Thornwell: 'It didn’t feel like I was ever gone.'

P.J. Dozier sat at the top of the key, dribbling as a player sprints toward the top of the arc. Dozier fires a one-handed pass to the Sindarius Thornwell, who snags the pass and lofts up a running jumper that hits nothing but net. That basket marked the Gamecocks’ first against Georgia and the end of Thornwell’s suspension.

“It felt good to be back playing with them and battling,” he said Friday. “After sitting out six games and seeing us lose close games it was good for me to be out there playing.”

It took all of 23 seconds of game time for Thornwell to announce his presence, marking the end of his six-game suspension. Thornwell, who was able to practice with the team during the suspension, returned to his blistering 18.7 points per game he had in the Gamecocks’ first seven games.

Also see: Friday's baseball recruiting tidbits

The senior from Lancaster finished with 19 points on 8 for 17 shooting.

“It didn’t feel like I was ever gone,” he said. “I didn’t feel out of rhythm or anything like that. It felt good, it felt like I had been playing, it felt like I never missed a game.”

He hauled in 11 rebounds and had his first double-double since Nov. 23 against Michigan. South Carolina, a team with NCAA Tournament hopes, is hoping he can keep up that kind of play so the Gamecocks (11-3, 1-0 SEC) can make the Big Dance for the first time in over a decade.

“Everybody on the team missed him so with him being on the floor it gives everybody a confidence,” sophomore Chris Silva said. “It was like a part of a puzzle missing. Him coming back is like a great relief.”

Also see: Recruiting Insider Report

Silva contributed during Thornwell’s absence, posting double-digit scoring games twice, including a career-high 14 points in a 62-60 loss to Clemson. He also tied a career high in rebounds with 11 in a blowout win over Lander.

The sophomore showed flashes of a dominant post player, but his affinity for foul trouble kept him on the bench during critical stages of the Memphis and Clemson games. He fouled out in three of the six games Thornwell missed.

With Thornwell back, Silva fouled four times against Georgia, with the last coming late in the second half. Being in the majority of the game, he posted 13 points on 85.6 percent (6-for-7) shooting.

Silva, who attributes some of the foul problems to his aggression and energy at the beginning of games, was able to stay aggressive in the paint with Thornwell helping rebound.

“When I get my first foul, I sort of stop being aggressive and it sometimes it turns me off because of the defense we’re playing because you always have to be moving or hype,” Silva said. “Sometimes when I get my first foul, I start thinking.”

Also see: Carolina Confidential with updates on Caleb Kinlaw

Thornwell has seen the team improve in his absence with younger guards Rakym Felder and Hassani Gravett playing increased minutes and saw P.J. Dozier catch fire, averaging 20 points over those six games.

While he hopes the three losses the Gamecocks suffered without him on the court don’t dent the team’s tournament hopes, Thornwell thinks the younger players' development will take the pressure of him to do everything during games.

“With all of them stepping up, their confidence is high,” Thornwell said. “I don’t have to do as much as I had to do early in the season. It just makes it easier for everybody.”