News Summary
The South Carolina Gamecocks are gearing up to face the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers in their final regular season game. With standout player Collin Murray-Boyles on fire and a tough road ahead, this matchup promises to be crucial as both teams vie for victory. Fans can tune in to the SEC Network for live coverage of the game.
South Carolina Gears Up to Face No. 4 Tennessee in Final Regular Season Showdown
Columbia, SC – The South Carolina Gamecocks are set to wrap up their regular season on a high note as they prepare to face off against the highly ranked No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers. This much-anticipated game will take place at 2 p.m. (ET) on Saturday at the Thompson Boling Arena. And for those who can’t make it to the arena, you can catch all the action on the SEC Network, where the dynamic duo of Dave Neal and Jon Sundvold will bring you all the play-by-play excitement.
Collin Murray-Boyles: The Star to Watch
One player to keep an eye on is none other than Collin Murray-Boyles, a preseason All-SEC forward who’s been on fire lately! He has scored 20 or more points in four straight games, helping his team to two victories during that stretch. He hit a career-high of 35 points in a recent win over Arkansas, ending the game with a strong 72-53 victory. Over these last few games, he’s averaging an impressive 27.0 points per game, showcasing his shooting prowess with 66.7% from the floor and an even more astounding 81.4% at the free-throw line.
Murray-Boyles stands out as the only player across all Power Five leagues to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting over 50%. He’s undoubtedly a key player for the Gamecocks in this crucial matchup.
Challenges Ahead for the Gamecocks
The Gamecocks are looking for their first true road victory in SEC play this season. Currently, their record stands at 12-18 overall and 2-15 in the SEC. Their only road win this season was against Boston College, where they achieved a strong 73-51 victory back in December.
In stark contrast, the Volunteers have been rolling recently, winning 7 of their last 9 games, with their only losses coming against No. 15 Kentucky and Ole Miss. With an impressive 15-1 home record this season, the Vols have proven difficult to beat on their home turf, their only defeat being against No. 12 Kentucky earlier in January.
Meet the Competition: Tennessee’s Key Players
Tennessee boasts standout players such as Chaz Lanier, who is leading the team with an average of 17.7 points per game—ranking No. 5 in the SEC. Another essential player to note is Zakai Zeigler, known for his point guard prowess. He averages 7.4 assists per game, placing him among the top point guards nationally, and he ranks fourth in the nation for assists. With a career spanning over 130 games, Zeigler has tallied 688 career assists, making him one of the NCAA Division I active career leaders.
Looking Back and Ahead
Interestingly, the Gamecocks have previously upset the Vols last season, winning 63-59 on January 30, 2024. In that exhilarating game, Ta’Lon Cooper made a significant impact with 18 points, while B.J. Mack and Myles Stute contributed 16 and 13 points respectively off the bench. However, historically, the Volunteers lead the matchup with a record of 53-29, and especially dominate the games in Knoxville, holding a 31-10 record there.
With Tennessee winning 11 of 13 matchups since the 2017-18 season and their last meeting resulting in a 66-59 victory for the Vols, the Gamecocks face a tough challenge ahead. Regardless, South Carolina is locked in as the No. 16 seed for the upcoming SEC Tournament, where they will play on Wednesday at 1 p.m. (ET) against either Arkansas, Mississippi State, or Vanderbilt.
As the Gamecocks get ready to take on the formidable Volunteers, anything can happen in the world of college basketball. Fans from both sides are surely gearing up for an exciting game that promises to be full of action!
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Additional Resources
- Gamecocks Top No. 1 Texas for 9th SEC Tournament Title
- Google Search: South Carolina Gamecocks basketball
- Gamecock Baseball Notebook
- Wikipedia: South Carolina Gamecocks
- Baseball Wins Pitcher’s Duel Over Morehead State
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Basketball
- Gamecocks Aim for Ninth SEC Tournament Title
- Google News: South Carolina Gamecocks
