Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Gamecocks can't win on the hardwood

It really boggles the mind. The University of South Carolina. So many accolades to hang their hat on in sports.

The Football team... competing at the highest level. Every year the Gamecocks have aspirations of an SEC championship and this year they have arguably the best player in the country. Williams Brice Stadium creates an atmosphere that even the #1 ranked Crimson Tide couldn't handle on their last visit. And if Alabama had to come to Columbia this year, I'd favor the Gamecocks to win.

The Baseball team... represents what teams across the country strive to be. A radio network that rivals some major league clubs. An expectation to play for the national championship which may be the most difficult national championship in college sports to win. The Gamecocks played in the final series 3 years in a row and were a couple errors in Chapel Hill away from a 4th consecutive trip to Omaha.

Even the Women's Basketball team has risen to new heights under Dawn Staley. They get national TV exposure in a sport still grasping for viewers attention. And why shouldn't they? They play in one the best arenas in the country that seats 18,000 strong.

But then there's Men's Basketball. They play in the SEC which is home to one of the greatest programs in the country in Kentucky. The hated rival Florida Gators were down last year but expect to make runs in the NCAA Tournament every year. And Georgia even had a player taken in the top 10 of the NBA Draft last week.

The Gamecocks went out and paid $2 million per year for a respected head coach and have made a commitment to improving the program and reach the level set by the football and baseball programs. But until the best basketball players in the state of South Carolina start to embrace and understand that commitment, none of it will matter.

On Tuesday night the Gamecock Men's Basketball program took a slap in the face from the states top recruit. L.J. Peak organized a press conference with his good buddy Shaq Davidson. The press conference was in Gafney, SC- 101 miles to the northwest of the campus in Columbia. Friends and family showed up along with the media. Which media? The Gamecock media. Writers and camera crews from Columbia filled the room to cover one of Frank Martin's top recruits since taking over the program. Not Washington D.C. or Tallahassee media. What was the point in them coming? Peak never even made an official visit to Georgetown. He was supposed to a few weeks ago but he canceled it.

Turns out... he didn't need to see the campus. He saw plenty last Thursday night when the NBA Draft coverage showed Otto Porter selected as the 3rd overall pick in the 2013 Draft. How many Gamecock names were called on Thursday night? None. So the decision was made.

Peak put on his USC hat to the pleasure of those in attendance and it appeared Gamecock Football (yes Davidson did commit to the Gamecocks) and Basketball both had their guys. Then he quickly removed the cap, tossed it aside (its unfortunate there wasn't a trash can available because that would have been more appropriate) and he put on his Georgetown Hoyas hat.

"I just figured Georgetown can get me to the next level and so I just happened to choose Georgetown," Peak said to the SC Sports Talk Network, "They have a great history and I just thought why not join the history. South Carolina ain't really got a history of great players and getting them to the NBA so I just happened to choose Georgetown."

So apparently Peak is a good basketball player, but he's not that good. If he was he'd be confident enough in his abilities that it didn't matter where he played, he could get himself to the NBA.

It appears he's not really planning to stick around long enough to build up the Gamecock program anyway, and we're not exactly in a situation to go for a national championship like John Calipari can. In the end all is well with this decision because with the level of maturity this kid has, I don't think Gamecocks want him around anyway. Here are some parting words he had to say about why he built up this press conference, put on the Gamecock hat, and in every way imaginable led Gamecock fans and media to believe he was going there and went another direction...

"I just though it would be fun because everybody thought me and Shaq were going to the same school. I just thought I'd change it up a little bit. I really though about going to South Carolina, I just happened to change it."

Well L.J... we hope you had fun.


Aaron Marks is the Sports Director and Afternoon Drive Show Host for CBS Sports Radio 100.3 'The Team' in Myrtle Beach, SC. His show airs daily M-F from 3-6 p.m. and can be heard on the Grand Strand on 100.3 and worldwide at www.teammyrtlebeach.com. Follow him on Twitter @AMonFM