South Carolina @ Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 19, 2018 ) Virginia 69, South Carolina 52

South Carolina's Frank Martin isn't pleased with the idea that the Gamecocks needed to schedule two road ACC games "so we can get on networks," but it would be hard to find a coach more effusive in his praise of Virginia's ability to execute the basic fundamentals of basketball. The Gamecocks eye a second consecutive win over an ACC opponent Sunday when they visit the seventh-ranked Cavaliers.

"It's like putting your head in a blender because (the Cavaliers) make it so hard, because they don't get out of the way, they don't make mistakes. … They pass, they cut, they screen and they take good shots. … They make the fewest mistakes of any team in the country," Martin said. Virginia continued to struggle offensively in Wednesday's 56-44 victory over Stony Brook, but the nation's top scoring (44.2 points) and field-goal percentage (32.1) defense locked in once again to hold an eighth opponent below 50 points. South Carolina turned in a Cavalier-like defensive effort in last Sunday's 67-54 win at Clemson, holding the Tigers without a basket for the final 6 1/2 minutes of the game and 28 percent shooting overall. The Gamecocks, who also forced in a season-high 21 turnovers against the Tigers, won their only other true road game on Dec. 4 in an 84-80 victory at Massachusetts.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (7-4): Sophomore A.J. Lawson (team-high 16.3 points) bounced back from a 10-point effort in a Dec. 8 loss to Houston with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting (4-of-7 beyond the arc), six rebounds and a season-high tying three steals, somewhat quieting Martin's criticism about his defense a week earlier. Maik Kotsar (10.1 points, 6.2 rebounds) reached double figures for the seventh time in his last eight outings with 11 points. Jair Bolden (9.1 points) scored all 10 of his points in the second half but has been in a bit of a shooting funk lately, converting 17 of his 46 field-goal attempts over the last five games after beginning the season 22-for-39.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (9-1): The Cavaliers' elite defense continues to make up for their lackluster offense, which ranks 325th in Division I in field-goal percentage (39.5) and 344th in 3-point percentage (25.5); their 40.4 field-goal percentage Wednesday was the best mark in five contests. Mamadi Diakite (13.2 points, 6.5 rebounds) is the one of the few Virginia players who has been mostly immune to the team's offensive woes, as the 6-9 senior shoots 46.3 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from 3-point range. Senior guard Braxton Key (8.9 points, 7.3 boards) returned from a three-game absence following left wrist surgery against Stony Brook but failed to score in seven minutes.

TIP-INS

1. Virginia has won 22 consecutive non-conference home games, dating back to a 66-57 loss to West Virginia on Dec. 3, 2016.

2. The Gamecocks are 6-0 when holding their opponent under 40 percent from the field.

3. The Cavaliers' best effort in any individual game from 3-point range this season is 35.7 percent. In 2018-19, they shot less than 35 percent 11 times in 38 contests.

PREDICTION: Virginia 55, South Carolina 48