What's the best medicine for a team currently riding a 5 game losing streak and riddled with turmoil?
Playing a 2-12 South Carolina team.
State heads out on the road for the last time in the 2012 regular season tonight as they are set to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia. The Gamecocks are close to finishing up a season they'd rather forget, currently sporting a 2-12 SEC record and a 10-18 mark overall.
State, which once was 19-5 and full of deep NCAA tournament run hopes, needs a win tonight and a win Saturday against Arkansas at home to better secure its NCAA status. Despite their recent struggles, many NCAA Tourney Projections have State still sneaking into the big dance as a 12 seed.
South Carolina is led by the scoring of Mailik Cooke and Bruce Ellington at 12.4 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. The Gamecocks come in to tonight's game riding their own losing streak, which currently stands at 3. Their last game was a 73-64 home loss to Tennessee, a team State beat earlier in the year.
With Rodney Hood again questionable for tonight's matchup, State will again rely heavily on the combination of Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie for points. Moultrie is coming of an outing against the Alabama Crimson Tide where he shot the ball 3 (THREE! WTH) times in 40 minutes of play. Despite South Carolina's poor record, State will presumably have to get Moultrie more touches than that if they hope to come out of Colonial Life Arena victorious. State will also look for Brian Bryant and Jalen Steele to fill the offensive void left by Rodney Hood's absence.
State will also be without the services of reserve G/F Shaun Smith tonight, as he will be out the remainder of the season after breaking the middle finger in his right (shooting) hand. Have to feel for that young man as he continues to battle injuries in his short-lived career in maroon and white.
Tipoff is set for 7pm Central, and the game is to be televised by the SEC Network, with color commentary provided by the low level wouldn't let them call my 4yr olds game geniuses dynamite duo of Clay Matvick and Barry Booker.
State has won the last five meetings in this series, so here's to hoping we can make it six tonight.
Here's the link to tonight's official MSU vs. South Carolina Game Notes
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