COLUMBIA, S.C. -- As South Carolina's senior leaders were coming off the court in Saturday night's loss at powerhouse Kentucky, Gamecocks coach Frank Martin gave them a message.
"It's over," Martin told them, explaining how the pouting, the sluggish practices and lack of attention after last year's defeat to Kentucky lingered far too long. "And it cost us at Missouri."
The leadership core of Duane Notice, Sindarius Thornwell and Justin McKie made sure it didn't Tuesday night, combining for 62 points and 14 3-pointers as the Gamecocks put away Auburn 98-69.