South Carolina: post mortem

I won't allow myself to think the last two games represent Georgia taking a turn offensively.  There was still plenty to be concerned about tonight (like a million turnovers in the second half).  However, the lack of possessions ending in desperation heaves as the shot clock expired was very encouraging:

• Biggest shot of the game?  For my money, it was Kenny Gaines hitting the transition three to tie the game at 55.  For some guys, that's not a very good shot.  It is for Kenny.  When he has hit feet set he's deadly.
• Georgia really had no business being in that game, but South Carolina shot themselves right out of it.  In the lane, the Gamecocks were getting whatever they wanted, yet they hoisted 26 3-point shots.  A late flurry of makes made the percentage look better than it really was.
• The Bulldogs had twice as many turnovers as South Carolina and they gave up 18 offensive rebounds.  The Gamecocks took 18 more shots, too.  So again, how did Georgia win?
• 23-27 from the free throw line certainly didn't hurt.  Gaines nailing three of them early in the first half was a good omen.
• Oh and by the way - Kenny Gaines is 15-30 from 3-point range in the last 3 games.  As long as he keeps that up, Georgia has a chance in every game they play.
• And J.J. Frazier is 14-27...
• 11 points off the bench.  That counts as a good night for those guys.
• Michael Carrera is a warrior, but I bet he's hoping that's the last he's seen of Georgia.  The Bulldogs defense has a way of getting under his skin.  The one 3-pointer he hit was clutch, but the 9 he missed were important too.
• Charles Mann continues to struggle his way through his senior season, but his strip of Sindarius Thornwell was huge.  HUGE.
• Derek Ogbeide had 5 rebounds, and 4 of them were on the offensive end.  He and Yante Maten are going to terrorize some smaller teams next year.
• I'm a little surprised Maten didn't get T'ed up for yelling at Carrera after his dunk.  Not a complaint.  Just an observation.
• And while we're talking about Maten, good job selling the offensive foul on Silva.  That came at a big time, and Maten had his fair share of cheap ones go against him.
• The officiating was choppy all night.  It was like a throwback game where the officials decided to let everything go in the paint.
• Georgia's defense was really good.   Had Mindaugas Kacinas not shot out of his mind (he's a 32% shooter from distance but went 5-7) the Bulldogs may have run away with the game.  And remember, a flurry of threes after Georgia all but put the game away made things look way better for the Gamecocks.

The NCAA Tournament is a pipe dream, but the season is not over, and these guys are playing hard.  A win over Alabama on Saturday ensures the best possible seeding for the conference tournament at which point it's on Georgia to go make some noise.

The formula remains simple: play defense like you're capable of, limit turnovers, and let the shooters shoot.  By my estimation, any Frazier or Gaines shot is a good one right now.