T25-GEORGIA-S CAROLINA
South Carolina’s Davis: No RB rivalry with Gurley
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β South Carolina’s Mike Davis isn’t gearing up for a showdown or to stamp himself one of college football’s best back when the Gamecocks host No. 6 Georgia on Saturday.
He is, however, anxious to see a good friend: Todd Gurley.
Davis and Gurley are two of the Southeastern Conference’s elite runners and both have put up strong early performances. Davis rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns in South Carolina’s bounce-back, 33-23 victory over East Carolina last week.
Gurley ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns β he had a fourth on a kickoff return β as the Bulldogs defeated Clemson two weeks ago.
This time, South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC) and Georgia (1-0, 0-0) face off for early control of the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division.
SC SMALL COLLEGE ROUNDUP
SC State gets true test against Coastal Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β After a 63-point opening week win and a 66-point loss a week ago, South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough thinks he can finally get a handle on what his team is truly like at Coastal Carolina.
Pough says the Bulldogs aren’t as good as they looked against Division II Benedict to open the year, but hopefully aren’t as bad as they looked against Clemson last week.
Coastal Carolina coach Joe Moglia says the Chanticleers run defense must improve. They are allowing more than 296 yards on the ground a game to rank 105th out of 113 Football Championship Subdivision teams.
In other games involving South Carolina’s Football Championship Subdivision teams on Saturday, Furman travels to Presbyterian; and Wofford hosts North Greenville. On Thursday, Charleston Southern beat Campbell 34-10.
CLEMSON-ASSISTANT
Clemson hires Riley to replace Grant
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) β Clemson has hired Richie Riley as assistant men’s basketball coach, replacing Earl Grant who became College of Charleston’s head coach.
Riley spent the past two seasons at UAB. Before that Riley was an Eastern Kentucky assistant for a season and was with Coastal Carolina for former Clemson head coach Cliff Ellis in 2010 and 2011.
Tigers coach Brad Brownell said Riley is a rising young coach who has shown he can recruit and build relationships with players.
Riley said he was excited to join the Tigers, who went 23-13 and reached the NIT semifinals a year ago.
Brownell should have another opening to fill as Grant is expected to add Tigers director of basketball operations Dick Bender to his Cougars staff.
NORTH CAROLINA ST-SOUTH FLORIDA
Taggart, USF not looking for moral victories
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) β South Florida coach Willie Taggart is encouraged by signs of improvement in his team, which faces North Carolina State in its next test.
He’s hardly content, though.
The Bulls (1-1) were outplayed for much of a come-from-behind season-opening victory over Football Championship Subdivision opponent Western Carolina two weeks ago, then overcame a slow start offensively to rally and nearly beat mistake-prone Maryland, which is making the transition from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the Big Ten.
After going 2-10 a year ago β including a loss to a FCS team β that’s progress for a program that’s been in decline the past five seasons.
KANSAS-DUKE
Duke hosts Kansas hoping for rare 3-0 start
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) β For all of Duke’s accomplishments during its recent rise to relevance, it’s still been 20 years since the Blue Devils started a season with three straight victories.
Duke is looking to check that off its to-do list when the Blue Devils host rebuilding Kansas on Saturday.
The Blue Devils’ 1994 team had been the most recent standard of success for a program that had been near the bottom of the Bowl Subdivision before starting its climb in 2012.
Since then, Duke has earned a winning season, bowl berths and national rankings β all were firsts since ’94. But each of the last two seasons also included early slip-ups.
A win over Kansas (1-0) will give the Blue Devils (2-0) their best start since the 1994 team opened with seven victories.
NORTH CAROLINA-MOVING ON
Hatchell’s return provides boost for veteran UNC
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β Things finally seem normal for Sylvia Hatchell and North Carolina after a year that was anything but.
In that time, the Hall of Fame coach was diagnosed with leukemia and missed the season, her freshman-led team pushed all the way to an NCAA regional final in her absence, then star freshman Diamond DeShields abruptly transferred.
Now Hatchell is back, along with a roster stocked with talent and experience from last season’s run.
Hatchell says her players are anxious to get started and “be a great team.” She also says her illness is in remission and she’s back to full coaching duties.
The team opens preseason practice in three weeks with 12 of 13 players returning, including double-figure scorers Allisha Gray, Xylina McDaniel and Stephanie Mavunga.
PANTHERS-INJURIES
Panthers DE Hardy to start Sunday against Lions
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers coach Ron Rivera says defensive end Greg Hardy will start the team’s home opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Hardy, who missed practice Wednesday to meet with his attorney, practiced Friday. The defensive end was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats, but is appealing.
Running back DeAngelo Williams missed his second straight day of practice with a thigh injury and is questionable. Jonathan Stewart will start if Williams can’t play.
Rivera listed Cam Newton (ribs) as probable, but says there’s “no doubt” the quarterback will start after practicing all week.
Tight end Greg Olsen is probable after taking a day off to be with his 2-year-old son who is battling heart problems.
Offensive lineman Garry Williams (hip) and linebacker Jason Williams (thigh) are questionable.
