The Big South and SoCon are a vital part of South Carolina’s sports tradition. It is always exciting when a instate school does well, and gets some national recognition. Even if Dan Patrick was pretty confused about the location of Wofford College. Which if you are not from South Carolina, I can understand you not knowing that Wofford is located in Spartanburg. The feeling I am getting is Wofford could be a tough out in the NCAA first round. We will have to wait and see who they are paired up against. USC’s and Georgia’s basketball teams can tell you how tough an out they might be. The Terriers defeated the Gamecocks back in December, 68-61 in Spartanburg and defeated the Bulldogs on their own court 60-57. This will be Wofford’s first NCAA tournament appearance and this will be Winthrop’s 9th NCAA appearance.

I can’t remember the last time the State of South Carolina has had three teams in the NCAA tournament. (That is if Clemson doesn’t choke up in the ACC tournament).  

Eagles and Terriers we here at LOHD will be pulling for you next week.

Questions #1) How many players for one team are on the court at one time during a basketball game? Answer 5
Questions #2) How many players did the coaches in the SEC vote first team All SEC? Answer 8.  Did I miss a rule change where the SEC will now allow 8 players on the court for one team at one time, I must have been busy reading Cosmo or something.

I am not sure why the SEC can’t be like every other conference and just vote 5 players first team, 5 players 2nd team and finally 5 players third team All SEC.
Have we backtracked so far from common sense that we have to make sure that every player in the SEC is on some kind of "All Award Team."  Of the 60 regular starters in the SEC, 16 were named to the 1st and 2nd All SEC teams.  In the ACC, only 15 players were named to the first 3 All ACC teams.
Patrick Patterson, you played on a really good team, but do you really deserve to be first team All SEC? The way I see it you played in the shadows of your teammate Cousins all season.

He is my first team All SEC Team

G Devon Downey- USC
G John Wall- UK
C- Wayne Chism- Tennessee
F- Jarvis Varnado- MSU
F- DeMarcus Cousins-UK

The rest of the players on the first team, you just got demoted to 2nd team.

My 2nd problem with the SEC awards is naming Kevin Stallings "SEC Coach of the Year."  Granted he is a good coach, but he did not win his conference and could not beat Kentucky this year. If you are going to give the award to the most deserving coach, you would have to give it to Bruce Pearl for the way he had his team perform after losing a couple key players to off the court problems. Or the SEC could have given it to John Calipari for taking a NIT team last year, to maybe the number 1overall seed in the NCAA tournament this year.

My 3rd problem with the SEC awards. Naming John Wall "SEC Player of the Year," but naming DeMarcus Cousins SEC "Freshman of the year."  If John Wall is the best player in the conference and a freshman, why is he not both POY and FOY?

Awards will always be subject to scrutiny as each voter looks at each situation a little bit differently, but I concerned the SEC coaches have taken the voting to a new level. All I am asking for is a little consistency and some common sense.

Questions #1) How many players for one team are on the court at one time during a basketball game? Answer 5
Questions #2) How many players did the coaches in the SEC vote first team All SEC? Answer 8 If for some reason I missed a rule change where the SEC will now all 8 players on the court for one team at one time, I must have been busy reading Cosmo or something.

I am not sure why the SEC can’t be like every other conference and just vote 5 players first team, 5 players 2nd team and finally 5 players third team All SEC. Have we backtracked so far from common sense that we have to make sure that every player in the SEC is on some kind of All Award Team. Of the 60 regular starters in the SEC, 16 were named to the 1st and 2nd All SEC teams. In the ACC, only 15 players were named to the first 3 All ACC teams. Patrick Patterson, you played on a really good team, but do you really deserve to be first team All SEC. In my option you played in the shadows of your teammate Cousins all season.

He is my first team All SEC Team

G Devon Downey- USC
G John Wall- UK
C- Wayne Chism- Tennessee
F- Jarvis Varnado- MSU
F- DeMarcus Cousins-UK

The rest of the players on the first team, you just got demoted to 2nd team.

My 2nd problem with the SEC awards is naming Kevin Stallings SEC coach of the year. Granted he is a good coach, but he did not win his conference and could not beat Kentucky this year. If you are going to give the award to the most deserving coach, you would have to give it to Bruce Pearl for the way he has his team performed after losing a couple key players to off the court problems. Or the SEC could have given it to John Calipari for taking a NIT team last year, to maybe the number 1overall seed in the NCAA tournament this year.

My 3rd problem with the SEC awards. Naming John Wall Player of the Year, but naming DeMarcus Cousins freshman of the year. If John Wall is the best player in the conference and a freshman, why is he not both POY and FOY.

Awards will always be subject to scrutiny as each voter looks at each situation a little bit differently, but I concerned the SEC coaches have taken the voting to a new level. All I am asking for is a little consistency.

Having not made the annual April trip to the Garnet and Black game, everything to be said is merely a guess, therefore instead of true guesses we can stick with what ifs and maybes. 
What if everything goes according to plan in 2010 for Steve Spurrier and South Carolina? 
Maybe the Gamecocks reach that elusive SEC Championship game.
In all actuality it is much too early to make those predictions or assumptions outside of Florida.  What is safe to make assumptions about is the offense. 
With Marcus Lattimore's announcement, and the return of veteran players as well as a group of young wide receivers full of potential, the sky should be the limit.
However, with Steve Spurrier's traditional pass-first, second, and third offense, what does that mean for Lattimore, Kenny Miles, Jarvis Giles, and Brian Maddox? 
In all fairness Spurrier has made attempts at a running offense as of late, but hasn't had much success behind an offensive line that was more like a SIV than a wall of protection.
With new offensive line coach Shawn Elliott and returning offensive linemen as well as several offensive line recruits, improvement is expected immediately.  Immediate improvement is hard to find, but it isn't exactly a long way to get an improvement from South Carolina's offensive line over the past few seasons.
Steven Garcia, the starter for South Carolina all of last season, may actually be in danger this season.  Nothing but praise has been heaped on true freshman Connor Shaw.  The Flowery Branch, Georgia native is earning fans the fast way.  G.A. Mangus has also stated that there is an open competition between all of South Carolina's quarterbacks.
Garcia and Shaw have the ability to use their legs just as effectively as they use their arms, as does Aramis Hilary, another QB on the roster.  Stephon Gilmore, the defensive back who blistered Clemson in the Wild Cocky offense at quarterback, remains a threat to look for as well.
Those four men, used as quarterbacks to be teamed with Lattimore, Miles, Giles, Maddox, and Patrick DiMarco would make one think that the Gamecock running game will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.  While this may be true, as with past Spurrier offenses, the passing game seems just as scary.
Steven Garcia showed incredible improvement from the '08 season throughout the '09 season.  He was the second leading quarterback in the SEC in 2009.  With Alshon Jeffrey, D.L. Moore, Tory Gurley, and a few other dangerous pass-catchers at his disposal, wouldn't the Gamecocks passing game be the nightmare maker?
The Gamecocks could potentially be an offense to look out for nationally in 2010.  However, on the flip side, they could have a huge clusterbomb on their hands that could get out of control.  That's the scary thing when you have weapons with no true success together in the past. 
Could egos blossom and get in the way? Will everyone unite for the greater good and be true team players?  Will toes get stepped on and grudges be held when depth charts are finalized (as much as they can be in a Spurrier offense)? 
Only time will tell. 
I won't predict a 14-0 national championship, but I won't predict a 3-9 disaster either.
Either way, one thing is certain; 2010 will be interesting for those in the Garnet nation.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com

Having not made the annual April trip to the Garnet and Black game, everything to be said is merely a guess, therefore instead of true guesses we can stick with what ifs and maybes. 
What if everything goes according to plan in 2010 for Steve Spurrier and South Carolina? 
Maybe the Gamecocks reach that elusive SEC Championship game.
In all actuality it is much too early to make those predictions or assumptions outside of Florida.  What is safe to make assumptions on is the offense. 
With Marcus Lattimore's announcement, and the return of veteran players as well as a group of young wide receivers full of potential, the sky should be the limit.
However, with Steve Spurrier's traditional pass-first, second, and third offense, what does that mean for Lattimore, Kenny Miles, Jarvis Giles, and Brian Maddox? 
In all fairness Spurrier has made attempts at a running offense as of late, but hasn't had much success behind an offensive line that was more like a SIV than a wall of protection.
With new offensive line coach Shawn Elliott, and returning offensive linemen as well as several offensive line recruits, improvement is expected immediately.  Immediate improvement is hard to find, but it isn't exactly a long way to get an improvement from South Carolina's offensive line over the past few seasons.
Steven Garcia, the starter for South Carolina all of last season, may actually be in danger this season.  Nothing but praise has been heaped on true freshman Connor Shaw.  The Flowery Branch, Georgia native is earning fans the fast way.  G.A. Mangus has also stated that there is an open competition between all of South Carolina's quarterbacks.
Garcia and Shaw have the ability to use their legs just as effectively as they use their arms, as does Aramis Hilary, another QB on the roster.  Stephon Gilmore, the defensive back who blistered Clemson in the Wild Cocky offense at quarterback, remains a threat to look for as well.
Those four men, used as quarterbacks to be teamed with Lattimore, Miles, Giles, Maddox, and Patrick DiMarco would make one think that the Gamecock running game will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.  While this may be true, as with past Spurrier offenses, the passing game seems just as scary.
Steven Garcia showed incredible improvement from the '08 season throughout the '09 season.  He was the second leading quarterback in the SEC in 2009.  With Alshon Jeffrey, D.L. Moore, Tory Gurley, and a few other dangerous pass-catchers at his disposal, wouldn't the Gamecocks passing game be the nightmare maker?
The Gamecocks could potentially be an offense to look out for nationally in 2010.  However, on the flip side, they could have a huge clusterbomb on their hands that could get out of control.  That's the scary thing when you have weapons with no true success together in the past. 
Could egos blossom and get in the way? Will everyone unite for the greater good and be true team players?  Will toes get stepped on and grudges be held when depth charts are finalized (as much as they can be in a Spurrier offense)? 
Only time will tell. 
I won't predict a 14-0 national championship, but I won't predict a 3-9 disaster either.
Either way, one thing is certain; 2010 will be interesting for those in the Garnet nation.Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com