Why Kentucky win just means more for South Carolina veterans Jacobi Wright, Josh Gray
All Jacobi Wright has known is South Carolina men’s basketball. Josh Gray has been right there with him. Of USC’s 2023-24 roster, they’re the only two who’ve been through what this program has faced in the last three years.
From a 19-13 season to 11-21 to this: 16-3, 4-2 in SEC play under second-year head coach Lamont Paris and fourth in the league at the halfway point of the regular season.
Roller coaster, much? That’s one way to put it. But after the 79-62 win over No. 6 Kentucky on Tuesday night, it might have been worth it.
“We kept our heads down,” Gray said. “We’ve stayed humble throughout, you know. It’s a process. And this year we knew we had a good group of guys coming in with no egos, a lot of team camaraderie. And for it to pay off like this is just priceless.”
Wright and Gray both had standout performances in Tuesday’s historic victory, with Wright scoring 14 points and Gray posting up nine. The two had their roles against the Wildcats, just like every other player, and they found a way to make it all happen.
Gray was tasked with facing three other 7-foot forwards, Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso and Zvonimir Ivisic. Gray’s the only player on South Carolina’s roster to match their height. Every other USC big is no bigger than 6-foot-9.
He handled the task, limiting the Kentucky trio to just nine total points.
“Coach Paris has always told me to be big. and I knew this game, he was going to need it the most,” Gray said. “And they have three 7-footers, but they’re all freshmen, you know. So I’ve got the experience factor.”
Wright’s job was to score, plain and simple. South Carolina was laser-focused on executing its defense against Kentucky’s fast-paced scheme, but the Gamecocks still had to put up points.
It was the fifth time Wright reached double digits this season, and his second in SEC play.
“I just felt like we played through our offense,” Wright said. “We just took the shots we were given and we just happened to knock them down tonight. We saw a few go in early, so we just kept shooting and it worked out good for us.”
Paris has found a way to beat Kentucky twice and is the second coach in USC history to start his career 2-0 against the Wildcats. Wright and Gray got the experience in Rupp Arena last year, when Kentucky wasn’t ranked.
This year, they get the whole package.
As if the universe wanted to reward all of USC men’s basketball, Gamecock fans were inching toward the court to give the electric party a fairy-tale finish.
Gray shook hands with Kentucky head coach John Calipari and the rest of the Kentucky coaching staff, turned around and no one was behind him. South Carolina was swarmed by thousands.
“I just saw a full wave of people just storming the court,” Gray said. “So that was a great experience.”
The court storming was something new for Gray and Wright. It’s not a bad way to experience their first one with the team in a season that’s bringing a new sense of excitement to USC basketball.
Next four games
Saturday vs. Missouri, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
Jan. 30 at No. 5 Tennessee, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Feb. 3 at Georgia, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
Feb. 6 vs. Ole Miss, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
