive end.
The matchup between Marquette’s 3-point shooters and the Gamecocks’ 3-point defense is a battle of strength vs. strength. The Golden Eagles are one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country, connecting on 43.0 percent of their shots from behind the arc.
Actually, Marquette leads the country in 3-point field goal percentage and is fifth in the number of 3-point field goals per game (10.5).
Defensively, USC is limiting opponents to 29.3 percent shooting from 3-point range, the best figure in the SEC and fifth-best in the country heading into the NCAA Tournament.
The Gamecocks have led the SEC in the three major defensive categories all season long – scoring defense (64.5), field goal percentage defense (39.8) and 3-point FG pct. Defense (29.3) – and little has changed entering the NCAA Tournament.
Bradshaw sees the Gamecocks getting the better of Marquette in the high stakes 3-pooint battle.
“They didn’t have the best February and lost their way a little bit as far as being an intimidating defense, but the Gamecocks have been among the nation’s best teams in defending the 3-point line,” Bradshaw said earlier this week on the SEC Network. “They are going up against one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country in Marquette. It’s strength vs. strength. I trust South Carolina’s defense to execute more than I do Marquette’s offense to execute. Under Frank Martin, (defense) is what this program has prided itself on, being able to shut people down. I think they will get back to that.”
Bradshaw foresees Marquette trying to counter USC’s strong perimeter defense by driving the ball and penetrating the lane under control and possibly kicking the ball back out.
“South Carolina will leave shooters on the perimeter at times because they are coming to help so hard,” Bradshaw said. “Marquette may try to drive in, draw an extra defender and kick out to the wide-open shooter.”
How much do the Gamecocks rely on Thornwell on the offensive end of the floor? Despite missing six games in December due to a suspension, Thornwell has scored 23.6 percent of the Gamecocks points this season (545 of 2,306) and he has scored at least 122 points more than every other Gamecock player.
The senior from Lancaster is averaging 21.0 points per game, highest in the SEC and 0.6 ppg ahead of Kentucky’s Malik Monk.
“He is not going to cross you up and give you the Malik Monk type highlights, but he is going to get himself to the free throw line, he is going to get some offensive rebounds and he is going to attack the rim. He has also proven to be a very capable 3-point shooter (38.8 pct.)."
Marquette averages 82.5 points per game, but it surrenders 75.0 points, a figure that would place them 12th in the SEC in scoring defense.
Walker contended P.J. Dozier (13.6 ppg) and Duane Notice (10.1), USC’s other scorers averaging double figures, and other Gamecock plyers must step up and assist Thornwell in the scoring department.
“My biggest concern for South Carolina is can P.J. Dozier and Duane Notice make some shots,” Walker said. “Don’t put everything on Thornwell. Can they help him out? Don’t make (Thornwell) have to score 30 or 35 points to have a chance to win. If they do that, they have a chance because defensively they are one of the best teams in the country.
“We know they will defend you well. But they have to get some scoring. I would like for them to play a little faster. Sometimes they get stagnant on the offensive end. They have to get Dozier and Notice involved. Thornwell will get his points whenever he wants.”
Bradshaw believes the Gamecocks’ quarterfinal exit from last week’s SEC Tournament could prove to be a blessing in disguise for USC in terms of getting them back to playing the ferocious defense they displayed earlier in the season.
“(By losing in the SEC Tournament), they could get their legs back and get some rest going into this game and return to being the dominant team defensively that got them to this point,” Bradshaw said.
2017 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT (Greenville Schedule)
Fri., March 17
South Region
Arkansas (8) vs. Seton Hall (9), 1:30 p.m. (TNT)
North Carolina (1) vs. Texas Southern (16), 4 p.m. (TNT)
East Region
Duke (2) vs. Troy (15), 7:20 p.m. (TBS)
South Carolina (7) vs. Marquette (10), 9:50 p.m. (TBS)
