In its return to March Madness for the first time since 2004, No. 7 seed South Carolina drew a round-of-64 matchup with No. 10 seed Marquette.
The Gamecocks enter as one of the tournament’s coldest teams, going 3-6 over their previous nine games with a one-and-done showing against Alabama in the SEC Tournament.
Marquette has made nine tournament appearances since 2003, including a run to the Elite Eight as recently 2013, but this is its first with head coach Steve Wojciechowski at the helm.
Breakdown of the Marquette Golden Eagles
Key wins: Creighton, Vanderbilt, Xavier and Villanova.
What to expect: Offense is going to be present. The Golden Eagles post 82.5 points per game on a lethal offensive arsenal. Guard Markus Howard leads the way for Marquette with 13.2 points per game. They have scored over 90 points in two of the last three games they’ve played.
Why they can beat South Carolina: Marquette has an offense that can outlast Carolina’s strong defense. They move the ball incredibly well, averaging 16.5 assists per game. This can create problems for South Carolina as its offense may not be able to keep pace.
Marquette has already pulled off an unbelievable upset, knocking off No. 1 ranked Villanova at home earlier in the year. The Golden Eagles definitely have upset potential. Playing a South Carolina team struggling to find its rhythm on offense may have Marquette’s mouth watering. They’ll look to unequivocally outscore the Gamecocks, who only average 72.1 points per game.
What the Gamecocks need to do to win
Rebounds: Marquette enters the game ranked 292nd in the country in rebounds, averaging 33.3 a game. South Carolina ranks 142nd nationally, but could take advantage of Marquette’s flaw and expose them on the offensive glass with rebounding guard Sindarius Thornwell. Look for sophomore forward Chris Silva to have a big game on the boards on both sides of the ball.
Defense: There is no question about it: South Carolina’s strongest point is its defense. They allow 64.5 points per game, 28th in the country. South Carolina needs to play stifling defense against a Marquette team averaging 82.5 points per game. The Gamecocks need to be able to limit Marquette’s opportunities if they want to keep up with their high-powered offense.
Score some points: No surprise here. South Carolina’s kryptonite down the stretch has been inconsistent shooting. Their inefficient play on the offensive side of the ball leaves questions as to how the Gamecocks will be able to keep pace with Marquette. The Gamecocks' best bet is to slow the game down and limit Marquette’s opportunities to put up points. The best offense is a good defense; luckily South Carolina has the latter and Marquette ranks 244th in points allowed.
Play through Thornwell: There is a reason Sindarius Thornwell was awarded SEC player of the year. He does it all. South Carolina should rely on their star player to help guide them to a tournament victory.
Matchup to watch
South Carolina defense vs. Marquette offense: This should be a good one. A stifling defense from the Gamecocks looks to hold an explosive Marquette offense in check.
Marquette boasts the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the nation. Howard shot 54.9 percent from beyond the arc, the second-best mark in the country. The Gamecocks have been the fifth-best team at stopping the 3-pointer.
For the first time in 13 long years, the Gamecocks are going dancing. A win will give them the opportunity to play No. 2 seed Duke or No. 15 Troy on Sunday.