Last year, South Carolina had its best season in nearly a decade under second-year head coach Lamont Parise.
But expectations are high in Bloomington, with head coach Mike Woodson poaching a great group of talent to play for the Hoosiers.
That's reflected in the spread, with the Hoosiers a 7-point favorite to win.
But I'm more focused on pace. I'm looking forward to a low-scoring rock fight.
South Carolina vs. Indiana odds
| team | spread | money line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| south carolina | +7 (-110) | +250 | 144.5 or higher (-110) |
| Indiana | -7 (-110) | -320 | Less than 144.5 (-110) |
South Carolina vs. Indiana predictions
(3 p.m. ET, Peacock)
These are two post-felony cases.
The University of South Carolina will have up-and-coming star Colin Murray-Boyles, while the University of Alabama will have transfer Nick Pringle playing blocking.
Indiana will play in a pace and post system with Umar Baro, who transferred to Arizona, and returning senior Malik Renault.
However, I think both teams have space issues.
South Carolina prefers a one-in, four-out offense, playing through interior bases while also running perimeter players through a mesh of screens.
However, the loss of B.J. Mack in the offseason meant the Shamcox lacked growth forward, and last year they were in dangerous situations when flipping the floor.
Having Murray Boyles and Pringle share the court could cause the defense to sag inside, potentially bogging down South Carolina's offense.
Indiana, on the other hand, had serious spacing issues last season, and it remains to be seen if this year's roster will be able to solve them.
Returning sophomore wing Mackenzie Mugabako has solid shooting ability, but the backcourt duo of Trey Galloway and Washington State transfer Myles Rice combined for a 27% shooting percentage from deep last season.
Needless to say, Coach Woodson is far from an analytically oriented coach.
So while I expect a lot of bullish inside-ball shot attempts near the crowded rim, I don't expect either to produce an efficient offense.
I also go at a slow pace.
South Carolina has one of the most methodical offenses in the nation, ranking 346th in the nation in average length of possession last season.
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The Shamcocks like to play a lot of sets in the half court and push forward for more quality chances later in the shot clock.
Indiana likes to play up-tempo, transition-heavy ball, while the Gamecocks are an elite transition-denying defense.
Additionally, their positionally disciplined man-to-man play slows down the shot clock and forces opponents to create on-ball in the half court.
South Carolina vs. Indiana Picks
In the end, it is expected that there will be a lot of dribbling and paint competition.
I'll take Ander.
Best bet: Less than 144.5 (-110, FanDuel)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Tanner McGrath has been a professional sports handicapper since 2018. He specializes in college sports and baseball and is an avid fan of the Vermont Catamounts, Miami Marlins, and any team that loses at home. He was put on the wrong foot in the Miami Miracle in 2018, but redeemed himself four years later by hitting Sandy Alcantara with a 40/1 long shot to win the National League Cy Young Award.
