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SportsTalk Rewind 12.31.09

December 31, 2009 By

Happy New Year to all SportsTalk’s faithful listeners.  We always appreciate you tuning us in and contributing via phone, email, and twitter.  You have made 2009 our most successful year yet.  The Korn once again flew solo tonight but the show went off without a hitch.

  • Courtesy of www.gogamecocks.com, Steve Spurrier spoke following his team’s final bowl practice before Saturday’s game.

USC Head Coach Steve Spurrier

steve spurrier 12-31

  • “The Captain” Carey Rich, joined Phil tonight to share his insight on college basketball.  Listen to him breakdown USC vs. Boston College and aslo look ahead to the Baylor game.

Former USC Captain  and Co-host of  The Locker Room, Carey Rich

captain 12-31

  • G.A. Mangus also met with the media following today’s practice in Birmingham.  He talked about Stephen Garcia’s preparations for Saturday’s game.

USC QB Coach G.A. Mangus

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  • The last recruiting report of the year, so sad.  What the heck, we’ll do it next year too.

Thursday night’s Recruiting Report

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Filed Under: SportsTalk Rewind

USC quarterback Garcia looking for more redemption

December 31, 2009 By
Stephen Garcia

Stephen Garcia

USC quarterback Stephen Garcia is only a red-shirt sophomore but it seems likes he’s experienced a lot during his time at USC. There are the well documented off the field issues that almost kept him from ever playing a down at Carolina. But he has managed to come back and Saturday he will get a chance to continue his redemption tour with an opportunity to get a bowl win.

Garcia started last year’s Outback Bowl against Iowa but he played so poorly he was benched in the first half. He has started every game for USC this season and for the most part he’s done pretty well. He has made some critical mistakes but that is nothing out of the ordinary for a first year starter. Most observers believe Garcia has a tremendous upside and a chance to be a very good SEC quarterback.

He is still a work in progress though. Steve Spurrier mentioned after practice in Birmingham yesterday that Garcia didn’t have a very good day. The Head Ball Coach said that if Garcia plays like he practiced Wednesday the team is in trouble.

Steve Spurrier on Garcia’s performance in practice Wednesday

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I wouldn’t read too much into Spurrier’s comments. I have no doubt Garcia didn’t have one of his better days but Spurrier is known to be a little harsh on all his quarterbacks. I expect Garcia to be ready to play Saturday against UConn.

Stephen Garcia talks about preparing for the PapaJohns.com Bowl

garcia 12-30

I do think the best game plan for USC is going to be run, run and run some more. That is what they did against Clemson. That is what they did for three quarters against Arkansas. When the Gamecocks effectively run the ball they are at their best. Yes, Garcia is improving but he isn’t ready to drop back and toss the ball 40 times in a game and have great results. He may get there. But he’s not there yet.

USC and UConn will play Saturday at 2:00.

Filed Under: USC Gamecocks Tagged With: ,

USC loses to Boston College 85-76

December 31, 2009 By
Downey scores 29 but the Gamecocks fall to B.C.

Downey scores 29 but the Gamecocks fall to B.C.

The USC basketball team’s road and ACC woes continued Wednesday night with a 85-76 loss at Boston College. The Gamecocks are now 0-3 on the road and 0-3 against ACC opponents. Coach Darrin Horn added this games to help bolster his RPI and improve his team’s resume for an NCAA tournament bid in March.

Carolina didn’t look like much of a tournament team in the first half. B.C. jumped out to an early lead and went into the locker room at halftime up by 21 points. But the Gamecocks came out strong in the second half and quickly got back in the game. It was a two possession game with about 12 minutes to go and the Gamecocks put themselves in position to tie or take the lead a few times in the second half. But the Eagles always had an answer and ended up handed the Gamecocks their fourth loss of the season.

USC (8-4) returns home Saturday to face Baylor. Last year the Gamecocks hit a last second shot to beat the Bears in Waco. Last night Baylor won at Arkansas 70-47. They are 10-1 this season. Saturday’s game tips off at Noon at the Colonial Life Arena.

Saturday marks a crucial stretch for USC that very well may determine if this is a team that can compete for the NCAA tournament or will be back in the NIT. Or worse. The Gamecocks face Baylor on the 2nd, Longwood on the 5th, play at Auburn on the 9th and then return home to play LSU on the 13th and Vanderbilt on the 16th. So by the middle of January we should have a decent indication how this team is going to be.

The Gamecocks should get junior forward Mike Holmes back sometime during that stretch as well. Holmes as been out for the past five games after he had surgery on the eye socket he injured “horsing around” during a break over Thanksgiving weekend. He has not been on the bench or spoken to the media since the incident. He has reportedly been spotted at some women’s games as a spectator.

Unless this team makes huge strides it is hard to think they will be able to compete with the top tier teams in the SEC and it is hard to see them landing in the Dance.

Filed Under: USC Gamecocks

SportsTalk Rewind 12.30.09

December 30, 2009 By

The Korn flew solo today as Tom and Kevin had the night off.  As the two recharge their batteries, Phil kept the SportsTalk train on track.  In the second hour, Ellis Johnson joined him live from Birmingham.  Bowl talk was the order of the day.

  • Steve Spurrier spoke with the media today in Birmingham and had senior captain, Moe Brown, join him on the podium.  Hear what they had to say, courtesy of www.gogamecocks.com

USC Head Coach Steve Spurrier and WR Moe Brown

steve spurrier 12-29

  • Ellis Johnson took a few moments out of his busy schedule to talk with Phil from the Papajohns.com Bowl and breakdown the UConn offense. 

USC Assistant Head Coach in charge of Defense, Ellis Johnson

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  • Clemson’s basketball team survived a scare at home last night against SC State in the final game before conference play begins.  Oliver Purnell spoke about the game with the media following this one.

Clemson Head Basketball Coach, Oliver Purnell

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  • Recruiting…need I say more?

Wednesday night’s Recruiting Report

recruiting

Filed Under: SportsTalk Rewind

USC basketball team returns to action at B.C.

December 30, 2009 By
Horn looking for a win against an ACC foe

Horn looking for a win against an ACC foe

The USC basketball team will play at Boston College tonight. The Gamecocks are 8-3 this season. They are winless away from the friendly confines of the Colonial Life Arena. B.C. is 8-4 and they are 1-0 in ACC play. This is the third ACC team the Gamecocks have faced this season. They lost to Miami in the Charleston Classic and dropped their game at Clemson earlier this month.

Gamecock coach Darrin Horn views tonight’s game as a chance to bolster his team’s postseason resume.

Darrin Horn on playing Boston College

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The Gamecocks will not have Mike Holmes for the fifth straight game.  He is recovering from surgery on his eye.  He could be back in the next few weeks. Tonight’s game tips off at 9:00 on ESPN-U.

Also tonight, Presbyterian continues its brutal road tour. Tonight’s stop is in Gainesville to face the Florida Gators. The Blue Hose are 2-11 and the Gators are 9-3. The game tips off at 7:00 and if you have access to it you can watch it on ESPN360.

Filed Under: College basketball, State Colleges, USC Gamecocks Tagged With: , ,
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