COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina hit a low point the last time the Gamecocks faced a Southern Conference team. Now theyre for a different outcome against a SoCon opponent with much more on the line.The Gamecocks (5-5) hope to qualify for a bowl game when they take on Football Championship Subdivision opponent Western Carolina (2-8) on Saturday. In 2015, though, they were just looking for a late-season pick-me-up in a sorry season when they got stung by Citadel, 23-22, at home , the final indignity of a 3-9 campaign during which coach Steve Spurrier walk away in mid-season.I think that was the low point, South Carolina running back David Williams said of the Citadel defeat. I think everybody was thinking about the week after (against rival Clemson) and overlooked the Citadel.No chance of that happening this time with whats at stake.The Gamecocks can double up on last years win total and get another few weeks of practice for a young team that features freshman starters at quarterback, running back and receiver in coach Will Muschamps first season.Muschamp wont bring up last years Citadel flop. He will go heavy about making a bowl and giving his seniors a strong send off in their last career game at Williams-Brice Stadium.Muschamp said his team did a good job hanging together and continuing to work after three straight losses left them 2-4 at midseason.That was not a prime spot to be in, Muschamp said. Guys continue to investee, thats what we asked them to do.South Carolina had won its previous nine games over FCS opponents before Citadel used its rushing attack to control the game. The Bulldogs ran for 350 yards on 61 carries, only throwing three passes against the Gamecocks.Linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams said the defeat has motivated him almost every day.We dont want that to happen again, he said.----Some other things to watch when South Carolina faces Western Carolina:ORTHS GOODBYE: One-time walk-on senior quarterback Perry Orth plays his final home game, likely to once more remain on the behind freshmen Jake Bentley and Brandon McIlwain. Muschamp has cited Orths willingness to mentor the young players as one of the Gamecocks biggest assets to their second-half surge. Orth, who started 11 games in his career, hopes fans remember his strong football moments, too. Orth rallied the Gamecocks to a 13-10 victory over Vanderbilt to start the season and threw three second-half TDs as South Carolina nearly beat No. 1 Clemson 35-32 last season.WESTERNS END: Western Carolinas season comes to a close after Saturday. The Catamounts had hoped to contend in Southern Conference (they were third in the league last season) but started 0-6 in conference play. Western Carolina is 0-51 all-time against FBS opponents, including an 0-18 mark against SEC schools.YOUNG GAMECOCKS: 78 of South Carolinas 115-man roster are freshmen or sophomores. The team has played 13 true freshmen, including seven who are starters -- the most in the country this season.MUSCHAMP TIES: Western Carolina secondary coach Blake Gideon played for Texas when Will Muschamp was the Longhorns defensive coordinator. Gideon moved to Florida under Muschamp as a defensive quality control staffer. Gideon held a similar position last year at Auburn, following Muschamp there when he became the Tigers defensive coordinator.STRONG DEFENSE: South Carolina is among six FBS teams to hold every opponent under 30 points. The others are No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Michigan, No. 7 Washington, No. 16 LSU and No. 18 Auburn. The Gamecocks twice gave up 28 points this year, their highest total, in a loss to Georgia and a victory over UMass.---For more college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Pete Iacobelli at www.Twitter.com/PIacobelli-APNick Bosa Super Bowl Jersey . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Kwon Alexander Super Bowl Jersey . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. 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Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds.ATLANTA --?Dwight Howard was an engaging figure during the bulk of his three seasons with the Houston Rockets. His smile, personality and overall caring nature were a joy for the organization.But it came crashing down last season with his desire to get the ball more, leading to a bit of a power struggle with James Harden, the other star player.Howard declined his player option last summer, opting to seek better fortunes elsewhere. He eventually signed a three-year, $70.5 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks, his hometown team.On Saturday night at Phillips Arena, Howard will face off against Harden and the Rockets for the first time since he left. While their relationship isnt dissected with the intensity of the?Russell Westbrook?and?Kevin Durant?split,?Howard made an impact on the Rockets, especially with young players?Clint Capela, Montrezl Harrell and Sam Dekker.Dwight was a great guy; nobody gets to really see the type of person he is off the court, said Harrell, 22, a power forward in his second season with the Rockets. Everybody sees him on the court and thinks hes childish or hes a big kid. Hes a great guy with the time I spent with Dwight. He cares about everybody on and off the court. He has a heart thats so big. Whenever I came out of a game, we were always communicating.Howards personality also can rub some teammates the wrong way on the court. He smiles when he plays and jokes with fans during games. In road games, particularly in Los Angeles, where he played with the Lakers during the disappointing 2012-13 season, hes booed with contempt.During his time in Houston, Howard would even smile at the fans who booed him. At times he would playfully encourage it.But he also worked to develop bonds with teammates such as Harrell and Dekker, a 22-year-old forward who played in just three regular-season games as a rookie last season because of back surgery. He spent his time rehabbing, watching and learning how to become a professional.During a playful moment, Dekker found a picture on Howards iPad of the big man posing in front of mountains during the All-Star break. Dekker posted the picture on Twitter. Howards cheesy smile, while wearing his Rockets warm-up suit, bore a look that made it seem he was taking a high school picture.Howard thought the picture was funny and rolled with it.Thats the type of guy I am; I dont take things too seriously, Dekker said. Dwight has kind of the same personality too, so he didnt mind I put that on. Its the type of thing a team needs. Our lives are so absorbed with basketball, you got to get away from it a little bit, have some fun.Aside from the playful banter away from the court, Howards play was dominant at times.In three seasons, Howard averaged 16 points and 11.7 reboounds per game.dddddddddddd. In the 2014 postseason, Howard was the Rockets best player, averaging 26 points and a postseason-leading 13.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.With Howard and Harden, the Rockets reached the Western Conference finals once and were eliminated from postseason play in the opening round twice. To say Howards impact on the court was a failure isnt fully accurate.Howard wanted the basketball more and his usage rate with the Rockets fell to a drastic 21.7 average during his three seasons. In eight seasons in Orlando, Howards usage rate was 23.5 percent. Even in his one season with the Lakers, Howards usage rate was 22.2, and he was playing with a torn labrum for most of that season.Yet the Rockets moved away from Howards post game, instead going with more 3-point shooters, led by Harden. Howard told ESPN he went to Rockets management asking to be more involved in the offense but GM Daryl Morey rebuffed the request.Last season, sources have told ESPN, the Rockets wanted to develop Capela, preparing him as the future starting center. In just two seasons, the 6-foot-10 Capela put on 50 pounds and has developed good on-the-court chemistry with Harden. Under new coach Mike DAntoni, not a favorite of Howards, the Rockets run more pick-and-roll plays.Ive always played like that, Capela said. For me its always worked out, the pick-and-roll plays. I like to sprint up the court; everything was positive.Capela watched closely how Howard handled reporters and teammates. While Howard is talkative and playful, Capela is quiet and friendly.I really had a chance to see a superstar on our team and how the pressure was on him and how to focus for every game, Capela said. I learned from that, and Im really glad to [have seen] that every single day.Learning how to become a professional is not easy for anyone, especially someone in his early 20s. Dekker said he leaned on several players besides Howard, such as Trevor Ariza and Harden. Capela also talked to other veteran players and currently is under the tutelage of backup center Nene.I want to do it my own way, and Im really glad I had a chance to practice against him, Capela said of Howard. If I got an offensive rebound or a basket against him, Id say if I could do it against Dwight, I can do it in a game. It gave me the confidence.When Howard plays host to his former team Saturday, handshakes and hugs are expected. Nobody expects this one to play out like the frosty meeting between Westbrook and Durant in Oakland.It was great having him around, Harrell said. He was a big help for me and I think hell have a great career in Atlanta. ' ' '