Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox Talking Gamecocks, both basketball teams begin their seasons, and the football team heads on the road for an SEC matchup. Okay, here we go.
[00:00:54] Okay. Welcome to episode 272 of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I am your host, Tim Cox, where I will keep every episode from 1801 to 2001. And how was Yalls week, huh? Y'all have a good week? I had a good week. I mean, it just still felt like floating, right? It just still felt so nice after this past week, after what the. What the football team did and Willie B. Just all of the love coming South Carolina's way, the viral videos from the locker room, everything. It was a very fun week to just soak it all in. And, I mean, a lot of the love. A lot of the love that South Carolina is getting from national pundits, you know, guys like Josh Pate, you know, guys like that, saying that South Carolina is a very underrated program right now with the two close losses. You should absolutely include us in the rankings. That is a. That's a discussion for a different day. It's disappointed but not surprised in the college football rankings. But we had that come out this week. That was really exciting. Wow. Just a big week in Gamecock sports, in college sports in general. Maxion is back. Just. Yeah, feels good. It feels good. And now it's right back to it with a big weekend on tap here all around. All around Gamecock athletics. But I hope you all had as good week as I did from the standpoint of Gamecock athletics was really, really fun there.
[00:02:30] Now, before we jump into things here, I do have a week in review for y'all here.
[00:02:36] Really quick going on Tuesday, you had both soccer teams, they were in action. The men's team, they beat Georgia Southern 3, 0. They actually got a play that was featured on SportsCenter's top 10. So that was pretty sick. And then the women's team, they're in the SEC tournament here, and in the quarterfinals, they beat Alabama convincingly, four to one. So very exciting there. Hopefully their run continues in the conference tournament there.
[00:03:06] Now, it was a big week for Gamecock nation because not only were we still reliving highlights and all that jazz from the A and M game, we had basketball season. Basketball season tipped off. You had the men and women getting their season started on the same day. Monday was massive for hoops fans. And so let's go over the results here, starting with the men's team. And, yeah, they tipped off Monday night in, quite frankly, very disappointing Fashion, the men were at home and lost to North Florida, 74 to 71. So you're losing your opening game. You're losing one of those by games. As John Rothstein would say, it is the epitome of brutality.
[00:03:55] South Carolina was up for a good bit in this one, but it was just too close for comfort. And then you had a strong second half by North Florida ends up being the difference. And, yeah, you're on the wrong side of this one. And there's no way to sugarcoat this. This is a very bad loss. Like, even with the first game and things like that, this is a very bad loss. And this one could hang around for a little bit. Like, this is a loss that if you find yourself on the bubble, you could come back to. This is a black eye potentially on the season. And I know that sounds dramatic one game into it, but it is what it is. You know, Lamont Paris talked about it, and he said, in so many words, like, they earned that result. You just saw a lack of effort and concentration and hustle from this team that you really hoped you would have saw, especially at home, first game out of the gate. Right. Nobody's banged up all that jazz.
[00:05:00] Yes, this team has some new faces, and so you got to work that out. You have to tinker with the lineups and things like that. So maybe this is a result of that, where you're trying to figure out, okay, who's my best five in these given situations.
[00:05:17] But you got to get them sorted asap, so hopefully they do. I trust in Lamont Paris. You look at this team, it's a good mix of veterans and some young talent. You're going to need some guys to step up in different ways. So I do think these guys will get it sorted, and I do think we still have a very good team. I think it's a team that can certainly make a good case for the postseason. I think it's a team that's going to get better as the year goes on, but this was just absolutely starting off on the wrong foot, just not how you want to begin.
[00:05:54] Not sound. Not trying to sound too dramatic there, but that was a very, very bad loss, and the guys got to get it together.
[00:06:01] Next game is Friday night, 7pm against South Carolina State. So hopefully they can get this thing sorted and move it in the right direction and string a couple together. Because that was the fun part about last year's team was that they started off so hot, and you said, wow, we might have something here. And a lot of those wins Ended up being pretty impressive against a team like Grand Canyon. So hopefully the guys can get it together. You look around the opening couple of days around college basketball and there were some weird games. So hopefully they get it sorted here. And then on the women's side of things again, Also beginning their season on Monday, but they were out west. They were in Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada playing against Michigan. Gamecock fans traveled very well to Vegas and represented. They really just stood up. The fans love it. This game was also a little too close for comfort, but Carolina ended up victorious as we normally see them, like to see them winning to the tune of 68 to 62. The team talked afterwards about how this was a hard fought game and really how they can take away a lot from this and work on some things moving forward. Because while there's a lot of familiar faces, this is adjusting to life without Camila Cardozo. She was an anchor for the team last year. You knew you had dependability with her Double double machine. So without that, what does the lineup look like? You know, who steps up in different ways? Do you have to change things? Chloe Kitts had a very nice game, so not really any cause for concern there. But I do think this was a good learning experience and this group is going to have to learn how to win together. You're going to have different girls stepping up in veteran leadership roles and things like that. The ladies next game is Sunday afternoon against NC State in Charlotte. I think it's the ally tip off if I'm not too mistaken. So we're rolling. We got basketball team both in action. Basketball season very much underway. We're already panicking on one side of it. I absolutely love it. And not to be outdone, the football team is also in action. So we are just covering it all here. A lot going on. Feels like any given day of the week you have Carolina Athletics going. It's a very fun time of year where you have basketball and football going as well. So looking at the football team here, the Gamecocks, again coming off a massive win against Texas A and M, are headed on the road to Nashville, Nash, Vegas, not Las Vegas, to take on Vanderbilt. Now Vanderbilt was ranked in the most recent AP poll, but they were also left off the initial College Football Playoff rankings. So kind of an interesting scenario there. But the point being you have to take him seriously. And it feels weird having to legitimately take Vanderbilt seriously. It just feels strange, you know, it's been such a long time since we've had to do that, what like 10 years, honestly. I mean, I know we've had one or two close calls with Vanderbilt over the years, but it hasn't been a team where you're like, oh, this is a legitimate team here in the sec. It's more like the team that came to play in that given moment because normally it's their bottom down, right? You know, they say anchor down. I would always say anchor down to the bottom of the sec, but that is not the case this year. Vanderbilt is sitting at 6 and 3, obviously. Massive win over Alabama. They beat Auburn, they beat Kentucky. Really one of the more remarkable stories in college football this year, their offense and Diego Pavia, you know, like really like kind of taking this storyline by storm. They run a lot of option plays, so to speak. You know, not super flashy, real ground based attack with intermediate throws, but very disciplined and the type of offense that can be tricky for defenses and that's really what has allowed them to win these games, but also hang around in pretty much every game they played. You know, they played Texas close. You know, like this is a team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes. They don't beat themselves, they're well coached, they're disciplined and they're led by a quarterback who is a veteran, who's playing with a chip on his shoulder. He's a leader. And what you have is sort of that tricky team that comes to play and plays for four quarters and they've been able to grind out some of these wins and it's just been pretty remarkable, you know.
[00:10:56] So when you look at the other side of things, defensively, they're sound. Clark Lee, their head coach, is a defensive guy. I think he's actually taken over the reins coaching the defense this year, so wanted to shake things up and I think it's paid off. They're also played very disciplined there. I think they might be a little banged up. I think they're kind of banged up across the board, but I think defensively they're, they're looking a little suspect. They are potentially going into this game and I think my understanding of it is their run defense is better than their passing defense. Sort of a better offensive line there. So for South Carolina, you know, this is yet another opportunity here, right? Like these opportunities are going to keep coming up in November and I was thinking about it where football is a week to week sport, obviously and we know how much one week can change to the next with teams, you know, big win one week, is it a letdown the next. But when we look at the opportunity that's ahead of this team for the month of November. And I've talked about this.
[00:12:12] You can take a step back and say, all right, like, we can accomplish something here. You know, we can end up with a really good record here. But it starts with taking one opportunity at a time, one week at a time. You have to stack them. You already stacked at Oklahoma and A and M. You're on the road against a team that was ranked, is ranked however you want to say it, and has taken down some good SEC teams. And so you're on the road where you've played well this year. Kentucky, right, Oklahoma, and sitting at five wins. You have an opportunity to become bowl eligible with a lot of football left to play. I mean, think of the difference saying that right there.
[00:13:00] Last year it went down to the last game of the year, hoping to get bowl eligible. And like everyone that ticked down, you're like, we got to win two play, right? You know what it was this year, outside of Vanderbilt, you have three games left. You're sitting at a chance to become bowl eligible early in November.
[00:13:21] You're playing really good football, and yet you still feel like you haven't reached your peak yet. And that's something Debo Williams was saying this week. As good as the defense has played, he was saying that we haven't pitched a shutout yet. So that's something that they want to do. So you know, the offense has their own goals as well.
[00:13:42] So again, it's this opportunity that is presenting itself where, yes, Vanderbilt is a challenge, but this isn't the number 10 team in the country. Let's be real.
[00:13:53] You're going on the road, yes, but there should be a very good contingent of Gamecock fans there. It's not necessarily the most intimidating place to play. So can you seize it? Can you continue the momentum and the intensity and the concentration that you had last weekend and bring that to what is a different matchup, but you still have a lot on the line for your sixth win and things like that. And it's funny when you look at it. You know, Vanderbilt's conference wins, they're all very close, 10 points or less. But then South Carolina is the exact opposite, where all of our conference wins have ended up being very comfortable, like 20 point wins. So something's got to give, right? Like, is this going to be a close, hard fought, scrappy, gritty game where South Carolina maybe feeds into the Vanderbilt style of play and it's a defensive struggle running the ball, or is South Carolina able to go in there and Impose their will just like they did against Oklahoma and just like they did against A and M.
[00:15:04] So it's very interesting. As it stands right now, the Gamecocks are four point favorites. Depending on where you look, might be three and a half, might be four and a half here. So what are my crows to the game here for the whole team?
[00:15:17] Avoid the hangover game, okay? How many times have we seen it in college football where a team has a big win and then they have a following game performance that's maybe not up to par, right? And especially when you're going on the road, too. So you have this big high, everyone's patting you on the back, the national pundits are saying you should be ranked and things like that. You have folks saying, wow, imagine where you'd be if you only held on against Bama or lsu, et cetera, et cetera.
[00:15:46] Are you able to block out that noise and go play four quarters of complimentary football? Because that's what you have done for the last two games now, and it's treated you well. So avoid the hangover game. I think you got to start fast in this one because of that. You know, if defensively, if Vandy starts with the ball, don't let them into the end zone, right? Like get a quick three and out. Just lay the boom. Offensively, put together a nice drive. You know, that is something that has fared South Carolina well, where you scored early, right away against Oklahoma, you scored right away against A and M. You did that against lsu. So if you can do that and set the tone early and put a little fear into Vandy's sideline, I think that will be beneficial for the Gamecocks here. But looking at the defensive side here, my first quote of the game is to understand your assignments. So anytime you face a team that runs these option plays, RPOs, you know, read options, speed options, whatever it is, everyone on the defense has to understand who owns what hat on a hat, who owns who, right? Communicate that and stick to your assignment. Because failure to do so can result in open lanes and these long runs being broken. When you watch Vanderbilt, their more explosive plays come from that where it's an option play. They got motion designed to confuse the linebackers and whoever has the ball, whether it's the quarterback or the running back or a fullback, ends up breaking one. And they're disciplined and they tend to fall forward. They fight hard for extra yards. So understand your assignment.
[00:17:28] My second crow here is bring elite linebacker play. Now, I said this, I think going into the Alabama game. But a lot is going to fall on the shoulders of our linebackers. They will need to show their athleticism and speed, covering the field horizontally to limit the damage from Pavia on the ground. Right. And Vandy also likes to have that short, quick passing game going too. So if there's crossers and mesh routes over the middle, our linebackers are going to need to handle that. Frankly, and especially with Pavia, look at a guy like D. Knight, Debo Williams, like fast, physical, strong linebackers. If you can contain him, don't let him break one to the outside. You know, get that edge that's going to keep us in the game. That's. That's going to throw Vandy off their rhythm and that's exactly what we're going to need to do.
[00:18:23] Now on the offensive side of the ball here, my first crow is a wide receiver needs to step up. A wide receiver, not the tight ends love Josh Smith, but I'm talking Mazio Bennett, Jared Brown, Gage Larva, Dan Vandravius, Jacobs, right. Somebody needs to step up and be a playmaker in this game. The passing efficiency for Vandy is not their strength on that side of the ball. So aside from Josh Simon, right, in addition to Josh Simon and Rocket, right, catching the ball, we need to see a wide out step up and log multiple receptions and be a reliable target for Lenorris. I didn't list Nick harbor there too. Nick harbor, let's go. Right. Kind of felt harbor was coming along a little bit and he's gone quiet a little bit. But someone has to, I'm saying like 4, 5, 6 plus receptions, like a notable amount to take the burden off that and just be that reliable target for Lenorris.
[00:19:32] Now my second crow for the offense is let's see a repeat performance from the offensive line.
[00:19:38] I said it last episode. This group definitely benefited from Lenora's athleticism and escapability, but they did play well against A and M.
[00:19:49] The success that Rocket had doesn't happen without them. Some of those past plays doesn't happen without them. So the task for them this week is to do it again. There is no bye week to tweak things and feel better about yourself and to rest up. So can this group go up to Nashville against a well coached defense and perform well?
[00:20:13] You know, if this group can keep Lenoris safe and open up the holes for Rocket, it should be a good day for South Carolina.
[00:20:22] So overall for this game, I'm excited and I didn't think I'd be saying that about the Vandy game. When I looked at the schedule in August, like, I didn't think this was going to be like the most competitive game in the world.
[00:20:36] It's one of the better games in the SEC this week, frankly. Yeah, that's some good matchups nonetheless.
[00:20:44] Vanderbilt presents a unique challenge, but they are far from an under the radar team at this point. They might have benefited from that a little bit earlier in the year, so I know that they will have the full attention and respect from our team.
[00:21:00] South Carolina is continuing to trend up every week and has performed very well on the road this year, which I think is very telling.
[00:21:10] So as the Gamecocks look to continue to build a great November, this really would be a great spot to have a great showing to become bowl eligible with three games still left to be played. I mean, that would just be phenomenal. And this team earns it, deserves it. So let's go out there and take it. You know, as long as this team comes into this matchup ready to play, continuing to play complimentary football, playing to our strengths, team should hopefully be in good position when it's all said and done. So let's go. Should be a fun one. Nice time too.
[00:21:45] All right, but let me get you all my six pack of picks and then I will get y'all out of here. So in the ACC going Florida State first Notre Dame. Florida State is God awful. I know this is like we all know this, but boy, they stink. Bet against them every week regardless of the six pack. Big 12, very interesting game here. I'm going Colorado versus Texas. Tech. Give me tech plus four. Big 10. Maryland versus Oregon. Oregon minus 24. SEC, Alabama versus LSU. LSU home dogs getting, getting plus three. I'm taking those points. And then Florida versus Texas. Give me the over at 47.
[00:22:29] Also the news broke they are keeping Billy Napier.
[00:22:32] Very interesting decision there. Group of five. I'm going Navy minus three versus usf. But with that y'all, that wraps up this episode. Please follow me on social media, Twitter or X is Cox Gamecocks. Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks. And please like subscribe and review the podcast. I appreciate all y'all. Go Cox.
