Gamecocks recently visited three countries in Europe, winning four games Head Coach Darrin Horn On what he learned about his team during the time in Europe... Playing four games gave us the opportunity to see how our guys respond to different situations and what kinds of things they can bring to the table on both ends of the floor. We got a lot of feedback. We had a couple of games where it got tough and we got down against some pretty good competition and could've easily folded, but we continued to fight and we found a way to win. So I thought that was a real positive. It was big in a lot of ways. The practice time was huge for us to start implementing some terminology and some things that happen in transition. Just spending time together on the trip was really good. We got some game experience as well. So all the way around it's been really beneficial. On what surprised him about his team during the trip... We played a little harder and with greater purpose than I thought we would because we didn't have that much time to work before we left. The response to some adversity was good to see and something that we can hopefully build on. What he feels the team will have to work on the most heading into the season... We've got a lot to work on. You name it, we need to work on it. But I think defense and rebounding are going to be the two things that keep coming up. On the difference between basketball played in the United States and Europe... It's not that big of a difference. The styles and the ways of officiating are different but it's more of a feel thing. When calling time outs, you can't just jump up and call a time out anytime you want, there are only certain times that you can. Sometimes if you think that you might need one, you've got to call it before that because you can't do it after your own made basket. So it's more of a feel thing and how the game flows and is called. It wasn't a drastic change. On how the players are adjusting to his style of play... It's August and we are trying to be our best in March. So there is a lot of work to be done. But we didn't put a whole lot in because we wanted to focus on a few things, mainly playing really hard defensively and trying to be unselfish offensively. Also we want them to play with a certain level of intensity and speed on both ends. We were pleasantly surprised at how well they did adjust to it. Are we anywhere where we need it to be, to play the way we want to play to be successful in this league? No, it's not anywhere close but I think we've made strides.

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