Following Saturday's 78-77 win in Lexington, only the second victory ever at Rupp for the Gamecocks, South Carolina (16-4, 5-2 SEC) has vaulted itself to the top of the SEC standings at the season's midway point. Senior guard Devan Downey has quickly elevated himself on everyone's "best player you've never heard of" list to be the SEC's second leading scorer at 19.8 points per game. His jumper with 3 seconds left at Kentucky gave South Carolina its third 1-point win this season.
"You should take us real serious," Downey told ESPN's Andy Katz by phone from Lexington on Saturday. "We're playing real hard and I feel like we're one of the real bright spots in the SEC."
Coach Darrin Horn's group has beaten three ranked teams this season, the first time that's happened since the NCAA tournament team in 2006. The Gamecocks look to extend their SEC-winning streak to five in Gainesville Tuesday night (9pm tip, ESPN) I'm sure Billy Donovan's group will have revenge on their minds, especially after watching the first game between these teams slip away at the buzzer.
As for my prediction toward South Carolina's Big Dance dreams, I simply ask the question: Why not us?
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