The Gamecocks, fresh off an exasperating road loss at Alabama, now get to return home to play the University of Tennessee, currently the #2 team in the country. It’s an exciting prospect, but the South Carolina team has not fared well against highly ranked teams, so far this season. There are high expectations for the Gamecocks, but they continue to be a work in progress. Considering their youth and rebuilding status, that is to be expected. It’s the obvious promise they show that makes us all expect so much, though we really need to allow them a little more time to develop into the team we all want them to be.

The Lady Vols are, of course, led by junior Candace Parker. Who don’t know that? Parker leads the team in scoring with 21 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game. She also has 29 blocked shots and 33 steals to her credit. Behind her in the scoring race are Alexis Hornbuckle with 12.1 ppg and freshman Angie Bjorklund with 10.7 points per game. Senior Nikki Anosike is second in rebounding with 6.6 per game and is trailed by Hornbuckle with 5.5. Three freshmen see a good bit of playing time, so far: Angie Bjorklund, Sydney Smallbone and Vicki Baugh. Possibly their most highly regarded recruit, Kelley Cain, is out for the season following knee surgery. It’s small consolation.

The Lady Vols have lost only one game this season, a road game at Stanford that they lost by 4 points. Many point to the not-so-stellar record that Stanford has since amassed as evidence that the Lady Vols are weaker than normal. I’ll have to see it to believe it. I don’t see a lot of chinks in their armor.

The Gamecocks continue to be led in scoring by freshman sharpshooter Jordan Jones, averaging 13.1 ppg, Brionna Dickerson with 12.1 ppg and Demetress Adams with 11.0 ppg. Adams also leads the team in rebounding with 8.7 rpg, followed by center Ilona Burgrova with 6.9 rpg. The Gamecocks continue to feature balanced scoring, with 5 players in or very near to double figures and another 5 players scoring 3-5 points per game. The defense is usually solid, but a little more spotty than last year–understandable, with the 7-player turnover from last season to this one. There are signs that the Gamecocks continue to improve, as the season moves along. Experience teaches more than anything else, after all. But I just can’t speculate that the Gamecocks will be a serious threat in this game, without some assistance from the Lady Vols, who are not known for giving away a game. What I hope for is that they play well and play tough, make the Lady Vols earn every point that they get and never, never give up. That will be enough for most of the fan base–for now. If these freshmen continue to play and develop at the established pace, I’m going to expect a lot more 3 years from now. But not this Sunday.

The game against the Lady Vols tips off at 3 pm. EST.