South Carolina returns to the hardwood tonight against the Jacksonville Dolphins. South Carolina (4-1) will be looking to rebound from its first loss of the season against Jacksonville (0-2) at 7 pm at Colonial Life Arena.
The big story tonight is not the opponent, but how the Gamecocks play without injured starting forward Dominique Archie. Archie injured his knee in the first half against Miami and did not return. He was diagnosed with a severe right knee sprain, and no timetable has been set for his return. Archie will be replaced in the starting lineup by senior guard Brandis Raley-Ross.
Raley-Ross suffered a knee sprain last season and missed just six games. However, head coach Darrin Horn refused to say whether the experience with the injury with Raley-Ross gives the Gamecocks an idea of what to expect with Archie.
“You all love to talk about that stuff and speculate it,” Horn said. “Every injury is different, every person is different, every evaluation of it is different. I’m not going to do that because I don’t know. Not because we’re not trying to tell you, because we don’t know. Every situation’s different. I’m not going to compare one kid’s injury from a year ago to this one, and I think it would be in everybody’s best interest if you all wouldn’t do that as well.”
Through five games, Archie is South Carolina’s leading rebounder (6.0) and second-leading scorer (14.4). He also creates mismatches for opponents and is the key to South Carolina’s pressure defense. It will take a variety of players stepping up to replace Archie’s production.
“When you lose a good player like Dominique for a long period of time, […] what you lose is some cushion,” Horn said. “He’s a guy that covers up a lot for you in a lot of different ways, both basketball-wise on both ends and his presence. We’re not going to have anybody all of the sudden do something they can’t do or don’t normally do. What it means is maybe when a couple of guys aren’t as good as they could be, […] we can’t afford that.”
Offensively, the Gamecocks also lose, percentage-wise, their best three-point shooter this season. Archie’s shooting range is especially valuable given that most players who guard him are not accustomed to playing beyond the arc. Conversely, when opponents try to play Archie small, he is able to post up.
Without Archie on offense, Miami played a lot of zone against South Carolina, daring point guard Devan Downey to try to penetrate the lane. Until one of the other players can step up and consistently make long range shots and be the second scorer, defenses will continue to focus on Downey. South Carolina wants to counteract that tactic by running more and preventing opponents from setting up their zone.
“Our team not running can keep us out of the paint,” Horn said. “You don’t keep that kid out of the paint. What we reviewed on film was attacking things the right way and getting out and running.”
Jacksonville has lost both its games the season by decisive margins. It lost 87-61 at Florida State and then 78-47 at California. Jacksonville opens with four consecutive road games before its home opener against Florida next week.
The Dolphins are led by senior point guard Ben Smith. Smith was the preseason Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, and is averaging 13.0 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds this season. Smith is the only Dolphin averaging in double figures.
The Gamecocks are running a ticket promotion for tonight’s game. Fans who show their ticket for the South Carolina-Clemson football game at the box office will receive one free ticket for every ticket they purchase to the basketball game against Jacksonville.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm. The game will be televised by SportSouth.
