GAME GLANCE: Kentucky plays host to a Gamecock team among the SEC's best
Most years Kentucky and South Carolina isn't one of the SEC's more anticipated basketball games, but in the 2016-17 season it's among the better matchups the league has to offer.
Some of that might be a statement on the strength of the league, or lack thereof, but much of it is a compliment to Frank Martin's latest scrappy and stingy bunch.
South Carolina at Kentucky, Jan. 21, 6 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN
RADIO: UK Sports Network
SERIES HISTORY: Kentucky leads 50-11
LAST MEETING: Kentucky won 89-62 on February 13, 2016 (Columbia, S.C.)
South Carolina's statistical leaders
Sindarius Thornwell - 18.2 PPG (.454 FG/.409 3-pt/.805 FT), 6.9 RPG, 40 asst, 30 steals
PJ Dozier - 14.6 PPG (.430/.394/.717), 4.7 RPG, 52 assists, 35 steals
Chris Silva - 9.8 PPG (.564/.000/.732), 6.3 RPG, 35 blocks
Duane Notice - 9.4 PPG (.342/.311/.660), 2.2 RPG, 42 assists, 17 steals
Maik Kotsar - 7.3 PPG (.522/.000/.440), 5.7 RPG
Rakym Felder - 6.2 RPG (.418/.477/.692), 28 assists
Justin McKie - 4.9 PPG (.367/.297/.611), 2.7 RPG, 26 assists
Hassani Gravett - 4.4 PPG (.324/.256/.650), 1.8 RPG, 28 assists
Storylines
John Calipari was ejected in last year's meeting between these two teams in Columbia, S.C., but Kentucky responded to their coach's ouster with a 27-point road win over the Gamecocks. No. 22 Kentucky benefited from 27 points by Tyler Ulis and were also powered by Jamal Murray's 26. In the loss No. 22 South Carolina's Michael Carrera scored 25 points. Thornwell and Dozier, South Carolina's two leading scorers in the 2016-17 season, scored a combined nine points on 4-17 shooting.
South Carolina is the No. 2 team nationally in overall field goal percentage defense. They are No. 1 nationally in three-point defense and they also have KenPom's top-ranked adjusted defense. Their offense ranks No. 176, according to KenPom.
The Gamecocks outrebound their opponents by an average of 3.3 boards per game. They have far more assists on the seasons than the opposition (242-154) and also have significantly more blocks and steals.
South Carolina shoots just .423 from the floor as a team, .356 from deep and .692 from the free throw line.
The Gamecocks average 70.9 points per game and allow 59.4 points on average.
South Carolina has defeated a John Calipari-coached Kentucky team twice. Their first victory over Cal's Kentucky came, famously, after Calipari's first team had ascended to the top spot in the national polls and had a perfect record in 2010 (68-62). They also defeated the Cats 72-67, also in Columbia, during the 2013-14 season.
Eight of Kentucky's nine wins against South Carolina in the Calipari era have been by at least 15 points. Six of the wins have been by 20 or more points with the biggest blowout a 77-43 win in Rupp during the 2014-15 season.
South Carolina has wins over seven Top 100 RPI teams this season. The Gamecocks have won all three of their games against ranked teams this year.
South Carolina has attempted 31 or more free throws in each of their last three games.