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How to watch, listen or stream
Game Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: CBS Sports Network (Channel Finder)
Radio: WSCR 670 AM (DePaul) || Gamecock Radio Network (South Carolina)
No stream is available for this telecast.
Gamblin' Info
Odds: South Carolina opened as a 5.5-point favorite over the DePaul Blue Demons on OddsShark. Elsewhere, you may find lines of the 7- or 7.5-point variety.
The Blue Demons, like their game record, are 1-1 ATS this season. South Carolina, meanwhile, is 1-0 ATS.
O/U: The o/u for this contest is currently set at 144.
Moneylines will be added when available.
3-point preview
1. Stymieing a tough SCAR defense: The Gamecocks have been awfully tough on the defensive side of the ball to start the season everywhere except the perimeter. They have omitted just 40 percent of 2-point field goal attempts to be converted and have allowed only 95 points per 100 possessions per KenPom.com. The Gamecocks have a 3-point percentage allowed of 35.7 percent, but DePaul has not proven to be successful from the perimeter in the early goings of this season. The Blue Demons have only converted on 15.4 percent of 3-point field goal attempts in their first two games of the season against Western Michigan and Penn State. That could be an opening for DePaul, but they will have solve the puzzle in a variety of ways if they want to come away with a victory.
2. Forcing mistakes: Another thing that South Carolina has done especially well so far is win the turnover battle. They have a turnover percentage of just 13.1 percent this year through their first two games. That ranks 32nd best in the country. DePaul hasn't proven to be anything more than slightly average at forcing turnovers this season, doing so at a rate of 17.8 percent through their first two games of the season. They will need to be very active in limiting second chances and forcing mistakes against this disciplined South Carolina team.
3. Making good on a second chance: The first time that DePaul was in the Paradise Jam was in 2009. During their first stay in the Virgin Islands, DePaul finished in third place with the Purdue Boilermakers and Tennessee Volunteers finishing 1-2 that year. They did come away with a quality win in their first game of the tournament as they defeated the Northern Iowa Panthers. Those Panthers had the legendary Ali Farokhmanesh whose oft-remembered 3-pointer sunk the Kansas Jayhawks in the ensuing NCAA Tournament that season. The field this year is highlighted by the Gamecocks, the Florida State Seminoles and Tulsa Golden Hurricane who upset the Wichita State Shockers this past Tuesday. It's ripe for them to make some noise, and that all starts on Friday against Frank Martin's Gamecocks.