USC aims to rebound from Clemson loss, hosts Jacksonville tonight
South Carolina coach Frank Martin has said he wouldn’t make a good football coach because he can’t put together a depth chart.
But football analogies were sprinkled throughout his press conference Wednesday. As the Gamecocks (5-3) prepare to host Jacksonville at the Colonial Life Arena tonight, Martin said they will look to “become bowl-eligible” with their sixth win of the season after losing twice in the last week.
The coach was critical of USC’s recent performance, calling the defense “good enough to win with” but adding that the Gamecocks are giving their opponents free points because of their inability to execute on offense.
“Since we didn’t make the bowl game, I’m going to use another football reference,” Martin said. “Right now, offensively, I’ll call for our tailback to run in the hole between the right guard and the right tackle. Our offensive line is blocking as if we’re going to run in the hole between the left guard and the right.”
The coach said communication problems were major contributions to the poor execution. He illustrated his point Wednesday when one reporter said he was going to piggy-back off a previous question and Martin responded that he was acting like the players and couldn’t remember what it was.
“Frank calls a play and we have half the guys doing one thing, half the guys doing another thing,” junior guard Brenton Williams said. “We just have to get better at being on the same page.”
Because Martin is a first-year coach, the team does not have a core of veteran players who can teach plays to the freshmen. Martin said he felt sorry for freshman forwards Michael Carrera and Mindaugas Kacinas because the team has had to rely on them so much in their first collegiate season.
Carrera has responded with an average of 10.2 points per game, which ranks third on the team, and he is tied for the lead in rebounding with 7.8 per game. Martin said his passion is both his biggest strength and his biggest weakness but that he would “sleep a lot better at night” if every player had the same enthusiasm.
Kacinas has started just one of South Carolina’s eight games this season, but he has averaged 27 minutes per contest. In addition to scoring 8.4 points per game, he leads the team in blocks. But he has committed 20 turnovers this season.
Martin said Kacinas is still learning speed and physicality on defense, but like Carrera, he has responded well to the challenges placed before him.
“I like guys who, when you challenge them, they don’t roll their eyes,” Martin said. “I like guys who, when you challenge them, they look at you, tighten up them boots a little tighter and try a little harder, and that’s what he does.”
Jacksonville (4-5) comes to Columbia after a dominant 89-66 win against Florida Christian. Coach Cliff Warren is in his eighth season with the program, and Martin said the Dolphins have a consistent team identity centered around a physical style of play.
Today’s game will tip off at 7 p.m.
“They’re going to come in here and punch us in the mouth and see if we’re willing to punch back,” Martin said.