South-Carolina
Boston, Staley Pick Up Naismith Awards
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina girls’s basketball head coach Daybreak Staley and senior Aliyah Boston picked up a pair of award from the Atlanta Tipoff Membership Wednesday afternoon with Staley repeating as Werner Ladder Naismith Girls’s Coach of the Yr and Boston going back-to-back as Naismith Girls’s Defensive Participant of the Yr.
Staley has led this Gamecock group to a 36-0 document and each the SEC Common-Season and Event championships. South Carolina’s 36 wins are a single-season program document, as its present 42-game win streak that dates again to the 2022 NCAA Event. The group has been ranked No. 1 in each nationwide polls each week of the season, simply the third program to try this. This system’s present 38-week run at No. within the AP Ballot is the second-longest streak within the historical past of that ballot. The Gamecocks’ 9 wins over ranked opponents are the second-most within the nation this season and their 13 highway wins are tied for probably the most within the nation. Seven totally different Gamecocks have led the group in scoring at the very least as soon as, together with 5 who got here off the bench to do it. South Carolina is again within the NCAA Last 4 for the fifth time within the final eight NCAA Tournaments, together with every of the final three.
The 2-time Naismith Defensive Participant of the Yr and four-time SEC Defensive Participant of the Yr, Boston continues to dominate on that finish of the courtroom. In accordance with Her Hoop Stats, she is sixth within the nation in participant defensive ranking. Her 2.0 blocks per recreation are third within the SEC total and twenty sixth within the nation, and she or he led the SEC with 2.25 blocks per convention recreation. Boston is the SEC’s lively blocked pictures chief with 329 in her profession, which is tied for sixth in league historical past.
Proceed to test GamecocksOnline.com and the group’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for probably the most up-to-date info on the ladies’s basketball season.v
South-Carolina
Alabama-South Carolina free livestream: How to watch SEC basketball game, TV, schedule
The No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide play against the South Carolina Gamecocks in an SEC basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Crimson Tide enter this matchup with a 12-2 record, with six consecutive wins. In their most recent game, the Crimson Tide defeated No. 12 Oklahoma 107-79.
During the victory, Mark Sears led the Alabama offense. He ended the game with 22 points, and he shot 11-13 from the free throw line. Sears only shot 5-13 from the field, so he will look to improve his offensive efficiency tonight.
The Gamecocks enter this matchup with a 10-4 record, but are coming off an 85-50 loss against Mississippi State.
During the loss, South Carolina struggled offensively. The team shot less than 30% from the field and less than 11% from three-point range.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
South-Carolina
How to watch: No. 5 Alabama basketball at South Carolina
How to watch: No. 5 Alabama basketball at South Carolina
A blowout win over Oklahoma in Alabama’s SEC opener was great to see, but Nate Oats is interested in learning how his team’s success will translate on the road in conference play. The head coach will get his wish this week as the No. 5 Crimson Tide travels to South Carolina on Wednesday before visiting No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday.
“Looking forward to our first conference road game,” Oats said. “These are games where you find out if your team is going to be able to compete for a championship or not.”
First up for Alabama (12-2, 1-0) is a matchup against South Carolina (10-4, 0-1). The Gamecocks will be looking to shake off an ugly start to SEC play after suffering an 85-50 defeat to Mississippi State over the weekend. Alabama is currently a 10.5-point favorite heading into the matchup. However, Oats is expecting to face a much better South Carolina team when the Tide takes the court inside Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday night.
“This is a team that has beaten Clemson at home,” Oats said. “They’ve been a little bit up and down. Obviously, they didn’t play well against Mississippi State – we all saw that score. But I think we should expect a team more like what played Clemson than what played Mississippi State. Coming off that loss, I’m sure Coach Paris will have them ready to go.”
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Alabama’s first SEC road game of the season.
How to watch
Who: No. 5 Alabama (12-2, 1-0) vs. South Carolina (10-4, 0-1)
When: 6 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Jan. 8
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia S.C.
Watch: SEC Network (Play-By-Play: Dave Neal, Analyst: Ron Slay)
Listen: Crimson Tide Sports Network | SIRIUS/XM 134/201 (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Analyst: Bryan Passink, Sideline: Roger Hoover)
Alabama’s projected starters
Mark Sears: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, graduate
Stats: 18.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 40.5% FG, 33.3% 3-pt
Labaron Philon: 6-foot-4, 177 pounds, freshman
Stats: 12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 53.5% FG, 28.3% 3-pt
Jarin Stevenson: 6-foot-11, 215 pounds, sophomore
Stats: 4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 35.0% FG, 20.9% 3-pt
Grant Nelson: 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, graduate
Stats: 13.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 55.9% FG, 28.6% 3-pt
Clifford Omoruyi: 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, graduate
Stats: 7.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.7 apg, 73.6% FG
South Carolina’s projected starters
Jamarii Thomas: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, senior
Stats: 12.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 37.4% FG, 36.8% 3-pt
Jacobi Wright: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, senior
Stats: 8.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 41.3% FG, 41.0% 3-pt
Zachary Davis: 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, junior
Stats: 9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 45.7% FG, 28.1% 3-pt
Collin Murray-Boyles: 6-foot-8, 245 pounds, sophomore
Stats: 15.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 61.8% FG, 33.3% 3-pt
Nick Pringle: 6-foot-10, 220 pounds, graduate
Stats: 10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 66.7% FG
Alabama’s rising young star
At this point, the only reminders that Labaron Philon is still a freshman are the conference awards he continues to rack up. The starting guard certainly hasn’t been playing like a first-year player.
Philon earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for a second straight week, following a strong performance against Oklahoma over the weekend. The Mobile, Alabama native recorded 16 points on 5 of 10 shooting against the Sooners, tallying five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals. It marked his 10th double-digit scoring performance and the fifth time he posted five or more assists in a game. Philon now leads the conference with three SEC Freshman of the Week Awards this season.
Following Tuesday’s practice, Oats was asked what he’s seeing from Philon now that he wasn’t seeing when the guard first joined Alabama over the summer.
“That’s a good question because he was pretty good in the preseason,” Oats responded. “He’s definitely got some experience. I think he understands that every play matters. … He’s starting to realize that the margin for error at this level is pretty thin, so every play matters — both offense and defense.”
Nelson’s improved numbers
Mark Sears gets more attention, but the other returning starter from last season’s Final Four run is putting up some impressive numbers as well. Grant Nelson logged his fourth double-double of the season against Oklahoma, scoring 12 points to go with 11 rebounds while also chipping in a pair of blocks and steals.
The graduate forward’s double-double tally should be even higher. He finished one rebound away from the feat during wins over North Carolina and Rutgers and a point away in the win over Kent State. Nelson also finished two rebounds away from a double-double in victories over South Dakota State and Illinois.
Nelson currently leads Alabama with 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while ranking second on the team averaging 13.1 points. He is making 55.9% of attempts from the floor, including 28.6% from beyond the arc. Each one of those stats is an improvement from last year when he was battling through some bumps and bruises while adjusting to an increased level of play following his transfer from North Dakota State.
“I think he’s been a lot more aggressive on the glass. I think he’s just being more assertive. He’s getting to the rim,” Oats said. “He’s been shooting the 3 a little bit better here the last week or two. If we can get him to keep his foot on the line he’s have three more 3s the last two games, but he has been shooting it better. We’re trying to post him a little more because he can pass out of it. He was turning it over a month or so ago, he’s done a better job of that, not turning it over when we post him.”
While Nelson’s post play has improved, the addition of Rutgers transfer center Cliff Omoruyi has allowed him to play more at his preferred four position. That’s given Nelson more opportunities to use his 6-foot-11 frame to his advantage against smaller competition.
Short-handed South Carolina
The Gamecocks will be down a starter on Wednesday night, as Myles Stute was ruled out indefinitely with a left lower leg deep vein thrombosis (blood clot). Stue has started all 14 games for South Carolina this season, averaging 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Zachary Davis or Morris Ugusuk.
Game notes
— Sears became the fifth player in program history with 1,500 points and 200 three-pointers in their Alabama career.
— Since the start of last season Alabama has scored 100 points or more in 14 games, which ranks No. 1 throughout Division I.
— Since Oats arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2019-20, Alabama is tied with Kentucky for a league-best 63 wins during SEC play.
— South Carolina has made 10 or more 3-pointers four times this season, winning each one of them.
— The Gamecocks have eight South Carolina natives on their roster, including former Alabama player Nick Pringle.
— South Carolina is 11-1 when shooting 50% or better under third-year head coach Lamont Paris. That includes a 3-0 mark this season.
South-Carolina
Capitals re-assign forward prospect Zac Funk to ECHL South Carolina Stingrays
Washington Capitals forward prospect Zac Funk was re-assigned to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays on Tuesday.
Funk, who began the 2024-25 season in the AHL, hasn’t suited up in a game with the Hershey Bears since December 22 and was without a point in his last five appearances.
Funk, playing in his rookie season professionally, was scratched in Hershey’s first seven games of the year before carving out a regular spot in the lineup in November and December. The 21-year-old winger played in 13 games and scored his first AHL goal and registered his first AHL point on November 16 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Funk registered only one other point, an assist, on November 30 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before eventually being subbed out of the lineup.
“Every player has to show us as an organization that you are gonna earn a spot on this team,” Todd Nelson said earlier in the season. “We’re the Hershey Bears. You have to earn your spot here. It’s just the way it is. We have to let the chips fall as they may.”
Funk will join fellow Capitals forward prospect Alexander Suzdalev in the ECHL. Suzdalev, who was sent to the Stingrays on October 31, has 18 points (7g, 11a) in his first 19 games with South Carolina.
Funk is in the Capitals organization after leading the entire CHL in goals during his final season in junior hockey. Funk scored 67 goals as he played on the same line with Capitals’ 2024 first-round pick Terik Parascak with the Prince George Cougars.
Funk signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on March 1.
Here’s the press release from the Hershey Bears:
ZAC FUNK RE-ASSIGNED TO SOUTH CAROLINA
Rookie has three points in 13 games with Hershey
(Hershey, PA–Jan. 7, 2025) – The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, announced today that the club has re-assigned forward Zac Funk to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
Funk, 21, has skated in 13 games with Hershey this season, posting three points (1g, 2a). He tallied his first career AHL points on Nov. 16 at Lehigh Valley, scoring a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win.
He recorded 123 points (67g, 56a) in 68 games with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. Funk led the WHL in goals, power-play goals (31), plus/minus (+56) and ranked second in points and fourth in shots (323). He had eight hat tricks while serving as an alternate captain for Prince George, and he was named a finalist for WHL Player of the Year. In the playoffs, Funk posted 18 points (8g, 10a) in 15 games with the Cougars.
Funk was signed by the Capitals on March 1, 2024 to a three-year, entry-level contract.
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