INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 22-15; 6-10 in SEC (Tied 5th/East) Postseason: Lost to Memphis 72-62 in NIT final. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Howell 9.9 Rebs: Kitchings 6.2 Assists: Eidson 3.5 FG: Patravicius 50.7% 3pt: Boynton 43.2% FT: Warren 77.58% 01-02 Stats: South Carolina | SEC KEY LOSSES Jamel Bradley | 13.1 ppg Aaron Lucas | 10.4 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | M. Boynton | Junior G | Chuck Eidson | Senior G | Carlos Powell | Soph F | Rolando Howell | Junior C | Tony Kitchings | Senior Player to Watch Tony Kitchings Senior Center The big man in the middle (6-10, 260) is solid defensively, but needs to reach double figures offensively. DATE TO REMEMBER March 5 Can't blame the Gamecocks for believing they owe 'Bama one in Tallahassee. The Crimson Tide beat Carolina twice last year by a total of nine points, including a one-point win in Columbia in which the Gamecocks led by 15 points with 12:11 left to play.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

The Gamecocks move into a new arena this year, the 18,000-seat Carolina Center. It's a gleaming place that promises the same tight environment that made the old Carolina Coliseum a difficult place for visitors. With the new digs comes a new problem for a program that has been perimeter-oriented for quite some time: No guards. It's been nine years since a player taller than 6-5 led South Carolina in scoring, but that could be the case by default this year. The Gamecocks lost a pair of 1,000-point scorers from the backcourt in Aaron Lucas and Jamel Bradley. That shifts the focus to the occasionally maddening tandem of Rolando Howell and Tony Kitchings inside and jack-of-all-trades Chuck Eidson -- all 6-7 or taller. Howell, a blue-chip recruit who has yet to justify the hype, and Kitchings both stepped up their games last March to help South Carolina to an NIT runnerup finish. Power forward Howell averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in Carolina's last 10 games, while center Kitchings was good for 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in his final eight games. While that could reasonably be considered a springboard into this season, both had strong finishes the season before without much carryover. At 6-7, the wonderfully skilled and savvy Eidson is a very poor man's Scotty Pippen. He led the SEC in steals and is and excellent passer, making him a natural candidate for a point forward role. But he shot just 39 percent last year and would be challenged if asked to check the league's point guards. Nevertheless, he might be the leading candidate for the primary ball-handling role. The small forward spot could go to sophomore Carlos Powell, with auditions still being taken for a bona fide guard. Given the change in strengths of the team, the South Carolina offense should look different as well. "I've always been a penetrate-and-kick coach," Odom said. "Now we'll emphasize more passing and cutting, using screens more."

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
In Eidson, Howell and Kitchings, South Carolina has a core group with the talent and experience to succeed in the SEC. And all three should be better than last year. If reserve center Marius Petravicius rebounds from a severe slump the second half of last season he'll provide more frontcourt muscle. Carolina knows how to play big on the road, having beaten Arkansas at Bud Walton, and crushing Tennessee by 34, Clemson by 22 and Vanderbilt by 23.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
This team didn't shoot well last year - and that was with the SEC's career three-point field goal record holder in Bradley. It was outrebounded. Its defensive quickness could be suspect. Howell might draw double teams this year, but will he give up the rock when that happens? He has 43 assists in 58 college games.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
If the recruiting class can produce some immediate backcourt help, South Carolina could challenge LSU for breakthrough honors. At Wake Forest, Dave Odom jumped from 12 wins his first year to 19 and an NCAA berth his second. A move up from the NIT in Year One to NCAA in Year Two would be well-received this year, and isn't out of the question.