Cock-A-Doodle Brew 2/8: Top dog

Today: The epicenter of college basketball.

a:

Good morning. Our girl is on the ground in Brazil!

What else is mixed into today’s Brew? ⤵️

🔋 A powerhouse
🐶 Top dog
🤙 And much, much more

🎥 GAMECOCKS+

Spring is in the air because South Carolina softball is back on the field tomorrow! Get ready for what promises to be an electrifying season and catch up on what Head Coach Bev Smith has planned in her 14th season at the helm. With new faces ready to make an impact, South Carolina has one goal in mind: a run to the NCAA Tournament.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 A Powerhouse. Looking for the epicenter of college basketball this season? It’s here in Columbia, South Carolina. Heading into Wednesday night’s slate, Gamecock men’s and women’s basketball have the best combined record in the country at 41-3.  

🔼 Big Gamecock Weekend. It’s back! South Carolina announced Big Gamecock Weekend presented by Palmetto Shirt Company set for April 19-21. Big Gamecock Weekend marks several days worth of activities, including the Garnet & Black Spring Game, the Cocky Trot 5K, and Junior Gamecock Club movie night on the field of Williams-Brice Stadium. More details here.

🔼 Stock Up. PFF’s Trevor Sikkema argues that no quarterback may have helped his draft stock more at the Senior Bowl than Spencer Rattler. Here’s why.

🔼 Got The Gold. 2004 marked the first time a USA Basketball athlete carried the American flag during the Olympic Opening Ceremony. It was none other than Dawn Staley, who went on to win her third Olympic gold in those games Down Under.

🔼 Top Dog. Jake McCoy is ready to take the mound in the Garnet & Black, but the freshman knows throwing strikes in college is a whole different ballgame.

“Everybody has been super open and welcoming,” McCoy said on the transition from high school to college. “But just like I’m not the top dog anymore. Like I walk around in the locker room and see these guys who have had years of SEC success and it’s just like man, they’re pretty damn good. I need to be like that one day.”

🔼 Quarterback Battle. It’ll be an offseason to watch for South Carolina football as the Gamecocks look to name a starting quarterback. LaNorris Sellers shined in his three appearances on the gridiron last season, while the Gamecocks added Auburn transfer Robby Ashford and Oklahoma transfer Davis Beville to the quarterbacks room. Meanwhile, freshman early enrollee Dante Reno is also on campus and ready to compete.

“LaNorris will take the first rep of spring practice because he’s been here the longest. And then after that, let them battle it out. That’s what we told those guys when we were bringing them in,” Coach Beamer told GamecockCentral. “It’s going to be a competition and get these guys a ton of equal reps and see where we are after 15 spring practices.”

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

Air Attack. LaNorris Sellers threw a 50-yard touchdown last season to Tyshawn Russell. Do you remember against which opponent that happened?

Got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the right answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

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📬 A LOOK AHEAD

Thursday 2/8

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Wake Forest @ 3:00pm ET | Live Streaming | Live Stats

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Missouri @ 7:00pm ET on SEC Network | Tickets

Friday 2/9 - Sunday 2/11

🏊 Swimming & Diving (Swim Only) @ the UVA Cavalier Invitational (Charlottesville, VA)

Friday 2/9 - Saturday 2/10

🏃 Track & Field @ the Tiger Paw Invite (Clemson, SC)

🏃 Track & Field @ the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (Boston, MA)

Friday 2/9

🏇 Equestrian @ TCU @ 11:00am ET

🥎 Softball vs. Jacksonville State @ 4:00pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

Saturday 2/10

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt @ 1:00pm ET on SEC Network | Tickets

🏇 Equestrian @ Texas A&M @ 2:00pm ET

🥎 Softball vs. Jacksonville State @ 3:00pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

🥎 Softball vs. Virginia @ 5:30pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

Sunday 2/11

⛳ Men’s Golf @ the Puerto Rico Classic Round 1 (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) | Live Stats

🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Ohio State @ 12:00pm ET | Live Streaming | Live Stats

🥎 Softball vs. Virginia @ 12:30pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. UConn @ 2:00pm ET on ESPN

🥎 Softball vs. UNCG @ 3:00pm ET | Tickets | Live Stats

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Sellers threw his career-long touchdown pass against Furman. He went four-for-four that day with 86 yards and two touchdowns.

🤙 Have a good Thursday, y’all.