2000-01 record: 15-15; 6-10 in SEC (5th in East) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Connecticut 72-65 in first round of NIT. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Bradley 11.5 ppg | ebounds: Kitchings 6.6 rpg | Assists: Lucas 3.9 apg | FG %: Howell 53.2% | 3pt %: Bradley 35.5% | FT %: Bradley 75.8% 00-01 Stats: South Carolina | SEC

		Tuesday, Nov. 6 The Gamecocks may have the most experience coming back of any team in the conference. That bodes well for first-year coach Dave Odom. Jamel Bradley, Tony Kitchings, Rolando Howell, Aaron Lucas, Marius Petravicius and Chuck Eidson (back from a bad knee injury), all have a lot of experience and a lot of talent. A 6-foot-7 freshman, Carlos Powell, could also end up helping them. Odom will like this club and he'll have some fun with it. Keep an eye on South Carolina -- this team may surprise a lot of people.

Outlook
Eddie Fogler's burnout became Dave Odom's opportunity to start fresh. Fogler's solid foundation means that Odom can start over without truly starting over.

A fully capable starting five has been assembled from the veteran cast left behind: guards Aaron Lucas and Jamel Bradley (both double-digit scorers), forwards Rolando Howell (the potential star) and Chuck Eidson (back after missing last year with a blown knee), and center Tony Kitchings (a deft passer and 10-point-a-game scorer).

So there is firepower available, provided it actually fires. South Carolina was last in the SEC in scoring last year at 68.1 points per game, and last in field-goal percentage (41.7). The Gamecocks could use another shooter or two, plus someone who can finish off the dribble.

It's been three years since South Carolina was ending its brief glory run, winning 47 games in two seasons. This team has the experience -- if perhaps not the talent -- to at least get on the road back to prosperity.

What we like: Odom was ready for a fresh start, and his record (11 straight winning seasons) made him an attractive candidate here. Eidson and Howell are different players but both very skilled and capable of big seasons.

What we don't like: The Gamecocks didn't break 80 in their last 20 games of the season. There were times when it was tough trying to figure out where points were going to come from for this group, which led to some power outages at key points in games last year.

The bottom line: South Carolina played a ton of close games last year (17 decided by single digits) and lost most of them (11). If Odom can at least get that ratio to 50/50 or a little better, this is a postseason team and perhaps the surprise team of the league. Not many other teams have this much experience.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Jamel Bradley	Sr..	G	6-2/170	PTS: 11.5 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 2.2
Aaron Lucas	Sr.	G	5-11/185	PTS: 10.2 | REB: 2.5 | AST: 3.9
Tony Kitchings	Jr.	C	6-10/260	PTS: 10.0 | REB: 6.6 | AST: 1.2
ChuckEdison	Jr.	F	6-7/205	PTS: 9.0 | REB: 5.3 | AST: 3.1

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Antonio Grant	F	6-5/225	PTS: 7.9 | REB: 5.8 | AST: 1.3

South Carolina Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
John Chappell	C	6-11	New Berlin, Wis./Fort Union (Va.) Military Academy
Carolos Powell	F	6-7	Florence, S.C./Wilson H.S.
Issa Konare	F	6-7	Dakar, Senegal/Bridgton (Maine) Academy
Chris Warren	F	6-5	Garland, Texas/Collin County CC (Texas).