Seriously, South Carolina, change your mascot. It's fantastic to see COCKS on a hat with the small lettering underneath "University of South Carolina," but your name causes headline problems for the rest of the SEC.
Here's a few suggestions for the South Carolinians. You could be the South Carolina Palmetto's, then we could entitle our post "Rebels Ready to Chop Down Palmetto's," or the South Carolina Salamanders, as they are the state amphibians or possibly even the South Carolina Peaches giving a nod to the movie "A League of Their Own" and the Rockford Peaches, but I know how the state of South Carolina is emphatic about their cock fighting. I've been in the smarmy, dusty halls of Charleston where brown fellows loudly proclaim the ability of their rooster. Okay, that was Afghanistan, but still...basically the same thing.
South Carolina basketball is much like the rest of the SEC: success marked with disappointment. The only somewhat embarrassing loss came to the College of Charleston in overtime for the 'Cocks as they tore through non-conference opponents like North Carolina Central, Presbyterian and Wofford.
The 'Cocks are ensuring their chances to live up to their program's tradition: NIT CHAMPS!!! The whistles go WOOO!!!! After losing a coach who looked like he opened the ark of the covenant, South Carolina is undoubtedly off to a great start including a buzzer beating victory against #24 Florida at the Colonial Life Arena.
Ole Miss is on cruise control with a 10-8 (1-3 SEC) record as even a NIT berth seems distant at this point in the season. Knee injuries have not been kind to this year's roster, but that's no excuse as the Rebels have a lack of depth during Andy Kennedy's third year as a coach. It's not to say that the Rebels should be to the point of a Duke or North Carolina program, but if there's a few injuries, Ole Miss fans should feel confident they will be able to make the postseason.
I have seen Devan Downey, and he is good. The junior guard for the Gamecocks leads the team with nearly 20 points per game. There's four other South Carolina players averaging double digit scoring, which means the Ole Miss "zone defense"(see: shit that doesn't work) will be stretched to the brink as the home court advantage makes it a game that isn't close.
Final score prediction: South Carolina 80 Ole Miss 64
P.S. Gentleman Jack contributed to this report of Ole Miss basketball.