Good morning. Yesterday marked 30 days until Gamecocks Baseball begins. Director of Content for the University of South Carolina Athletics Department Brad Muller said it best: "From where I sit, the excitement level for South Carolina Baseball this year is more than the usual ‘through the roof’ level."

What else is mixed into today’s Brew? ⤵️

👟 JaMeesia Ford earns Women’s Co-Freshman of the Week honors
⚾️ More on the 10 things Brad Muller is looking forward to this baseball season
🤙 And much, much more

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🔼 Beyond the Peanuts and Cracker Jack. “As a fan, here are the top 10 things I’m looking forward to about the upcoming season, in no particular order” - Brad Muller:

1. Founders Park

2. Ethan Petry, noting “The sophomore outfielder is back after leading the Gamecocks in batting average, home runs, and RBI as a freshman last year.”

3. SEC play

4. Cole Messina

5. Foul balls

Read the full article for the rest of his list.

🔼 They’re Fast, But Are They “Ford Fast?” South Carolina Track & Field freshman phenom JaMeesia Ford added her first piece of SEC hardware, earning Women’s Co-Freshman of the Week honors.

Ford took the world by storm at the Clemson Opener when she ran the second-fastest collegiate 300m in NCAA history, running 35.83 for the win. The Fayetteville, N.C. native was at it again in her home opener, breaking the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex facility record in the 300m when she clocked 36 seconds flat for yet another win.

Go here for more on Ford’s impressive performance as the anchor leg in the women’s relay, and the pair of meets the Gamecocks have this weekend.

🔼 Charity Stripe Challenges. As 247sports.com notes of Carolina’s loss to Georgia in MBB on Tuesday night, “The free throws made the difference for the Dawgs. By night's end, Georgia was 78% at the free-throw line. South Carolina was 53%…”

Carolina (14-3, 2-2 SEC) hits the road for a tough test at Bud Walton Arena against Arkansas (10-7, 1-3 SEC) on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (ET) on SEC Network with Dave Neal (pxp) and Joe Kleine (analyst) on the call.

🔼 Still Rattling the Cage. Former NFL scout Daniel Kelly, who worked under several Pro Football Hall of Famers, believes former South Carolina football star Spencer Rattler has the 'it' factor.

Kelly says this is what separates Rattler from the rest, as shared via SI.com:

"What's in his eyes is what separates him. He has fire and ice in his eyes that I love. Rattler has the biggest 'chip on his shoulder.' I value the 'chip'. It fuels talent. It's been told to me by a former NFL college scouting director that's what drove former NFL QB Tom Brady. As an evaluator, ‘want’ is the single most important characteristic to look for in prospects. Point blank ⎯ Rattler wants to win more than the others."

🔼 Getting Deep With the Veep. The WBB team is still in awe from their visit with Vice President Kamala Harris, during which she conveyed a message about strength, lifting others up with their level of play, and about the GOAT, of course—Coach Dawn Staley.

Watch more at:  https://youtu.be/DpK-6xX6FRU

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

A Razor-Thin Lead. You can be sure the Gamecocks will come to play when facing the Razorbacks in men’s hoops this Saturday after losing by only two points to them last February in an epic hardwood battle.

Today’s question—what was the score of that game?

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

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📬 A LOOK AHEAD

Friday 1/19 - Saturday 1/20

🏃 Track & Field @ the Carolina Challenge (Columbia, SC)

Saturday 1/20

🏃 Track & Field @ the New Balance Collegiate Showdown (Boston, MA)

🏊 Swimming & Diving vs. Duke @ 11:00am ET

🏊 Swimming & Diving (Women Only) vs. UNC Asheville @ 11:00am ET

🏀 Men’s Basketball @ Arkansas @ 1:00pm ET on SEC Network

Sunday 1/21

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Coastal Carolina @ 12:00pm ET | Live Stats

🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Virginia @ 1:00pm ET | Live Stats

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Presbyterian @ 4:00pm ET | Live Stats

🏀 Women’s Basketball @ Texas A&M @ 5:00pm ET on SEC Network

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 65-63

During that game, the Gamecocks’ Josh Gray scored a career-high 20 points and matched his career-best with 14 rebounds.

Make sure to tune into the game on the SEC Network at 1:00pm ET on Saturday!

🤙 Have a good Thursday, y’all.