The Gamecocks have lost control of their fate. They are now the biggest cheerleaders of chalk in the Big Ten and Mountain West. South Carolina's loss to Mississippi State really was not not a bad loss. The problem is, the Gamecocks' overall tournament resume lacks much heft. Beating Baylor was South Carolina's best non-conference win. It beat Florida and swept Kentucky in the conference but was swept by Tennessee. The Gamecocks have been a bubble team all season, and bowing out in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament keeps them there.
The Bulldogs got hot in their three-point shooting, going for over 50% and shot well from the field. They could not hold on to the ball -- turning it over 15 times -- but it did not cost them.
South Carolina, by contrast took great care of the ball. To the point where they did not want to see it getting scuffed by the twine of the net. The Gamecocks had 18 more attempts than the Bulldogs, but made the same number of baskets. Mississippi State, though, had more threes and more free throws.
South Carolina is very likely out of the NCAA Tournament. They made great strides in coach Darrin Horn's first year, but the ridiculously light non-conference schedule killed their computer numbers. With the SEC so down, the Gamecocks could not make it up without more success in the SEC Tourney.
