Razorbacks ready to face Gamecocks

By Nate Allen

Special to the News-Times

FAYETTEVILLE - Discard their respective, 77-43 and 84-67 bruisings at nationally No. 1 unbeaten and already 2015 SEC champion Kentucky, and the South Carolina Gamecocks and Arkansas Razorbacks are two teams on a roll rolling into their SEC rematch tonight in Columbia, S.C. since their Feb. 3 meeting in Fayetteville.

Coach Frank Martin's Gamecocks, 14-14 overall and  5-11 in the SEC, and Coach Mike Anderson's nationally No. 18  Razorbacks, 23-6, and 12-4 second in the SEC, tip off at 6 p.m. (CST) on ESPN2 at Colonial Life Arena.

Throw out its  Kentucky game, and South Carolina is 3-3 in the SEC since losing, 75-55 to Arkansas at Walton Arena and surging off Saturday's 81-68 victory over Mississippi State in Columbia spurred by senior Gamecocks guard Tyrone Johnson's career high 28 points.

Starting with that 75-55 success over South Carolina, Arkansas won seven consecutively before clawed by the Wildcats last Saturday in Lexington, Ky. 

"We played them  maybe two and a half, three weeks ago," Anderson said. "And they are a much better basketball team since that time and so are we."

How the Razorbacks respond  from getting lashed in Lexington seems a major question though not to the pollsters. The AP poll kept Arkansas No. 18 even with the Hogs losing by 17.

"Arkansas is one of the better teams in the country," Martin said.

Yes, but the Gamecocks can hold court in their home court, a key to the Anderson vs. Martin rivalry from Anderson coaching Missouri in the Big 12 while  Martin coached still Big 12 member Kansas State into their SEC Arkansas vs. South Carolina rivalry. 

The home team always has won with Anderson vs. Martin. Does that make Martin feel good?

"No," Martin said, laughing.  "It doesn't make me feel good.  But you are right.  Mike has won on his home court and we have won on our home court.  It's just one of those things and I hope it continues but knowing that has happened in years past has no impact whatsoever on this year. We have to play, real, real well to compete with a team like Arkansas."

South Carolina shot way too poorly, 17 of 61, to compete with Arkansas in Fayetteville, especially while committing 20 turnovers to Arkansas' nine.  In contrast, even without star swingman Sindarius Thornwell shooting well, the Gamecocks shot 25 of 54 against Mississippi State  and committed but seven turnovers. Not only  was Johnson hot with his great 28,  but forward Laimonas Chatkevicius scored a career high 18 for his second consecutive game while point guard Duane Notice complemented 13 points with five assists.

"We are in a better place right now," Martin said of the Gamecocks since their last Arkansas meeting.

Gamecocks shooting well make them "doubly tough," Anderson said because of what Martin coached teams inevitably do whether they shoot well or not.

"We know they can rebound and we know they can defend," Anderson said. "We know Frank Martin teams are very physical. They get up in your face and guard you and they attack."

Anderson presumes the Gamecocks will attack Bobby Portis after Arkansas' 6-11 sophomore All-SEC forward hung an 18 points/13 rebounds double-double on them in Fayetteville.

"Bobby Portis is a heck of a player," Martin said.

And can expect to face a heck of a Martin game plan, Anderson believes.

"Bobby had a pretty good game for us," Anderson said. "We took advantage of his size and his skill level. Up there I am sure they are probably going to double up on him so we have got to have some other guys make plays for us."

South Carolina holds its Senior night tonight in its last home game.

Arkansas has its Senior Day Saturday closing the regular SEC season at Walton Arena with a 1 p.m. game against LSU on ESPN.

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