College basketball notebook

When it comes to rebounding, there's probably nothing as important as effort and desire.

South Carolina coach Dave Odom has seen little of either during an excruciating seven-game losing streak. The Gamecocks might be the Southeastern Conference's worst team. Their lack of rebounding is a big reason why.

"I'm totally disappointed that our players aren't rebounding more," said Odom, whose team was out-rebounded 42-26 in Wednesday's 71-58 loss at Louisiana State. "It comes down to pride and getting the job done."

Entering Odom's second season, his frontcourt seemed to be the team's strength. Center Tony Kitchings returned for his senior year, as did junior power forward Rolando Howell and small forward Carlos Powell.

Odom lost senior Marius Petravicius to a career-ending knee injury after 10 games and Kitchings has endured numerous nagging ailments. Still, Odom said those woes don't justify his team's lack of grit in the post.

The Gamecocks (7-11, 1-7 SEC) are last in the league in rebounding margin, 11th in rebounding offense and 10th in rebounding defense. They have yet to win a rebounding battle in a conference game.

Neither Kitchings nor Howell have reached double figures in rebounding in the past five games.

"Block-outs are more mental than physical," said Odom, whose team plays at Vanderbilt on Saturday. "It should be something that's second nature to you."

DAWG WOUNDS: Jim Harrick hopes his backcourt will be back to normal Saturday at Tennessee.

Junior point guard Rashad Wright suffered a sprained left wrist in last week's win over Mississippi State. X-rays revealed no serious damage, but Wright is receiving treatment two to three times a day.

"His wrist is still bothering him, but we'll play him (Saturday)," Harrick said of Wright, the SEC's leader in assist-turnover ratio.

Swingman Jarvis Hayes has been hampered by a strained left hip flexor suffered Jan. 22 against Tennessee. He has gone 11-for-38 from the field in the three games since the injury, including a 2-for-12 effort while scoring a career-low five points against Mississippi State.

"He hasn't really been the same player," Harrick said.

CLOSE SHAVES: After blowout losses to N.C. State and Wake Forest, Clemson reverted back to its white-knuckle ways in Wednesday's 69-67 win over Georgia Tech at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Tigers' five games against North Carolina, Virginia, Florida State, Maryland and the Yellow Jackets were decided by a total of 11 points.

"That's a lot of Metamucil," said coach Larry Shyatt, whose team visits Duke on Sunday night.

THE LAST WORD: "I haven't seen a team dominate a good team like that since the '90 Vegas team. They were just studs." - Harrick, on Kentucky's 70-55 demolition of No. 1 Florida.

Reach Larry Williams at (706) 823-3645 or larry.williams@augustachronicle.com