George Washington @ South Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2018 ) South Carolina 90, George Washington 55

Playing with only four upperclassmen didn't seem to bother South Carolina during its impressive 3-0 start, but coach Frank Martin is reasonably certain a lack of experience has played a big role in the team's recent demise. The Gamecocks return home in hopes of putting their recent struggles in the past on Sunday when they host George Washington.

South Carolina won its first three games by an average of 27.7 points before dropping a 78-70 decision to Boston, and although the Gamecocks edged Gardner-Webb three days later, losses to Wichita State and Northern Iowa in the Cancun Challenge halted any momentum they might have created. "That's the difference … of the last four games we've played, is that we've played an intact roster from the previous year and then have added high-level players … We played four teams who have tremendous experience," Martin said. South Carolina can only hope for a repeat of its previous meeting with the Colonials, who gave up the first 18 points of the game and trailed 56-18 at half en route to a 90-55 setback in last year's Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament in Uncasville, Conn. George Washington lost four of its first five games before knocking off an Evansville team that upset Kentucky in Lexington and a five-win Milwaukee squad in the Bahamas Showcase last weekend.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON (3-4): Since totaling eight points in his first three games, senior guard Armel Potter (12.3 points) averaged 22.3 during the team's three-game trip to the Bahamas, hitting that mark after going 12-of-14 from the foul line while adding seven rebounds and seven assists in the win over Milwaukee. Freshman forward Jamison Battle posted his first double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against the Panthers, and he was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after shooting 10-of-14 from 3-point range while averaging 12 points and eight boards in the Bahamas. "I love coaching guys like Jamison who have a high passion to be elite. His willingness to do whatever it takes for our team to be at its best early in the season has been remarkable," first-year coach Jamion Christian said.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (4-3): The Gamecocks have done a solid job of drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line, but they rank 332nd in Division I in converting them, shooting 59.3 percent - a mark that would be substantially worse if leading scorer A.J. Lawson (15.9 points) wasn't 29-for-38 from the stripe. Jair Bolden (10.1) is the only other Gamecock averaging more than nine points and will get his first shot at his former team; the junior guard sat out last season after compiling 527 points in 67 games (40 starts) with the Colonials. Maik Kotsar (8.9 points, 5.7 rebounds) has been a steady contributor for Martin during South Carolina's rough stretch, reaching double figures in four straight after totaling 13 points in the first three contests.

TIP-INS

1. South Carolina is on track to break a dubious school record with its free-throw percentage. The 1994-95 team set the mark at 60.4 percent.

2. The Colonials are holding opponents to 26 percent shooting beyond the arc and have made 30 more 3-pointers.

3. Gamecocks F Keyshawn Bryant (knee), who finished fourth on the team in scoring last season, will not play Sunday but could make his season debut sometime next week.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 80, George Washington 76