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South Carolina vs. Marquette prediction and game preview, as the No. 7 Gamecocks and No. 10 Golden Eagles face off in the NCAA Tournament.

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Frank Martin’s Gamecocks are in the NCAA Tournament because of their defense. They play with a hunger on that side of the ball that is refreshing. Meanwhile, Steve Wojciechowski’s Golden Eagles love to score, especially from downtown. The contrast of styles will be a joy to watch.

South Carolina vs. Marquette Game Preview

Date: March 17
Venue:  Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Region: East

South Carolina Strengths

The Gamecocks do a great job of winning the turnover battle. They have active hands and play the passing lanes. The defensive effort is phenomenal. South Carolina rotates well, closes out and forces tough shots. Anytime you limit the amount of open looks your opponent gets, you’re at an advantage.

South Carolina Weaknesses

The perimeter scoring is not great. There isn’t a single Gamecock averaging at least two threes per game. The closest is Duane Notice, who is knocking down 1.9 threes out the 5.7 attempts he averages per game. If South Carolina can’t knock down open looks from behind the arc, it will risk going cold for long stretches on offense.

South Carolina Gamecocks In-Depth Analysis

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Marquette Strengths

It’s all about balance. Markus Howard, JaJuan Johnson, Luke Fischer, Andrew Rowsey and Katin Reinhardt all average in double figures and seven players average at least 20 minutes per game. The Golden Eagles led the nation in 3-point shooting percentage and were the second-highest scoring team in the Big East during the regular season. If they get dialed in from long range, watch out.

Marquette Weaknesses

Marquette’s defense has been a liability. It allowed opponents to shoot 45.7 percent from the field during the regular season, a mark that ranked 267th in the country. Marquette might score a lot, but it gives up plenty on the other end as well.

Marquette Golden Eagles In-Depth Analysis

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South Carolina vs. Marquette By The Numbers

South Carolina Statistics

Scoring Margin: 8.2 (48th Nationally)
Rebounding Margin: 1.4 (141)
Turnover Margin: 3.9 (9)
3-Point FG Percentage: 33.8% (236)

Marquette Statistics

Scoring Margin: 8.0 (53)
Rebounding Margin: .1 (200)
Turnover Margin: 1.0 (117)
3-Point FG Percentage: 43.0% (1)

South Carolina vs. Marquette Prediction

Some of the Golden Eagles’ best wins came against teams that were missing star players, while the Gamecocks are enjoying their first Big Dance under Martin. The Gamecocks do enough defensively to make sure the Eagles don’t kill them from 3-point range in a tightly-contested game.

South Carolina vs. Marquette Score Prediction: South Carolina 66, Marquette 62

MORE: Complete NCAA Tournament Bracket, Previews, Predictions