South Carolina had the juice taken out of its postseason hopes when it slid off the NCAA tournament bubble two Sundays ago. Having to take the floor without five of its players, all suspended indefinitely, likely didn’t help matters.
Georgia Tech finished the regular season with momentum, followed it with a dramatic comeback win over Clemson in the ACC tournament and eagerly anticipated its first postseason play since the 2009-10 season.
Monday night at Colonial Life Arena, it was not difficult discerning which team was which in this second-round NIT meeting, won 83-66 by the Yellow Jackets.
“The guys on our side just had no steam,” South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. “We played on unbelievable emotion, passion and toughness all year. Unfortunately, (Monday), we just didn’t have the oomph that we need for us to be a good basketball team.”
The difference could be found in the offensive rebounding, typically an area that depends heavily on effort. It’s also a part of the game that the Gamecocks have thrived at, ranking 13th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage at 36.3 percent. Monday, South Carolina didn’t record its first offensive rebound until 17 minutes had elapsed in the first half. The Gamecocks finished with just four offensive rebounds out of a total of 31 available rebounds. They scored four second-chance points, tying their season low.
“Just an unbelievable stat,” coach Brian Gregory said. “I thought we’d be ready, but I never in my wildest dreams ever thought that would be the statistic for the evening. These guys bought into the physicality that you have to play with.”
Forward Nick Jacobs had nine defensive rebounds and had 10 altogether with 10 points for his third double-double of the season. Center Ben Lammers repeatedly won 50-50 balls to secure rebounds, once going to the floor to ensure the ball would be his.
Tech also had 12 offensive rebounds out of 29 available rebounds and scored 10 second-chance points. South Carolina’s 18-rebound deficit (Tech won the boards 39-21) was its poorest of the season.
“Our quickness to the ball was as good as it’s ever been,” Gregory said. “It was the difference in the game, to be honest with you.”
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