The McGuire Room

Couple hundred more people stumbled in, we may have hit 3,000 tonight.

Frank Martin in a stylish garnet jacket and khaki pants, behind the bench his wife has a huge bouquet of roses and a balloon that says "Love". Martin showing off that cash and his great husband skills.

As for the game, the Gamecocks win the tip, LSU opens man to man....with a decided height advantage. Johnny O'Bryant guarding Carrera.

Gamecocks get three shots on their opening possession, do not covert any of them, get a steal in transition, miss another shot, Jackson throws another off the backboard that does not draw rim and the Gamecocks have taken five shots before LSU can get into an offense here.

LSU turns it over again and the Gamecocks take their sixth shot of the game before LSU can try one. Finally, O'Bryant gets a shot off for the Tigers but can't connect, Leonard misses a three and the Gamecocks now 0-for-7 to start.

O'Bryant...no
Carrera....no
LSU ....turnover
Leonard........FINALLY!

3-0 Gamecocks 16:02 to go in the half.

So for those keeping track the opening 4:19 of the game produced a combined 1-for-12 from the field and five turnovers.

3-0 Gamecocks 15:41 to go in the half.

I usually don't comment on "Baseline Jesus" aka Stomping Guy but every time Michael Carrera does something good, he yell's "We like short shorts". It has been a while since I have done some good cheering or heckling but I feel like he is heckling Carrera more so than cheering me on. Agree...Disagree? Ponder on that for a minute.

Gamecocks playing with energy in the first few minutes. They are not making shots (3-of-14) but they are playing very hard and aggressively.

I have another question to ponder for a few minutes...Is having Teddy Valentine referee the basketball game on Valentine's Day equal to Joey Pankake eating Pancakes on National Pancake day?

11-8 11:23 to go in the half, South Carolina leads.

Brian Richardson bangs down a three pointer in transition. Gamecocks now up 16-12.

Gamecocks 7-of-22 from the field, 2-of-9 from three point range

Tigers 7-of-20 from the field, 0-of-5 from three point range.

O'Bryant with 10 points so far, keeping LSU in the game by himself.

18-16 Gamecock lead with 6:55 to go.

Still no Brenton or Chat.

Halftime, Gamecocks shoot 9-of-32 from the field and trail at the break 26-24.

Brian Richardson leads the way with seven points.

I think Martin is playing hard to get. Acting like he doesn't care to see if his kids will respond differently .

We have a Brenton Williams sighting. We have a Brenton Williams three pointer. He tries another but it does not go down.

15:42 remaining Gamecocks trail 35-29

Why?