COLUMBIA - This was supposed to be a summer with fewer questions for South Carolina basketball coach Dave Odom. Instead, he faces nearly as many as he did a year ago.
Who'll fill in for lost leaders like point guard Michael Boynton and forward Rolando Howell? Can Carlos Powell and Josh Gonner become more consistent on the court? Will the Gamecocks improve on their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years and compete strongly in the Southeastern Conference?
"That really concerns me, to be honest with you," Odom said Monday.
Odom, who'll start his fourth season at South Carolina this fall, took what seemed like a mismatched and lackluster group of Gamecocks and led them to the NCAAs. Odom hoped that taste of success would spur his returnees to greater heights.
"I've got to keep them from being fat and happy," Odom said.
The Gamecocks had much to gush about. The club opened 16-2 after going 12-16 a year earlier. Despite some late-season struggles, South Carolina qualified for the NCAAs for the first time since Odom arrived in 2001.
Still, whenever he turns his back for a few days, "I see that we're not where we need to be."
Odom will look hardest at three key members of last year's club to take control.
Carlos Powell, a senior to be, was South Carolina's scoring leader at 12.3 points a game. He's capable of spectacular stretches, yet can disappear for critical chunks of a contest.
"We've challenged Carlos this summer," Odom says. "We've asked him to step up his level of consistency."
Josh Gonner, a junior college transfer last year, was right behind Powell in scoring. But he also slipped into inconsistency.
And last year's freshmen forwards, Brandon Wallace, of Silver Bluff, and Renaldo Balkman, have to improve as well and figure more into the regular rotation.
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