South-Carolina

Arkansas basketball vs. South Carolina: Scouting report, prediction for SEC matchup

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2024

Arkansas basketball vs. South Carolina: Scouting report, prediction for SEC matchup

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas basketball returns to Bud Walton Arena this weekend seeking an SEC winning streak that could kickstart a late-season turnaround.

The Razorbacks (10-7, 1-3 SEC) will host South Carolina (14-3, 2-2) Saturday at noon. Arkansas is coming off a dramatic win Tuesday night over Texas A&M, with Tramon Mark’s game-winner giving the Hogs their first league victory of the season.

Before that win over the Aggies, Arkansas had lost its first three SEC games by an average margin of 21.3 points. However, Musselman reverted to an early-season starting lineup and shrunk his rotation to provide a spark and knock off Texas A&M.

South Carolina is coming off a home loss to Georgia in its most recent game. The Gamecocks’ other SEC loss came at the hands of Alabama, but they do have wins over Missouri and Mississippi State. Lamont Paris’ squad went 12-1 in non-conference play.

Here is a look at three things to watch and a score prediction for the Hogs’ fifth game of the SEC season.

Can Arkansas basketball slow down Meechie Johnson?

The primary target for Eric Musselman’s defense will be the opposing team’s point guard for a second straight game.

Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV dropped 41 points on the Hogs Tuesday night, but he did so on 13-for-32 shooting. Musselman was overall pleased with his team’s defensive effort.

More: El Ellis’ revival shows high ceiling and frustrations of Arkansas basketball season

More: Tramon Mark saves Arkansas basketball with game-winner against Texas A&M

Saturday’s challenge will be Johnson, who ranks seventh in the SEC averaging 17.3 points per game. He shoots 36.1% from three and has scored at least 20 points in six games this season.

Outside of a loss to Georgia, Arkansas has fared well this season when it has thwarted the opposing team’s best player throughout 40 minutes. Stopping Johnson will be the focal point.

Which Hogs’ offense shows up?

Arkansas shot 53.8% overall and 50% from three in the first half of its win over Texas A&M Tuesday. Those numbers tumbled down to 24% and 22% in the second half, with the Hogs scoring 14 more points across the opening 20 minutes.

The second-half struggles were a combination of simply missing shots and poor offense, especially over the final five minutes of action. The Razorbacks got away from their high pick-and-roll attack and missed plenty of open threes.

The Jekyll and Hyde nature of Arkansas’ offense has been prevalent throughout the season. The offense must be at its best against South Carolina, who ranks 21st in the country allowing just 64.6 points per game.

Watch the turnovers

Neither team forces many turnovers. The Arkansas defense ranks 301st in the country (10.6), while South Carolina is 279th (10.9).

However, the Razorbacks have been prone to sloppy play all season, and the Gamecocks have done a terrific job taking care of the basketball. South Carolina commits nearly two fewer turnovers per game than Arkansas.

The Hogs will need to take care of the basketball and find some way to speed up the Gamecocks when they’re in possession. Extra shots on goal could be a deciding factor for two teams that have gone through offensive lulls at times this season.

Prediction: Arkansas 73, South Carolina 65

The win over Texas A&M was massive for Arkansas. It showed Coach Musselman who he can trust and gave the team some added life with the season hanging in the balance. Tramon Mark has ascended as the unquestionable best player and a pecking order is now set for the Hogs. Nothing will be easy in the SEC this season, but Arkansas will protect Bud Walton Arena and create some momentum heading into a tricky road game at No. 22 Ole Miss.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina pauses childcare voucher applications, affecting thousands of families

Published

2 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina pauses childcare voucher applications, affecting thousands of families

LANDRUM, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A critical scholarship program for over 50,000 children across South Carolina was cut on Dec. 1 as the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) temporarily paused applications to their Working Families Child Care Scholarship Program.

The pause is leaving some parents begging leaders to see past the paperwork and understand the human impact.

“I just hope the people who are in control of all this can actually look at who it is affecting. It’s not just money given out, it’s not just a number, it’s real, live human people,” said Kayla Stivers, a parent affected by the pause.

Single mother Stivers said the Working Families Childcare Scholarship has changed her life. She has two children, works full-time time and goes to school.

“This is my livelihood. It’s my friends’ livelihood,” Stivers said. “I want to give the absolute best for my children as I possibly can, and this voucher helps.”

The recent pause in the childcare scholarship will soon leave her and her children without this assistance.

“Right now, I’m at the point where I have to start thinking about what I’m going to cut come February. If it’s going to be the sports that they’re in, it’s going to affect them majorly,” Stivers said.

DSS did not say how long they are pausing new applications, only that it is temporary. The department said the federal funding they have been using for the vouchers ran out last year and the government shutdown delayed additional funding they are still receiving.

Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center said a majority of children they care for use this state scholarship program. They are anticipating 66% of their families will lose the scholarship in the coming months.

“Families are stressed. It’s going to affect not just families, it’s going to affect the childcare industry, it’s going to affect the working industry. It’s going to be a major ordeal,” said Thomas Compton, region director for Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center.

The Spartanburg County First Steps Program called Quality Counts explained the pause on this funding is also impacting dozens of childcare centers across the county and could leave a ripple effect impacting children, parents and businesses.

“The only way to help prevent this is to get the people in power to talk about this and be aware of it and to know the facts,” said Cathleen Cullen, assistant director of Spartanburg County First Steps Quality Counts Program.

DSS has requested $20 million in state funds for 2026 through 2027 for this issue, but there is no word yet on where those funds stand.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with FOX Carolina. For more free content like this, download our apps.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina man accused of threatening Rochester city attorney for charging woman who went on racist rant at park

Published

14 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina man accused of threatening Rochester city attorney for charging woman who went on racist rant at park

WCCO Staff

December 2, 2025 / 7:39 AM CST
/ CBS Minnesota

A South Carolina man is accused of threatening a city attorney in Minnesota over charges filed against a woman who admitted to hurling racist slurs at a child with autism at a park.

The original incident occurred in April at Roy Sutherland Playground in Rochester, Minnesota. Charges said the woman repeatedly called an 8-year-old Somali boy a racial slur after he took an applesauce pouch from her diaper bag. The boy’s father said he is “profoundly and visibly autistic” and “does not understand typical boundaries.”

A witness began recording the woman after the fact, and the video of that confrontation went viral. In the video, the woman defended her use of the slur, saying “she can call him that ‘if he acts like one,’” according to the complaint. She also called the witness a slur on video.

The Rochester City Attorney’s Office charged the woman with three counts of disorderly conduct in August.

A criminal complaint filed against the South Carolina man last week said the attorney’s office “received many phone calls from across the world” that “expressed opinions about the charging decision.”

Several messages allegedly came from the South Carolina man. In one, he threatened to “travel all the way to your f***ing state, to your f***ing city, and I will start murdering every last one of you,” the complaint states.

Investigators identified the South Carolina man as a suspect using phone records, and law enforcement in that state visited his home. A detective from Rochester subsequently called him, and the man said “he was upset that [the woman] had been charged with a crime but agreed he would stop calling the city attorney’s office,” the complaint said.

The man is charged with one felony count of threats of violence and two gross misdemeanor counts of harassment.

The woman started an online fundraiser after the viral video, saying she needed money to protect her family. She raised about $700,000.

The boy’s family said they “no longer feel safe” in the community after the incident. The Rochester NAACP started a fundraiser for the family that raised about half as much as the woman’s.

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South Carolina RB target Carsyn Baker decommits from Florida

Published

1 day ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina RB target Carsyn Baker decommits from Florida

One day after completing his official visit to South Carolina, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star RB Carsyn Baker has decommitted from Florida, he told Rivals Hayes Fawcett on Monday night.

A one-time Gamecock lean early in the process and long-time Florida commitment, Baker began taking another look at other programs following the firing of head coach Billy Napier.

After taking trips to North Carolina and Kentucky, Baker completed his visit slate with an official to South Carolina this weekend, his last before National Signing Day.

Baker told GamecockCentral that he’ll make a final decision on Wednesday morning.

Monday intel on South Carolina flip targets including Baker | Baker discusses South Carolina official visit

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is being recruited to South Carolina by running backs coach Marquel Blackwell.

Baker is the No. 198 overall prospect and No. 16 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 24 recruit in Georgia.

“I sign on Wednesday morning,” Baker said. “It’s going to come down to everything, the next couple of days I’m going to talk to my family and see what’s the best place and best fit for me. I think I’ll know Tuesday when I wake up and then Wednesday morning when I sign those papers, I’ll know exactly where I’m going.”

If Baker chooses the Gamecocks, he would be the lone pledge in Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class after Amari Thomas flipped to Florida State last month.

The 14-man class is currently ranked No. 19 in the country.

National Signing Day is set for this Wednesday.

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