Gamecocks face must-win against Kentucky

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina desperately needs a win against No. 3 Kentucky on Tuesday night if the Gamecocks have any hope of an at-large NCAA tournament bid.

South Carolina (13-8, 5-5 Southeastern Conference) is coming off a disappointing 74-71 loss to Auburn at home, a severe blow to its postseason resume. But coach Dave Odom said Kentucky's (19-2, 10-0) arrival in Columbia couldn't have come at a better time.

"It gives you the best chance to get yourself back on track and that's what we need to do," Odom said. "I truly look at this as an opportunity, not a task."

The Wildcats, too, must rebound from a sluggish game Saturday, but Kentucky pulled out a win, beating Georgia, the league's cellar-dweller, 60-51.

"We're anxious to prove we're better than we were on Saturday," said Wildcats coach Tubby Smith, who showed just how deep his team is when he benched his starters after an early deficit against the Bulldogs. A few minutes later, Kentucky held a 10-point advantage.

"We're facing a difficult challenge, but one I think is coming at the right time," Odom said.

South Carolina won't be intimidated by the SEC's best team. The Gamecocks played tough in a 79-75 loss at Rupp Arena on Jan. 5, but history might not be on their side. South Carolina is 0-4 against ranked teams this season and Kentucky has won 18 of the last 19 meetings dating back to the 1997 season. South Carolina is 5-35 against the Wildcats.

Odom doesn't talk about Kentucky's storied success with his players. "My job is not to paint doom," he said.

Kentucky is looking for its 50th - and 15th consecutive - 20-win season on Tuesday. A big reason for this year's success has been consistent play from Kentucky freshmen Randolph Morris and Rojon Rondo, who are both averaging more than eight points a game. The Wildcats have won nine in a row since losing by six points to No. 2 Kansas on Jan. 9.

The Gamecocks haven't been as consistent. South Carolina hasn't put together a winning streak longer than two games since the loss to Kentucky, and the team has had its share of internal issues.

Odom left Antoine Tisby at home for an away game against Florida and left Josh Gonner in the locker room for the second half of that game.

Those problems seem to be behind South Carolina. Odom said the team had a short, but spirited practice Sunday and are ready for the Wildcats.

"I look at them as a team that we can play with and also beat," said Carlos Powell, the Gamecocks leading scorer averaging 15.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game.

The key for South Carolina is transition baskets and rebounds, Odom said. That means giving up fewer easy baskets to Kentucky while creating their own opportunities. The Gamecocks shot 53.6 percent from the field, led by Tre Kelley's 19 points in the last meeting.

"They press it up the court, really pushing," Wildcats' forward Bobby Perry said. "They're one of the fastest teams in the league and really get up and down the court with very athletic players."

But Kentucky's Kelenna Azubuike has posed a problem for the Gamecocks in the past. He hit four 3s and scored 21 points in the Jan. 5 win and is averaging 14.1 points a game. He's also looking to rebound from a six-point showing against Georgia.

"We're a ranked team and everybody's going to be fired up in Columbia," Smith said. "If we don't get our act together, we're in prime position to get beat."