Coastal Carolina @ South Carolina preview

Coastal Carolina at South Carolina

South Carolina coach Frank Martin hasn’t been pleased with the home turnout for his team, which is coming off the first Final Four appearance in program history last season. Perhaps his recent rant will cause a spike in attendance when the Gamecocks host Coastal Carolina on Saturday afternoon in the first meeting between the in-state foes in 24 years.

The Gamecocks are coming off an 80-64 home victory over Wyoming - their second straight win and fifth in six games, but Martin was not impressed with the meager crowd. “It’s a little disappointing to continue to play, after the two winningest years in the history of the school, in a building with 4,000 to 5,000 people,” Martin told reporters. “It’s embarrassing.” Martin might experience more of the same for the Gamecocks’ final game before a nine-day layoff for exams, after which they’ll visit arch-rival Clemson on Dec. 19. The Chanticleers snapped a two-game skid with an 85-81 win at Hampton on Wednesday, and three of their four losses have come by six points or fewer.

TV: Noon ET, SEC Network

ABOUT COASTAL CAROLINA (5-4): The Chanticleers have been dominant on the boards, averaging 11.3 more rebounds than the opposition, but that could change Saturday. Zac Cuthbertson (17.8 points, 8.3 rebounds) will give up some size against the Gamecocks at 6-7, 185 pounds, so more of the scoring load might fall to former Gamecocks guard Jaylen Shaw (16 points). Coastal Carolina’s bench has been contributing more of late and outscored Hampton’s reserves 42-8, receiving 16 points from Demario Beck (10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds).

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (7-2): The Gamecocks have a new offensive identity after losing the entire starting backcourt from last season’s Final Four team, but they continue to play tough defense and have found balanced scoring. Chris Silva (13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds) is coming off his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds against Wyoming, and fellow veterans Frank Booker (10.6 points) and Maik Kotsar (10.2, 4.7 rebounds) also average double digits in points. Justin Minaya (10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds) has scored in double digits in five of his last six games, and fellow freshman Felipe Haase also had a big game against the Cowboys with 17 points and nine rebounds.

TIP-INS

1. South Carolina has had at least four players score in double figures in all seven of its wins.

2. The Gamecocks are 7-0 this campaign and 24-4 since the start of last season when scoring at least 70 points.

3. Coastal Carolina coach Cliff Ellis went 18-10 against South Carolina during his time at South Alabama, Auburn and Clemson.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 76, Coastal Carolina 65