Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox Talking Gamecocks, football returns home. Men's basketball rolls, and women's basketball dominates. Okay, here we.
[00:00:53] Okay.
[00:00:54] Welcome to episode 356 of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I am your host, Jason Tim Cox, where I will keep every episode from 1801 to 2001. And how are y' all doing out there? Are we mentally okay? Are we mentally, maybe even physically, in a better state than we were last time? Caught up with y'? All?
[00:01:19] No. Okay, well, same here, then.
[00:01:22] It's been a struggle. It has been an absolute struggle for the last week, if I'm being totally honest with y'. All. I mean, I'm in a work meeting, and people know I'm a huge fan. And, you know, we're wrapping things up. Client goes, hey. Oh, sorry. Just one more thing. Sorry about your Gamecocks. This is on Tuesday. Like, I'm. I'm starting to move past it, and I'm like, oh, thank you. Just have to smile. Smile through the pain. Just absolutely, absolutely brutal. But you know what? We persevere nonetheless, and we press on. There's a lot to look forward to. Where Nearing the holidays. I'm already ramping up my mindset for the feast I'm having on Thanksgiving. We got basketball to celebrate, and there's still lots of exciting football elsewhere around the country, and still some things to watch on our side as well, of course, whether it be press conferences and, you know, player reactions and just seeing how this team closes and things like that. So there's still plenty going on in Gamecock Nation, but, yes, I don't blame you if it's been a slog of a week in many ways here, but let's jump right into this here. Not really many scores outside of the major sports at all to go over here. So starting with men's basketball, the Q Zips in action Tuesday night. Dominated Radford 87 to 58. And I think I'm ready to declare that this team is fun. Like Gamecock men's basketball is fun again. Four and oh are the Gamecocks and have scored over 80 points in each game. So to be four. No. And the first four games to score 80 or more points, I saw the last time the team did that was under legendary coach Frank McGuire. Like, wow. So who knows how this thing is going to shake up at the end of the year and once we hit conference play. But if nothing else, this team is showing creativity, you know, passion, fun, cohesion early on, hard work. You know, they've had their Backs against the wall at times, but not really in this game at all. This was wire to wire. Really jumped out to a big lead in the first half and just kept the pressure on in, in the second half. And I love this team getting contributions from up and down the roster. Elijah Strong leading the team with SC 15 points in this game off the bench and the second leading scorer was Eli Ellis who also comes off the bench and had 14 points. Eli Ellis is a very fun player to watch.
[00:04:04] True freshman, big time recruit, kind of a gritty player. Like screams to me like the guy who can develop into just that really good college player who makes a name for himself with us, leaves a mark on the program and you know, who knows what happens at the next level. But just, just that scrappy guy, maybe not, not maybe. Doesn't really have that prototypical like pro next level build. You know, I certainly don't think he's like a one and done type guy, but someone who can progress in the system, who's really good at this level and leaves his mark on the program. So really cool to see there and just going to be fun to track his development over the next several years. Hopefully assuming he stays in Colombia. Three point shooting in this game could have been a little bit better if you're going to nitpick at something here, but the free throws were a high percentage and everyone got in the scoring, which is really cool to see. I've already said it this season, but it's just refreshing.
[00:05:11] Last year and then in Lamont's first year as well, it was, you needed one or two guys to really go off and then hopefully you pieced it together from there. That hasn't been the case so far this year. Michi has had a big game, he's had some solid games. In this one he was quiet and you got the scoring from someone else and you had a comfortable win. So that's really, really cool to see. Up next for the Q Zips, the guys are taking part in the Skechers Greenbrier tip off. How about that? Friday it's a sort of a two game set where it's predetermined and you go and play.
[00:05:53] Up next guys will be playing Friday. Butler. They're playing Butler for the first time in school history, so that's kind of neat. And then on Sunday they will take on Northwestern. So it's interesting because while the team has shown a lot of positives so far this year and you love sitting at 4 0, this is an early season test against stronger competition. You know, better athletes, more recruits, you know, who are noteworthy. And these are the type of games that can really boost a resume down the line, if you want to start thinking that way. But to me, it's going to show what this team is really made of. You know, I don't know the season outlooks of Butler and Northwestern. I'm not going to pretend to know those rosters inside and out, but especially Northwestern. You're talking about a power four level team.
[00:06:50] And if this Gamecocks team can split these Games or Go20, you can feel pretty good that, you know what, we really do have a, a good mix of guys who can battle and find ways to win. So it's going to be really cool to see. This is a good early season litmus test, as they like to say.
[00:07:12] And then sticking on the hardwood here, women's basketball, the ladies were in action Wednesday and they flew past Winthrop, 106 to 56. That's a 50 burger.
[00:07:23] Yeah, how about that? After going up against the fake USC last weekend, the ladies were easily cruising in this one.
[00:07:33] Excuse me. Tania Latson led the team with 24 points. Joyce Edwards had 22. And shout out Raven Johnson here logging 10 assists, doing what she does best, facilitating scoring as this team continues to roll while also figuring out some things where they're going to get leading scores from, figuring out rotations and things like that.
[00:07:55] Sunday, the women will host Queens in Colonial Life before they break for Thanksgiving. So I actually think you're gonna have a. Not think you're gonna have a lot of action in hoops Sunday. So, hey, maybe things go right for us on the gridiron and then you can roll that into a really fun and exciting Sunday and you got yourself a nice Gamecock weekend, huh? Let's just draw it up like that. Let's go 30 this weekend. What do we say? Huh? That would be something. Well, three. I mean, the guys are playing two games on Friday, so. Or playing Friday and then Sunday. So go four. No. Who says no? Huh?
[00:08:33] Huh? I'm in.
[00:08:35] But speaking of the gridiron here, football season still trucking along here, returning home maybe a little bruised and battered, but nonetheless returning to Willie B. In front of the Gamecock faithful to start the final two game stretch of the football season. It's crazy to say it's been an interesting year and I'm not going to get into it all right now, but sitting here with two games to go, knowing that that's it, you're not making a bowl game this year. You got two games. Someone's calling it the. The state playoffs with Coastal and then Clemson.
[00:09:10] And it's an interesting feeling knowing that that's it. In some ways, I'd be lying if I'd say it's not a little bit of a relief because it has been that tough of a year. But in the same breath, it is a fun time of year and we look forward to it. And we still get so excited every Saturday. So it's always sad when it ends. But I do think that us fans and the people in that building. Shane Beamer, you complete this year as good as you can. You compete and you try and go two and O the next two weeks, and you try to end on a high note. But Shane Beamer has even said it pretty much in his press conferences. The second the clock turns zero against Clemson, he's getting to work on next year. And I think that that mentality resonates with a lot of Gamecock fans who, the second the clock turns zero on this season, are ready to turn the page and start looking forward and to get excited for next year. And from Beamer's perspective, there's obviously a lot to get sorted between retaining players, figuring out the coaching staff, and everything else that needs to get corrected, moving to next year. But nonetheless, looking at this Saturday, Carolina taking on Coastal, 4:15 kickoff. The team is actually celebrating Senior Day this weekend. So little bit of a difference where you're not doing it the very last game.
[00:10:38] I don't hate that. I'm trying to think if we have done that in the past when the Clemson game has been at home.
[00:10:47] I don't remember under Beamer if we've done that always. I think he did the Senior Day when it was that night game against Clemson.
[00:10:58] I don't know. Nonetheless, I don't mind this, right? Like, you want to give the seniors their moment.
[00:11:05] And the Clemson game, there's always going to be a large contingent of the opposing fans. You don't want them to be disrespectful during that time. But it's also a huge game that you want the focus purely on that. No disrespect to Coastal, but you know what I'm saying.
[00:11:22] And, you know, just hats off to these seniors. I mean, really, like, big, big thank you. Too many to list. But you got. You got guys who have really given their all to this program.
[00:11:30] Nick Barrett comes to mind. Luke Doty, I mean, my goodness, feels like Luke Doty has been on this team for 10 years.
[00:11:38] To say goodbye to him is Going to be. Is going to be a big moment, but it's guys who really have seen it all. Like some of these guys were not recruited by Beamer. So they went through a coaching change and they went through the excitement of those, you know, of getting back on track in that first year or two.
[00:11:58] Then they went through the lows of missing a bowl game and then they went to the highs of last year and now back to the lows. And there's a lot of good leaders. DQ Smith. Right. Like guys who have played a lot of football for this program and have really given it all. So hats off to this group. We're going to miss them and hopefully we can send them out the right way these next two weeks. But looking at this matchup here, Coastal is sitting at 6, 4. They lost last week, but had previously won their four in a row. I want to say scoring at a pretty high clip too. So they're having a pretty nice year themselves. The GameCocks are currently 24 and a half point favorites. That feels strange to say, frankly. Just saying we're a favorite. I mean, when's the last time we said that?
[00:12:51] Vanderbilt? No, Kentucky. It would have been Kentucky, but my goodness. So nonetheless, here you're hoping that you can shake off whatever that was last week and go into this one with the right mentality of trying to do exactly that. Trying to do exactly what the spread says. And that's dominate, you know, and that's really what I'm looking at here where, what are we seeing the makeup of this team be? You know, you're going into this game and you're trying to get right, you're trying to get back that winning feeling we talk a lot about in sports. Like, you know, you got to just see one go through the hoop. You just got to see one get in the hole, right?
[00:13:34] This team needs to just get that winning feeling back. And you know, there's no right way to go about that. But you look at the Bama game to a degree, the Oklahoma game, but really Bama and Oklahoma, or excuse me, Bama and A M.
[00:13:54] And losing in the fashion late that we did, right? And losing those second half leads, you know, this particular group, this particular team, and even going back to a M. Like they, they haven't like found that like deep way to. To win, right? Like they haven't gotten that winning feeling yet from that comeback. Now hopefully that's not the case against Coastal. Hopefully you are ahead. But my point is the team hadn't had that winning feeling in a While when you talk about the Bama game and the A and M game and maybe, just maybe that that creeps into your subconscious where you know last season the team's rolling and you go against that Missouri team and you're down late. But the team had the mindset of we are a winning football team, we are still going to win this game. Whereas maybe in the back of some of these guys minds they say, man, we haven't really been able to win this year. Like we haven't been able to win these close games. Like maybe there's just this feeling of dread that's kind of drastic there. But if you can go out there and handle your business and if you can beat Coastal, even if you don't cover, but if you can beat Coastal by two scores or more, then you, everyone in that locker room feels good and has that right mentality going into the next week.
[00:15:25] So what are my crows to the game here? I kind of already spoiled it for my overall crow to the game here, but it's respond mentally, respond strong mentally to the adverse adversity that you have not only felt this year but from last week to come out there guns blazing, kind of like you did in that first half and be ready to stick it to Coastal on the offense. My first crow to the game is keep feeding Jawan Howell.
[00:15:52] He was looking good against A and M and then he completely disappeared. And this coaching staff has had a weird track record this year of doing that.
[00:16:01] First it was Matt Fuller where he started to get going. What was it against lsu and then he disappeared. I think he played well against Oklahoma as well and then he disappeared. I understand you went into this year with Rasul as your number one and he can make some plays if he gets into the open field. But my goodness, Jordan Howell and Matt Fuller seem to be like the guys. They seem to have the build and the toughness that you need in this league. I know where it's an out of conference game now, but come on, let's get him going.
[00:16:32] My second crow don't take bad sacks.
[00:16:35] Linoris has had a weird habit of doing that this year, whether it's late in games or on fourth downs or when you're in that fringe red zone area.
[00:16:44] He holds onto the ball too long, he doesn't step up in the pocket, he runs backwards and he takes a bad sack. Can't be doing that right. Like hopefully the pockets are cleaner against Coastal. Hopefully you're able to dominate the line of scrimmage, but you can't be doing that can't be putting your team in those positions.
[00:17:01] Third Crow compete for four quarters.
[00:17:05] Said that before, but I mean, my God, I'm not going to get into it, but yeah, the offense better not disappear for a quarter, let alone a half against Coastal.
[00:17:17] On defense, my first crow to the game here has continued to generate turnovers.
[00:17:22] The team has been able to do that pretty consistently this year.
[00:17:25] No need to stop now, right? Keep it going, keep that momentum going because you're going to need it for the following Saturday. But let's just dominate this game in every facet. Second Crow Steady pass rush, you know, like that was something we saw in the first half against A and M, not so much in the second. Let's continue to dominate. Let's continue to get after the quarterback, make life tough for him. I think their quarterback might be banged up.
[00:17:47] I don't, you know, there's no injury reports with it being an out of conference game, so we'll see how that goes. And then my third crow for the game here is close. The game strong, kind of similar to the offense here. I certainly want to believe that against Coastal we can close games better than we have in the sec. But look, you can't look down at Coastal. This team, especially sitting here with three wins, you can't look down your nose at anybody.
[00:18:15] So continue to prepare. Come in with that edge, come in with that chip on your shoulder. Coastal is going to do some different things. They're not built like an SEC team, so you have to expect the unexpected and you just got to respond the right way.
[00:18:32] Shane Beamer in his press conferences keep saying that the mentality and the makeup of this team is good. He feels like there's still positivity and energy.
[00:18:41] I gotta take his word for it, right? Like, I, I, I don't think he's lying through his teeth, but at the same time, there's probably frustration in that locker room about just not being able to close games and not being able to win and feeling that they're better than their record.
[00:18:59] Well, go out there and prove it on Saturday, right?
[00:19:02] Don't waltz in here and say, oh, we can handle Coastal just because we're the big bad SEC team.
[00:19:09] You know, don't get caught looking forward to Clemson. This team can't do any of that right now. Go out there, compete for four quarters, close the game strong and put up a good performance for us fans and for yourselves, right? This team deserves a win. We deserve a win. Let's go get after it on Saturday.
[00:19:28] But all right, let me give you all my six pack of picks and then I'll get you all out of here. I realized last weekend I accidentally gave you five and I went four for five. So how about that? Maybe I should just start doing that in the ACC.
[00:19:42] Miami versus Virginia Tech give me over 48 and a half in the Big 12. Kansas State versus Utah minus 17 and a half Big Ten. This is where I have the two games.
[00:19:53] Nebraska plus seven and a half versus Penn State, Rutgers versus Ohio State minus 32 and a half and the SEC.
[00:20:02] Tennessee versus Florida under 57.5 and the Group of Five give me two lane minus 9.5 First Temple. But with that y', all, that wraps up this episode.
[00:20:13] Please follow along the podcast like subscribe Follow me on social media Twitter Our X is Cox Gamecocks. Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks.
[00:20:25] Appreciate all y'. All. Go Cox.
