COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell squirms and shakes his head slightly the Gamecocks are referred to as a one-man team. He might as well get comfortable with the description.
Thornwell has become the Jadeveon Clowney for men’s basketball, the face of a basketball program the way the former No. 1 NFL draft pick was for Gamecock football.
Clowney was even in the stands Sunday to witness Thornwell’s performance in one of the NCAA Tournament’s surprises this year, the Gamecocks 88-81 upset of Duke to reach their first Sweet 16 since 1973.
Thornwell downplays his role, saying, “There are a lot of people on this team.”
Yes, but it’s the wiry, 6-foot-5 senior who’s leading the way with, igniting offensive spurts, grabbing the essential rebound or making the late stop.