Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox Talking Gamecocks, men's basketball looks improved, women's basketball looks to keep on rolling, and the football team aims to bring the Mayor's cup home. Okay, here we go.
[00:00:55] Okay. Welcome to episode 274 of Cox Talking Gamecocks. I am your host, Tim Cox, where I will keep every episode from 1801 to 2001 and hope you all had a lovely week out there. Gamecocks feels like maybe a little bit of a cold snap here in the southeast. I don't know, you know, cold front. I don't know if I'm having my meteorology, whatever. Meteorological terms, fine.
[00:01:26] That's me trying to sound smart here. And, you know, that's what happens when I don't talk about sports. I sound all jumbled up. But I hope you all had a great week out there and are ready for a big weekend. Lots of action across the board here for Gamecocks. We got hoops, we got football, and then college football in general. The chaos and playoff rankings and all that jazz is really heating up here. And if you are a lover of college football, like I am, just from the whole sport, this is a lot of fun. This year in particular has been something. The parody this year is fantastic. And this is why so many folks wanted the expanded playoffs. And for those teams that are 10 to 15, they are fighting for their playoff lives. And Gamecocks, the fact that we are even talking about some scenarios about being in that discussion is just really, really cool considering where this team started in the off season and where everyone was thinking after this team would be in week one. But nonetheless, here. Hope y'all are excited for a fun weekend. I know I am. I'm headed down to Columbia. That's right. I'm going to the Missouri versus South Carolina game. Second time this year. Very excited for that. Prepping my voice to try and not lose it a whole lot, but really excited to catch this game. Going to preview it all, but if you see me walking around, don't be a stranger. Come up and say hello. Would love the chat. Gamecocks podcast, whatever it may be, but always excited and happy to get down to Columbia and for the final SEC home game. Very, very excited here. But before I jump into all that here, let's do a quick week in review. Looking at Wednesday, we had the women's volleyball team. They beat LSU 3 to 2. Love that fudge. LSU, you know, I mean, with whatever happened earlier in the year for the football team, Brian Kelly, just that whole university right now. They're just, they're just on the list. So really glad to see the women's team handle business there. And then talking men's basketball, they were in action Tuesday night and the guys beat Townsend 80 to 54. They definitely looked the best so far that they have in this young season. And it's funny, you know, obviously the team got off to the wrong foot in that opening game, but the game after that, they looked better in this game they looked good. And we know that this team will go through CMB all year. But I think a key piece aside from him is going to be Jacoby Wright. He's a guy that came off the bench almost exclusively. It feels like his time at Carolina he actually started this pass game. But his development over the years has really been impressive. And I think he's someone that can be that steady scorer. He doesn't mind distributing the ball. He's a veteran presence and I think he is going to be a key piece for this game moving forward. In this game CMB had 27 and 9. Jacoby had 16 points and Pringle had 15.
[00:04:44] The guys next game is this Saturday against Indiana. I remember when they announced this matchup, it was very exciting. It's here now. Early season power conference matchup. Big time measuring stick.
[00:04:57] Not going to sit here and tell you I know anything about Indiana basketball. But anytime you have a chance to play a power team that is well coached, you want to see how you can handle that because hopefully you. You are doing that much later in the year. And then of course it can kind of let you know what you have to work on as you prepare for conference play in a few weeks time. Tip off for that game is at 3pm so can get a good bit of it in before the football team kicks off a little bit overlap, maybe get two screens going if you are watching at home. But nonetheless a very busy Saturday for Gamecock fans and for Gamecock men's basketball there. Moving over to the women's side of things here, the ladies are taking on Coppin State. As I am recording this, I'm sending good vibes to the ladies as we do when the recording conflicts with the game time. The ladies will also play East Carolina this Sunday at 2pm as they look to continue rolling here and hopefully seeing things looked maybe a little bit more cohesive than they have against some of those earlier opponents there.
[00:06:08] And then before I jump into the pre game talk for the football team here, we do have news. I would be shocked if y'all didn't Know this by now, but I have to talk about it. That the Gamecocks make their first appearance of the year in the College Football Playoff rankings at number 21.
[00:06:28] Very cool, very validating to see that, you know, a team that has been playing so, so well of late. I would argue that we're a week too late. I think after what the team did to A and M should have been ranked at least 25. But apparently it was the win over Vandy that pushed the committee members to really see how good and legit the Gamecocks are. It's validating to see that they are above LSU despite that head to head loss. It's just a team that is looking and playing better right now. And it's funny because it does bring into the question of man, like, is there a scenario where South Carolina sneaks into this thing? And it could be a scenario, I put this out on social media too. Where this season very well might end up in a frustrating position where we sit here and say, what if, what if one game went differently? Right?
[00:07:29] And that very well could be a tough spot and a tough pill to swallow. But the fact that we're even having that conversation, I think is a testament to what this team has done.
[00:07:42] I don't think there was anybody who legitimately was sitting there saying that, yeah, in November, the second week of the College Football Playoff rankings, that Gamecock fans would be figuring out scenarios for them to get into the playoff. I don't think the most optimistic fan thought that that was going to happen. So again, yes, would be a frustrating pill to swallow if you're just on the outside and you're like, oh my God, if this one thing went differently. But enjoy the process. Enjoy where we are right now. Enjoy the last few games that we have here and let the chips fall where they may. But appreciate that it's really cool that we're in this position, sitting at 21. That's no fluke. That's not just squeaking in. It's a testament to this team and testament to the season that they are having. Which leads us to this weekend's matchup as the Gamecocks will be taking on the 23rd ranked Missouri Tigers in the annual Mayor's cup battle. Or the battle for the Mayor's cup, the most prestigious trophy in all of college football.
[00:08:47] Also, it's very cool that It's a top 25 ranked versus ranked matchup in Williams Bryce Saturday afternoon.
[00:08:56] I don't know, maybe the last time that this happened, ranked first ranked sec.
[00:09:01] That might have been when the Gamecocks were last ranked in the regular season against Missouri. I don't know if they were ranked at that time, though. But nonetheless, it's been a little bit here. And this is a game that you really, really are excited for. I've had this one circled for a little bit here. You're looking to break a streak that somehow you are just on the wrong side of. I believe it's five years in a row Missouri has gotten the better of South Carolina, to just the dismay of many, including myself.
[00:09:34] I've said this before, but Missouri, they're not a team that I say I hate, right? Like, I hate Clemson, Tennessee, Georgia.
[00:09:45] I don't hate Missouri. I don't like them. But they're just annoying. That's the word that always comes to mind when I think about Missouri football. They're just annoying. Just this gnat in our ear that just pops up once a year and just doesn't go away.
[00:10:03] And you know that Shane Beamer, deep down, wants to correct this streak. He's been able to do that with these other matchups.
[00:10:13] Kentucky, he righted the ship there. Clemson, he got us on the right side of that two years ago.
[00:10:21] A and M broke that streak. So really, when you look at it, this is kind of the last one where Beamer can exercise some demons, at least. Like when we're looking at a team that's not this upper echelon elite foe, you know what I mean?
[00:10:42] So there's a lot on the line in this one, and it really is not the time to rest on any laurels.
[00:10:50] You can't come into this game lackadaisical.
[00:10:54] You have to come into this game locked in and focused on the task at hand, streaks and everything and all that. Like, let them end themselves, right?
[00:11:04] Rankings, fantastic. The same people who pat South Carolina on the back now were the ones trashing them after Ole Miss or ODU all that way back. So the mood in that building, and when you listen to the press conferences of the players and things like that, the mood is like, we're not here for six wins. We're not here to just squeak to the top 25. They want to go as high as they possibly can, and that's what you have to do. And what I've liked about the Gamecocks to this point these last few weeks is that the formula has been repeatable.
[00:11:43] And what I mean by that is that you're not, like, winning these games by the skin of your teeth. Even going back to the Kentucky game in week Two, there's a formula that has proven successful for the Gamecocks and it's been on display these last couple of games. During this winning streak here, it's play really good defense, lead with that, run the ball successfully through your all sec back and then get the ball into your playmaker's hands. A Josh Simon, maybe a little Mazio Bennett, but then you're leaning on also your athletic dual threat quarterback. You're not reinventing the wheel. You're not relying on a lucky break here or there. You're not relying on an otherworldly effort by one person.
[00:12:37] It's a repeatable, not crazy thing that the Gamecocks have going on right now. And it's repeatable and it's more or less simple. Just do those basic things correct and it's tended to work for the Gamecocks. And when you're playing in November and you're asking teams to tackle 230 pound guys in Rocket Lenoris, Josh Simon, that's tough to do play after play after play and that's tough to do in the fourth quarter.
[00:13:10] So that's what excites me about these last couple of games because everything has sort of fallen into place here. Things have come into focus for both sides of the ball and hopefully we see that on display Saturday afternoon here. So what are the Gamecocks looking at in Mizzou? The Tigers are 7 and 2 overall, 3 and 2 in conference. They're dealing with a lot of injuries right now. If you were to ask a Missouri fan, that's probably the first thing that they're going to talk about here. They just lost their starting center, Brady Cook, their starting quarterback. He had all this buzz coming into the year. He's been really banged up on and off all year. He's officially doubt, doubtful. Excuse me, he's officially listed as doubtful for this game, but all signs are pointing to him not playing in this game. Their backup has actually gotten the lion's share of things at quarterback those last two or three games, if I'm not mistaken. And then they're banged up at a couple other spots too. But they really have also had to replace these guys that went on to the next level on both sides of the ball. But they've recruited well. Credit where credits do, they've recruited well, so they do still have some talent on that team scattered across the defensive side. And of course at wide receiver at 7 and 2 and ranked 23, you of course have to respect them. But if you take a look at that second layer of things. They have struggled mightily on the road in SEC matchups and even in those conference wins they have been by the skin of their teeth to mid teams, frankly. Their most notable win was against Vandy and it took double overtime and I think Vandy missed a kick. So something like that. They just beat Oklahoma on a fluke fumble. So they're not putting out dominant performances, but they're finding ways to win. And that's sort of been the theme under drink wits for a while now that they just squeak out these wins. They don't go away, they don't beat themselves. So you have to respect that. But you know, I don't care what Missouri has done to this point because they are just always this team that's a thorn in our side. I just, I, I can't give them the time of day.
[00:15:29] So I want and believe that Shane Beamer has been preaching to his guys that this is a matchup that has been. That needs to be taken as seriously as A and M or anyone else.
[00:15:42] Because despite these things that might make you discredit them, that's what I want to do. As a fan. You have to take it seriously.
[00:15:50] So let's get into my Crows to the game here overall for the team here, my crow is. It's that right? Bring that one zero mentality. This team has done a really good job of focusing on the task at hand and they need to do it again.
[00:16:07] Don't let the outside noise or the history of this matchup or the rankings influence your play. Do your job. That has what. That's what's been so impressive about this team.
[00:16:21] Everyone is just doing their job. No one's trying to be the hero. And when things are clicking and everyone's working as a unit, things tend to go well.
[00:16:31] Now on the offensive side of the ball here, my first crow is lean on Lenorris athleticism. Okay. Mizzou has really struggled with quarterbacks who move well. They gave up 34 points to Alabama just a couple of weeks ago, obviously led by Milro.
[00:16:50] I'd like to see a handful of designed runs, some read options as well, but just continue to get Lenorris on the move, moving the pocket a few times as well, have him throwing on the run and then we have to trust in his ability, continue to trust in his ability to make those off schedule plays. I mean that's what's been so fantastic these last few weeks where he's been able to escape sacks, get out of the pocket scramble drill and either find the receiver downfield or scramble himself for a first down or more. So lean on that.
[00:17:29] Be prepared for their adjustments, of course, but they tended to struggle with mobile quarterbacks.
[00:17:38] Second crow for the offense here is be the better team on third down. Okay? Last week against Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks dominated on third down and it let them control the clock and really just bully Vandy around. So against a team like Mizzou, that usually doesn't beat itself a lot. You need to keep your offense on the field and you want to demoralize this team. So grinding it out on first downs here. Missouri has a good defense. They have playmakers pretty much at every level of that defense.
[00:18:14] They lost their D coordinator from last year, but they're still well coached. They have some dudes over there, so you have to take them seriously and you know you can't give them an inch. If you have that chance to extend a drive, do so. But again, I'm going to put this disclaimer out here. Just again, play ten toes down. We don't need to galaxy brain this thing early on. I could see Shane Beamer getting a little antsy in that first quarter. Maybe if things are not really clicking like they have been.
[00:18:45] Hey, it's okay. Hang in there, let it all play out. And if we have to maybe do a little trickery later in the game, that's okay. But just let things settle early on.
[00:19:00] I digress.
[00:19:01] Third crow for the offense, play the hits. I think I said this after the Vandy game, but just play the hits. You know what's worked so well these last few games has been just getting the ball to your playmakers. Just again and again. If it's not broke, don't fix it. Let's see a steady diet of Rocket, Josh Simon and Lenorris all making plays.
[00:19:26] Now on the defensive side of the ball here, the defensive tackles need to shine. Okay. Again, their interior of the Missouri offensive line is really impacted by injury. I mean when you're missing your starting center, I think he started for the last two years or so. Even that's a big, big loss. So the Gamecocks need to make them feel that DeAndre Jules guy that's been out for us the last few weeks, he is not listed on the injury report. So that group gets a boost from him. So now you got Boogie, tj, Tonka, Jules, all those guys, they need to be very disruptive up front.
[00:20:07] Now my second crow to the game here is just have sound tackling.
[00:20:11] This defense has been really solid in this department all year. Really just calling it out, especially in this game. It just, it needs to be sound because in the past, Mizzou has just been able to run all over South Carolina. So just don't let them find yards after contact. Just make them earn every yard. I think the team has done a really good job of that this year. I don't think we've talked about tackling being an issue really at all, but just calling it out specifically here because historically that has been a difference maker in this matchup. So just don't give them any yards after contact.
[00:20:53] Now, my third crow for the game here is be ready for Weiss and Burden. Okay? These two guys are as good as it gets when it comes to a wide receiver duo in the sec. So our secondary has to be ready because even if Mizzou leans on the run, which they tend to do, these guys numbers will get called eventually.
[00:21:15] You just can't give up the big play to them.
[00:21:19] So, yeah, I mean, you know, overall for the game, this one feels massive. It does. South Carolina is looking to lock up a four game win streak. They're also looking to secure a fifth conference win, which would be the first time in the Beamer era to end with a winning record in the SEC as well. So there's a lot on the line here.
[00:21:44] This team is playing so well right now and it just feels like they're in a groove and playing with a lot of confidence and we just need to see that again. And boy, would it just feel great to exorcise these demons and just whoop on Mizzou.
[00:22:01] You can't pencil that in. This is a team you have to respect, but boy, would that feel great.
[00:22:07] And I mean, if you're able to do that and you can make a statement win against the 23rd ranked team in the country, a team that's been ranked whether in the AP or the CFP all year, they have a lot of respect from the committee for whatever reason. If you're able to do that and perform really well at home, I believe we're sitting at a 13 point favorite, give or take.
[00:22:35] That tells the committee a lot. And, you know, I'm not trying to get ahead of myself here, but if you're going to win, do it convincingly. And let's show the committee in the country that again, we're not going anywhere. And we are for real. It's going to be a beautiful day in Columbia. Willie B. Is going to be rocking. Your boy is going to be there.
[00:22:56] It's going to be a huge game. Let's just continue this momentum. This team has its sights set high. I absolutely love it. Let's freaking go.
[00:23:06] But all right, let me give y'all my six pack of picks, and then I'll get y'all out of here. I'll be honest. Maybe not the best slate. This weekend. I was looking at all these picks. I'm, you know, not the best slate, but we'll make do here. In the accident going Wake Forest versus UNC. Under 63 and a half in the Big 12. Kansas plus two and a half versus BYU. BYU's time is coming. Big Ten Ohio State versus Northwestern. Over 43 and a half. That game's being played at Wrigley Field. Pretty cool. And then Oregon minus 14 versus Wisconsin in the SEC. Tricky one to find here. I'm going Tennessee versus Georgia. Under 48. Yeah. And then group of five gimme JMU minus three versus Old Dominion. 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 Cops.
