Gamecocks more ready for this crack with Hogs

South Carolina forward Mindaugas Kacinas, right, pulls down a rebound as Arkansas forward Moses Kingsley, left, attempts to steal during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
South Carolina forward Mindaugas Kacinas, right, pulls down a rebound as Arkansas forward Moses Kingsley, left, attempts to steal during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

FAYETTEVILLE -- South Carolina has more depth on its roster than when the Gamecocks played Arkansas a month ago and lost 75-55 at Walton Arena

That doesn't mean South Carolina is deep.

Today’s game

NO. 18 ARKANSAS MEN AT SOUTH CAROLINA

WHEN 6 p.m. Central

WHERE Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C.

RECORDS Arkansas 23-6, 12-4 SEC; South Carolina 14-14, 5-11

SERIES Arkansas leads 16-12

RADIO Razorback Sports Network

TELEVISION ESPN2

"The last time we played Arkansas we were undermanned," Gamecocks Coach Frank Martin said. "We had been practicing with seven guys."

South Carolina (14-14, 5-11 SEC) has gotten some players back -- but lost some, too -- for tonight's game against No. 18 Arkansas (23-6, 12-4) at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.

"We've got nine guys," Martin said. "I don't know if that means we're at full strength, but it's better than having seven."

Freshman guard Justin McKie is back after missing five games -- including at Arkansas -- because of a concussion.

Sophomore forward Demetrius Henry (concussion) and freshman guard Shamiek Sheppard (knee) also missed the Arkansas game, and three weeks ago they were suspended by Martin at least through the end of the regular season for a violation of team rules.

Freshman guard Marcus Stroman has missed the past three games with a throat infection, but he could return tonight.

"When we went to Fayetteville we were a team that had kind of lost its identity," Martin said. "Our spirit was not as strong as it needed to be. I had some issues going on with our team that obviously I had to eventually address.

"But we're in a better place right now spiritually, mentally."

While Arkansas lost to No. 1 Kentucky 84-67 on the road last Saturday, the Gamecocks beat Mississippi State 81-68 at home behind a career-high 28 points by guard Tyrone Johnson, the team's lone senior.

"I really enjoy my team," Martin said. "They've given me everything I can ask of them, and to see them go out and play with such confidence and courage as we did against Mississippi State reinforces to me that we've got quality people in our program."

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson wants to make sure his team understands winning at South Carolina won't be easy even though the Razorbacks already have beaten the Gamecocks by 20 points.

"Coach always says that when we play a team twice, they're not the same team as they were when we played them before," Arkansas guard Manny Watkins said. "They didn't hit a lot of shots here, and they're going to be pumped up because we beat them already.

"We've just got to go in and do what we do. We're not changing anything."

Last season Arkansas beat South Carolina 71-64 at home, then lost to the Gamecocks 71-69 in the SEC Tournament.

"It's a game we know is going to be very, very physical," Anderson said. "The teams are familiar with one another and we certainly know they're going to come out and give us their best shot, and hopefully we'll give them our best shot as well."

Freshman Anton Beard said the Razorbacks have to be ready to withstand an early run by the Gamecocks.

"We know that playing them at their home, they're going to come out making shots and playing with emotion," Beard said. "We've got to get through that little hump and just play basketball."

Anderson is 6-6 against Martin, including a 4-4 record when both coached in the Big 12 with Anderson at Missouri and Martin at Kansas State.

Martin's teams are 5-0 at home against Anderson's teams and 1-0 on a neutral court. Martin laughed when asked if that gives him a good feeling going into tonight's game.

"No, it doesn't make me feel good," he said. "It's just one of those things and I hope it continues, but knowing that's happened in years past has no impact whatsoever on this year.

"We've got to play real, real well to compete with a team like Arkansas."

The last time the Razorbacks played at South Carolina during the 2012-13 season, the Gamecocks won 75-54 to drop Arkansas to 0-6 at Colonial Life Arena, which opened for the 2002-03 season.

"We just need to play well, put together two halves," Anderson said. "Coming off the Kentucky loss, we've got a bad taste in our mouths.

"You get to this time of the year, you want to be playing some of your better basketball and we feel we've been trending in that direction and just took kind of a half-step back against Kentucky.

"So our guys are looking forward to having another opportunity to go out and play."

Sports on 03/05/2015

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