No guaranteed home game, no SEC/Big 12 Challenge for USC
Several months ago, when Frank Martin was initially approached by ESPN regarding South Carolina’s possible participation in Saturday’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge, he insisted the network guarantee USC a home game.
ESPN hesitated making such a promise, so Martin declined the opportunity and unhesitatingly walked away from the table.
Thus, while 10 SEC teams battle 10 Big 12 schools on Saturday, the Gamecocks host Alabama at 6 p.m. in a key SEC game at Colonial Life Arena.
“We were asked if we wanted in and I said we were in as long as we could play at home,” said Martin, who coached at a Big 12 institution (Kansas State) for five seasons. “They couldn’t guarantee us a home game. Between the Big East challenge and the Big 12 challenge we’ve been on the road four or five years and I couldn’t commit to playing another road game.”
Five SEC teams are facing a Big 12 opponent at home Saturday: Florida (West Virginia), Texas A&M (Iowa State), Arkansas (Texas Tech), LSU (Oklahoma) and Auburn (Oklahoma State).
With the latest Top 25 polls featuring five Big 12 schools (one-half the number if schools in the league), the SEC will be fighting for respect on Saturday, Martin said.
“It’s two leagues that mirror one another,” Martin said. “Unfortunately, one league (Big 12) gets a lot of credit and the other one (SEC) gets no credit. But they have similar teams and the coaching, style of play and athleticism are very compatible. The Big 12 is No. 1 in conference RPI, so this is a great time for our teams to line up and play some of their teams and get some recognition for our guys.”
Entering Tuesday night’s home contest against struggling Mississippi State (8-10 overall, 1-5 SEC), USC stands 17-2, including 10-0 at home. But the Gamecocks are coming off a 78-69 loss at Tennessee, a nine-point setback causing them to drop out of the AP poll.
“I’m glad we can stay at home for a couple of games this week,” Martin said Monday. “I think our guys are a little tired of the travel. We’ve played nine road games. It’s late January when everybody is trying to become the team they are destined to be. Hopefully, being at home allows us to get in front of our fans and play at home like we have up to this point from an energy and enthusiasm standpoint.”
USC played four of its first six SEC games on the road, so this week’s games against Mississippi State and Alabama will even out the home-road dynamic for the time being. Next week? Two more road games at Georgia and league leader Texas A&M.
“Mississippi State has been knocking on the door every single league game and finally got over the hump (against rival Ole Miss),” Martin said. “Ben (Howland) has done a great job with those kids. They have a group of upperclassmen that, like our upperclassmen, have been through it. They are playing with a lot of confidence and very aggressively.”
SEC SCHEDULE (Tues. Jan. 26)
Mississippi State at South Carolina, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Florida at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Georgia at LSU, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Tennessee at Alabama, 9 p.m. (SEC Network)
