Dave Odom has been at the helm of the South Carolina program for just two seasons, and the natives are already getting restless. Odom has compiled a 34-31 record overall and a woeful 11-21 mark in Southeastern Conference play. Last season's 5-11 SEC record included a seven-game losing streak.

Grumblings from Gamecock Nation fill sports-talk radio shows and Internet chat rooms, and no one is more aware of it than Odom. He believes the turnaround begins this year.

"I'm not pleased with where we are right now in terms of coming off of that season, but I am pleased with where we are right now in terms of recovering from that season," he said. "What we've done in the offseason, I'll put up against anybody in the country in terms of hard work and dedication. I feel good about it."

FRONTCOURT

Odom has referred to big man Rolando Howell as the most gifted player he's ever coached, and that includes former Wake Forest star Tim Duncan. And while Howell has shown flashes during his three years at USC, for the most part he's been an enigma. That must change. The soft-spoken Howell has to emerge as a premier player in the league if South Carolina wants to finish above .500.

"This should be Ro's best year," Odom said. "He's worked extremely hard in the offseason, he's put on some strength and some weight, and I expect him to have an excellent year. He's certainly going to have to take a bulk of the responsibility early on, because he has the most experience, and I think he's the most talented and the most ready to do that. Still, I think we've got some other veterans and some newcomers that will fill in nicely."

One of those veterans is forward Carlos Powell, who led the Gamecocks in scoring last season. But he often disappeared in crucial moments and played out of control at times. When Powell, a slashing-type player, isn't playing power forward, he'll split time with senior Kerbrell Brown, who's more of an outside shooter, at small forward. Brown underwent knee surgery in April but is expected to be full strength when the season starts.

Freshmen Renaldo Balkman and Brandon Wallace will see significant time on the court, while 6-foot-10 Paulius Joneliunas will do most of his learning from the bench.

BACKCOURT

Odom's best plan in the backcourt is to scrap everything and start over. The Gamecocks shot a pathetic 42.1 percent from the field last year and a horrid 29.6 percent from 3-point range. If they don't improve their production from the perimeter, they can once again kiss a postseason invitation goodbye.

Odom, however, believes he's solved much of his team's shooting woes with two incoming players and the offseason work of his returnees. "I think our outside game is going to be measurably improved," he said. "We should be able to shoot the ball better out there. We should be able to create better out there. And I don't think you shoot the ball better without being able to put the ball on the floor and create. People just press up on you if that's all you can do."

Look for freshman Tre Kelley to be starting -- either at the point or two-guard -- by the time conference play rolls around. "Tre really has a chance to tie things together at the guard position," Odom said. "We struggled all last year with our guard play, and one emphasis we had was to get somebody who could handle the ball, distribute the ball, make good decisions and score. I did not want to bring in another guard that could not score."

Junior Josh Gonner, another newcomer, also will be expected to inject some offense into the lineup. He averaged 18.5 points per game in junior college last season.

Sophomores Tarence Kinsey and Jarod Gerald and senior Michael Boynton will get their share of playing time.

FINAL ANALYSIS

When Odom was hired, South Carolina athletics director Mike McGee said challenging for the postseason every year was a realistic expectation -- and he didn't mean the NIT. However, the NIT is the likely goal for the Gamecocks this season.

Howell and Powell, if they play up to their potential, will give USC a formidable frontcourt, but there are still too many issues in the backcourt and an overall lack of depth. Odom's third season in Columbia should be considered a success if the Gamecocks can top last year's 5-11 SEC record.

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