Lamont Paris shares why South Carolina will be fine as conference play starts
South Carolina has played exceptional this season. And head coach Lamont Paris explained why his group will continue to play that way.
Lamont Paris shares why South Carolina will be fine as conference play starts
- Thread starter Chris Clark
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Time will tell how we do. But too many people have gotten way ahead of their skis talking about us making the Big Dance this season.. I predict that we won't make the NCAA Tournament in Lamont's 2nd year here. It's too soon in the program for that to happen.
I think we'll get in. There's no such thing as too soon anymore. We bemoan the portal a lot, but bc of the portal, we went from one of the least experienced teams in the country to one of the most experiences teams in the country in a matter of months. I'm excited to see CMB continue to progress. Hopefully Gray can do whatever it is Paris needs him to do to get back on the court.
Probably not, but we've done everything we can do up to this point. We had 4 conference wins last year, and we were total garbage. I'm not sure what record would get us in. If we added 4 conference wins to make our final record 20-11, would that be good enough? I'm not sure how many wins we can reasonably add. Is our fairly easy early schedule giving us a false sense of where the team stands?
I think there is a false sense of security and NO, 20 wins would not get us in.
I do love your way of thinking. I'm a huge Paris supporter and believe we lucked out in getting him.
I would have to think a .500 conference record would make us a lock, but that's 5 additional wins on top of last year. Just not sure we can pull that off.
Portal has made basketball a wide open sport and every season is a whole new game. I think you are going to start seeing lots of teams that have not been traditional powers in basketball make some runs going forward. A couple difference makers from the portal can completely change a basketball team. Unlike football where a team needs a lot of talent on both sides of the ball to really change the direction of a program.
Our non conference schedule was weak. We need to go at least 10-6 in conference to even get on the bubble.
Maybe. We're currently in based on the latest bracketology. I'm not sure what Lunardi is projecting for us to be an 11 seed. It's at least encouraging that we haven't done anything to hurt us yet. Last year we went 7-6 in non con, with losses to Davidson, Furman, GWU, UAB, and ECU.
Those are ugly losses. The non con record generally doesn't help as much as it can hurt unless you have some non con wins over some good teams.
Conference record and standing are going to be the key to getting in the tournament.
Yep. Our net is higher bc our SOR his high, even though our SOS is bad. So even though it's a bad SOS, it's still difficult to go 12-1. So it does positively impact us. But, as you said, the SEC record will ultimately tear down that SOR ranking, or hold it up. The SEC looks pretty strong right now. So I think 9-7 probably does it. Unfortunately, we probably need Clemmy to win the ACC in that scenario.
I don't really follow it that closely but with a field of 64 teams in the NCAA tournament, if you don't get in you really shouldn't be in.
I doubt anyone on this thread was around to remember when Big Frank McGuire broke the basketball program through on the national scene in the late 1960s. I was a teenager. But I remember it well. The excitement around Carolina basketball back then cannot adequately be put in words. I never felt that with Frank Martin even after we went to the Final Four....maybe because of his personality....not sure. Regardless, that was short-lived. Thought there was a real possibility with Eddie Fogler. But he never had his heart in it and, it showed.
I hope you all can experience that excitement. Maybe what McGuire did is a "once-in-a lifetime" situation. That being said, I really have a good feeling about Paris. He may not break Carolina basketball through on the national scene this season. But I believe he will make it happen. If you are in the 25-50 year-old range, you are in the "sweet spot", imho. Hang on.
I hope you all can experience that excitement. Maybe what McGuire did is a "once-in-a lifetime" situation. That being said, I really have a good feeling about Paris. He may not break Carolina basketball through on the national scene this season. But I believe he will make it happen. If you are in the 25-50 year-old range, you are in the "sweet spot", imho. Hang on.
Good question.
If we did end up with 20 wins which is usually good enough, the RPI may be the anchor that keeps us out.
The front end of our schedule is the questionable component of the total record.
I think historically an SEC team with 20 wins and a .500 conference record more likely than not would get in, but with our non-conference schedule I can see why some of you are hesitant. I would feel a lot more comfortable with 9 or 10 conference wins.
Currently sitting at 23 in RPI and 43 in net rankings. SOS comes in at 159.
Back in the day a lot of basketball goals went up in backyards around the state because of Coach McGuire.
Just watched the highlights. MS St had multiple lay ups. We need to figure out how to defend the Post.
Lamont needs a get back guy. 
This is awesome. Dude was ready to get out there and D up!!
This is awesome. Dude was ready to get out there and D up!!I was in high school at that time. Went to McGuire’s camp that featured Buck Freeman on shooting, Lou Carnesecca on defense, and the gamecock team to demonstrate; end of camp was Roche and Joyce in a game of 21. I’ve tried to explain the buzz around the basketball team at that time to people; maybe it was so many games televised (very unusual at the time), the New Yorkers, Sports Illustrated cover (had to be there to understand that one), the ACC wars, John Roche himself, whatever; there’s been nothing like it in this state, including football, since.
And yes; from what I’ve seen, I think Paris is the guy.
It was a feeling you can’t describe. I saw men in church leagues crossing themselves before shooting free throws.
Ha my mother made me stop because we weren’t Catholic.
For me it was the ball handling drills, went to Campbell College and came back with a bunch of them!
It was a "magical" time. As I get older and reflect back on the good times in my youth, I smile when thinking about the McGuire era.
LOL!!! Baskets, Hoops, Backboards whatever ya wanna call 'em, you're RIGHT!!! And Thanks for remembering!!!
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LOL!!! Us 'Mackerel Eaters' refer to it as 'Blessing Ourselves'. I could never hit better than 50% but, I am a sinner.
You nailed it.Two factors in me being a Gammecock fan to this day.
1)The McGuire years and the excitement that surrounded.To a 12 yr old boy in that day the Gamecock players were Gods.
2)Carolina played all their football games at night back then except the home Clemson game.Clemson had no lights hence all their games were 1 o’clock.You had to get up mighty early in the lowcountry to make it to Clemson for a 1 pm game.