**USC vs. Missouri GAME Thread**

[Cocklover]

South Carolina travels to face the Missouri Tigers for the first time ever on Tuesday, continuing SEC play in Columbia, Mo. The opponent will be familiar to Frank Martin and his staff, as the group faced the Tigers 10 times, posting a 6-4 mark in those games, during Martin's time at Kansas State in Big 12 contests. The game will be televised on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET with Dari Nowkhah (play-by-play) and Dino Gaudio (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network via GamecocksOnline.com and on 107.5 The Game in Columbia with Andy Demetra (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (analyst).

OPENING TIP
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013
Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: None
Television: ESPNU
Talent: Dari Nowkhah (pxp), Dino Gaudio (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network
Sirius: None; XM: None
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)

Scouting Missouri
The Tigers are ranked 17th in the AP poll and 16th in the coaches (Jan. 14 poll) and enter Tuesday's contest with a 13-4 overall record, which includes a 2-2 mark in the Tigers' first season competing in the SEC. Leading scorer, senior forward Laurence Bowers has missed the last three games due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. Sophomore guard Jabari Brown (14.2), junior guard Phil Pressey (12.2) and senior forward Alex Oriakhi (10.0) also contribute double-digits for the Tigers. Oriakhi's 8.2 rebounds per contest rank third in the SEC and Pressey's 7.2 assists per game are a league best, and rank eighth in the nation (games through 1/17). The Tigers lead the SEC in free throw percentage (72.5) and in rebounding margin (+9.1), and also in offensive rebounds per game (14.8). Missouri's losses this season have come to then-No. 2 Louisville, UCLA, Ole Miss and No. 10 Florida. The Tigers are led by head coach Frank Haith in his second season.

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sport...012113aab.html

[MWard]

Who knows, we might actually win. Their coach is in the middle of the investigation and could be losing focus.

[Cocklover]

As Frank Martin said yesterday, don't assume just because they don't have key players in the lineup tonight and their coach is going through problems that we'll just walk right in and win. This will be a very tough environment...remember Frank knows about this team, they played each other all the time when he was at K-State. He said their student section is one of the best in the nation at BB games.

[jared]

This will be a very tough game but we're definitely catching them at the right time. Lets pull the upset. Go Cocks

[davidmc467]

Even with all the trouble at Missouri right now, this will be one of the hardest games all season. But hey, you never know what could happen.

Frank has plenty of experience playing Missouri though, which could be one advantage for us.

[Emery]

Originally Posted by Cocklover

As Frank Martin said yesterday, don't assume just because they don't have key players in the lineup tonight and their coach is going through problems that we'll just walk right in and win. This will be a very tough environment...remember Frank knows about this team, they played each other all the time when he was at K-State. He said their student section is one of the best in the nation at BB games.

I think Frank also knows that our team just isn't that talented either.

[Cocklover]

Originally Posted by Emery

I think Frank also knows that our team just isn't that talented either.

well yeah of course...he was mainly talking to the fans who still wanna think there is some glimmer of hope that we will be great this year...i wish but it just isn't happening this year

[davidmc467]

Originally Posted by Cocklover

well yeah of course...he was mainly talking to the fans who still wanna think there is some glimmer of hope that we will be great this year...i wish but it just isn't happening this year

What I really don't like is people giving Frank Martin grief over his coaching already. He is doing the best he can with a bad basketball team.

[Emery]

Originally Posted by davidmc467

What I really don't like is people giving Frank Martin grief over his coaching already. He is doing the best he can with a bad basketball team.

I wasn't trying to give him grief, hell he's already done a better job than I expected with what he had to work with.

I just love the coach speak that this will be a tough game for x and y reasons. Every game we will play this year is a tough game for us. He's even said as much.

Not to derail, but personally I think Martin gives the best interviews of any coach. Every time I hear him he is forthcoming, direct, and thoughtful.

[Cocklover]

Originally Posted by davidmc467

What I really don't like is people giving Frank Martin grief over his coaching already. He is doing the best he can with a bad basketball team.

AMEN to that.

[I Bleed Garnet]

I like Dari and Dino doing the game

[RedSoxGamecock8]

Hope that Phil Pressey plays as bad as he did at UF

[CardiacKemba]

This is gonna be tough to watch (but you can bet I'll be watching). Mizzou is gonna take us behind the shed.

[M.C.]

do we score over 50?

[catdaddy66]

Originally Posted by CardiacKemba

This is gonna be tough to watch (but you can bet I'll be watching). Mizzou should take us behind the shed.

FIFY

[Cocklover]

good article from Missouri...

http://www.rockmnation.com/2013/1/22...etball-preview

[Travelin]

If we can shoot decently from the perimeter, we could make it interesting. But, that seems to be asking a lot of our team. Hopefully, they shoot a lot worse than us.

Either way, I'm excited once again for another Gamecock Basketball game.

We are 14.5 point underdogs(last time I checked).

[HeadCockFan]

Originally Posted by Travelin

If we can shoot decently from the perimeter, we could make it interesting. But, that seems to be asking a lot of our team. Hopefully, they shoot a lot worse than us.

Either way, I'm excited once again for another Gamecock Basketball game.

We are 14.5 point underdogs(last time I checked).

I say we lose by 12 and cover that. They are pretty good at home. It's the first game back for their student section. We'll be down quite a bit a halftime I think and claw back, only to get 'tired' near the end.

I hope all that is wrong and we kick their aces.

[gamecockboy89]

Predicting a major beatdown, but hopefully I'm wrong.

go cocks

[thumpin big]

Originally Posted by Cocklover

good article from Missouri...

http://www.rockmnation.com/2013/1/22...etball-preview

"Michael Carrera might be the most Frank Martin player ever." Best line of an interesting article.

USC has played better on the road than at home in the SEC this year. Hope we can play well and have a chance.