One of the toughest and strongest players in recent South Carolina basketball history hit a wall.
Sindarius Thornwell, six months removed from leading the Gamecocks to their first Final Four, was continuing with his signature dogged defense when a perennial NBA All-Star made him realize he wasn’t in the SEC anymore.
“Running into Blake’s screen,” Thornwell said, “it hurt my shoulder.”
Blake Griffin is a 6-foot-10, 251-pound teammate of Thornwell’s for the Los Angeles Clippers. Taking shots from the former No. 1 draft pick is part of the new norm for the reigning SEC Player of the Year.