Lamont's job just got a lot harder

[18IsTheMan]

Assuming GG is gone. Brown is gone. Chico is gone. That's 3 of our top 4 scorers.

Meechie is the 4th and he's declaring for the draft, but he obviously ain't going pro.

 

[Deleted11512]

Yeah, Meechie already said he's coming back.

I mean, I get the point. But losing the top 3 scorers off a 4 SEC win team isn't losing much. Wright showed some flashes last year. I hoping he takes a big a leap forward in the offseason. Gray had a really nice Feb as well. Prior to the 1/25 game against FL he only had one game with 10+ rebounds. After than he had 7, including 3 double-doubles.

In a way it's harder, but in another way he's got guys returning that improved the 2nd half of the year, and he gets to reshuffle the deck a bit on the remaining spots with the portal.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Yeah, Meechie already said he's coming back.

I mean, I get the point. But losing the top 3 scorers off a 4 SEC win team isn't losing much. Wright showed some flashes last year. I hoping he takes a big a leap forward in the offseason. Gray had a really nice Feb as well. Prior to the 1/25 game against FL he only had one game with 10+ rebounds. After than he had 7, including 3 double-doubles.

In a way it's harder, but in another way he's got guys returning that improved the 2nd half of the year, and he gets to reshuffle the deck a bit on the remaining spots with the portal.

I sort of understand where you're coming from. Nobody from this team is a big loss. On the other hand, points are points. The guys who are returning are going to have to play A LOT better. A whole heckuva lot.

 

[Tngamecock]

Chico was a nice shooter when open. Defensively a liability unfortunately….he will be okay elsewhere and we can replace all production lost. We better or we will be worse. Portal is our friend hopefully

 

[Deleted11512]

I sort of understand where you're coming from. Nobody from this team is a big loss. On the other hand, points are points. The guys who are returning are going to have to play A LOT better. A whole heckuva lot.

Prediction: we will have a new top 4 scorers next year.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Prediction: we will have a new top 4 scorers next year.

Money

 

[92Pony]

Hopefully Dibba is all healed-up and will contribute heavily, or at least contribute well.

 

[gamecock stock]

That's todays collegiate sports, football as well as basketball. You are going to have turnover. Portal, NIL impacts every school. Of course, I don't keep up with every school. I have a hard enough time keeping up with South Carolina. It looks to me like Paris has gotten 2 quality recruits in Murray-Boyles and Conyers. Mack and Clark would be huge pickups through the portal. As always, time will tell.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Ah, that's what we heard every when 75% of Frank's roster would leave.

 

[CCUIrmo]

I thought Meechie said he was returning with Wright and Grey and Paris would build around them next year. When did he say he was leaving? I must have missed that.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I thought Meechie said he was returning with Wright and Grey and Paris would build around them next year. When did he say he was leaving? I must have missed that.

He's not, but he has declared for the draft to get an evaluation.

 

[gamecock stock]

Ah, that's what we heard every when 75% of Frank's roster would leave.

Frank's problem was recruiting. Not very good at it. Well, that was one of his problems.

 

[Prestonyte]

Paris has plenty of playing time to offer in the portal. Needs to hit it hard!

 

[18IsTheMan]

I don't doubt it's a good thing to be cutting away some of this roster, but all it means is that he'll be breaking in an entirely new roster next year, which doesn't bode well. But it gives the "he needs more time" crowd an excuse. "He had to rebuild the roster his second year!"

 

[Psycock]

Gotta hit the portal hard. It giveth and it taketh away.

 

[gamecock stock]

How many have we lost through the portal? I know that we had 2 seniors on the roster. At least this year, unlike last year, Paris has a chance to bring in higher than low-skilled players.

 

[USC2USC]

That's todays collegiate sports, football as well as basketball. You are going to have turnover. Portal, NIL impacts every school. Of course, I don't keep up with every school. I have a hard enough time keeping up with South Carolina. It looks to me like Paris has gotten 2 quality recruits in Murray-Boyles and Conyers. Mack and Clark would be huge pickups through the portal. As always, time will tell.

There is turnover and then there is turnover. For any basketball program to lose 3-4, you are basically having to start over with a brand new team limiting the ability to have experience and develop team chemistry......both of which are super important in college basketball. I know Paris is just one year in but there are indicators for why we should all be very concerned about this program.

 

[AtlantaSun91]

There is turnover and then there is turnover. For any basketball program to lose 3-4, you are basically having to start over with a brand new team limiting the ability to have experience and develop team chemistry......both of which are super important in college basketball. I know Paris is just one year in but there are indicators for why we should all be very concerned about this program.

We knew GG and Brown would be gone after this season. Chico was never a long-term option and really shouldn't be a rotation player for a .500 SEC team. Meechie will be back. The most important thing is bringing Wright, Gray, and Meechie back. Continuity doesn't mean much when you're a four-win team - we need lots of turnover to rebuild the team through the portal.

 

[gamecock stock]

We knew GG and Brown would be gone after this season. Chico was never a long-term option and really shouldn't be a rotation player for a .500 SEC team. Meechie will be back. The most important thing is bringing Wright, Gray, and Meechie back. Continuity doesn't mean much when you're a four-win team - we need lots of turnover to rebuild the team through the portal.

And we are not the only ones to be hit by turnover. And I suspect that Lamont encouraged some people to transfer. After all, he had to put together garbage players after coming in so late last year, after losing 70% of the previous team.

 

[USC2USC]

And we are not the only ones to be hit by turnover. And I suspect that Lamont encouraged some people to transfer. After all, he had to put together garbage players after coming in so late last year, after losing 70% of the previous team.

However you slice it, our program is in bad shape.

 

[gamecock stock]

However you slice it, our program is in bad shape.

It has been that way for awhile. Who was the last basketball coach at USC to leave voluntarily on a hot note? Even Fogler's last 3 seasons here were losing seasons. I make it a habit not to judge a Head Coach nor a program at South Carolina in basketball nor football based on the first year. Brad Scott won our first bowl game in his first year here. Lou Holtz was winless in his first year here. Dawn Staley was 10-18 and won just 2 SEC games in her first year here. Time will tell whether Lamont Paris works out.

 

[Deleted11512]

There is turnover and then there is turnover. For any basketball program to lose 3-4, you are basically having to start over with a brand new team limiting the ability to have experience and develop team chemistry......both of which are super important in college basketball. I know Paris is just one year in but there are indicators for why we should all be very concerned about this program.

I've been concerned about this program since 2019.

Frank Marin won 4, 5, & 6 SEC games in his first 3 years. Paris is going to need more than 1 year to get some roster continuity and his guys in there and developed.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I've been concerned about this program since 2019.

Frank Marin won 4, 5, & 6 SEC games in his first 3 years. Paris is going to need more than 1 year to get some roster continuity and his guys in there and developed.

I understand and agree that Paris needs more than 1 year. But, geez, Frank was rebuilding for his last 5 years. Lamont has one under his belt. We could be looking at 8 years of rebuilding.

 

[Deleted11512]

I wish Frank was rebuilding! haha. Seemed like he was on cruise control. After the FF, he won 7, 11, 10, 4, 9 SEC games. 3 losing seasons and a .500 season.

 

[Mic4usc]

Assuming GG is gone. Brown is gone. Chico is gone. That's 3 of our top 4 scorers.

Meechie is the 4th and he's declaring for the draft, but he obviously ain't going pro.

If you were hoping LP could win here you obviously just have blind hope. It’s nothing personal, but every other SEC team is all in on basketball. Where does LP rank for SEC coaches? The coaching search was a disaster last year. The admin clearly isn’t doing what they need to do for any coach to have success here. We need a Chris Beard or Pitino type coach to overcome all the internal and external problems our men’s program faces.

 

[1vagamecock]

All the portal players that are linked to us are no better than what we had. If we get all our players from the portal again than it seems we are on the same 4 wins a year cycle for the foreseeable future.

 

[ChairForceCock]

And we are not the only ones to be hit by turnover. And I suspect that Lamont encouraged some people to transfer. After all, he had to put together garbage players after coming in so late last year, after losing 70% of the previous team.

Please don't use common sense in here. Stick to the thread agenda and flame away at the current state of affairs in our basketball program, or get out of here with that. Attica, Attica, Attica!!!!!

In all seriousness, I totally agree. He spent so much time trying to put out the flames, sift through the rubble, and recruit enough players to just fill out a team in his first year. He is taking the players he can build with, encouraging those who won't be playing to move along, and will bring in some guys that will work with those returning.

Players entering the portal is almost the norm nowadays. UNC has 4 players who entered.

 

[ChairForceCock]

I wish Frank was rebuilding! haha. Seemed like he was on cruise control. After the FF, he won 7, 11, 10, 4, 9 SEC games. 3 losing seasons and a .500 season.

Easy does it. The Forever Frank Fan Club members will come in and torch your blaspheming post.

 

[USC2USC]

It has been that way for awhile. Who was the last basketball coach at USC to leave voluntarily on a hot note? Even Fogler's last 3 seasons here were losing seasons. I make it a habit not to judge a Head Coach nor a program at South Carolina in basketball nor football based on the first year. Brad Scott won our first bowl game in his first year here. Lou Holtz was winless in his first year here. Dawn Staley was 10-18 and won just 2 SEC games in her first year here. Time will tell whether Lamont Paris works out.

I don't disagree and am not saying Paris should be let go after one year. Everything is in context. The context here is many felt Paris was a questionable hire (based on the level we have to compete at and his coaching record) and was the product of a poorly managed hiring process. We all know new coaches need time. Still its easier for any fanbase to give that time when the new hire has a certain track record and you quickly see small signs of progress.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I don't disagree and am not saying Paris should be let go after one year. Everything is in context. The context here is many felt Paris was a questionable hire (based on the level we have to compete at and his coaching record) and was the product of a poorly managed hiring process. We all know new coaches need time. Still its easier for any fanbase to give that time when the new hire has a certain track record and you quickly see small signs of progress.

Right on. Fairly or unfairly, when you don't have a track record of success, you don't get the benefit of the doubt.

 

[gamecock stock]

I don't disagree and am not saying Paris should be let go after one year. Everything is in context. The context here is many felt Paris was a questionable hire (based on the level we have to compete at and his coaching record) and was the product of a poorly managed hiring process. We all know new coaches need time. Still its easier for any fanbase to give that time when the new hire has a certain track record and you quickly see small signs of progress.

I agree 100% with you. He was not my first choice. And I know he was not in my top 3. I'm not even sure he was in my Top 5. After he was hired, I had no choice but to try and look at the positives in the hire. And those positives were that he coached under Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, one of the top basketball coaches in the early 21st century. in the nation. And the other positive was that his UTC teams improved every year he was there as Head Coach. No doubt that USC basketball sucked this year. But again, I have no choice but to look at the positive. And the positive out of this year was that we finished higher in the SEC than most prognosticators predicted.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I agree 100% with you. He was not my first choice. And I know he was not in my top 3. I'm not even sure he was in my Top 5. After he was hired, I had no choice but to try and look at the positives in the hire. And those positives were that he coached under Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, one of the top basketball coaches in the early 21st century. in the nation. And the other positive was that his UTC teams improved every year he was there as Head Coach. No doubt that USC basketball sucked this year. But again, I have no choice but to look at the positive. And the positive out of this year was that we finished higher in the SEC than most prognosticators predicted.

..the inaccurate and unreliable prognosticators.

 

[gamecock stock]

I agree 100% with you. He was not my first choice. And I know he was not in my top 3. I'm not even sure he was in my Top 5. After he was hired, I had no choice but to try and look at the positives in the hire. And those positives were that he coached under Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, one of the top basketball coaches in the early 21st century. in the nation. And the other positive was that his UTC teams improved every year he was there as Head Coach. No doubt that USC basketball sucked this year. But again, I have no choice but to look at the positive. And the positive out of this year was that we finished higher in the SEC than most prognosticators predicted.

One other thing I would add is that even though Paris was not among my top choices, we are STUCK with him. Look at Tanner's previous hires: Chad Holbrook and Will Muschamp: they each got 5 seasons to get the job done. So my choices are 1. be miserable about the hire or 2. try to find the positives. I choose the later. Life is too short to be miserable.

 

[gamecock stock]

..the inaccurate and unreliable prognosticators.

Multiple prognosticators.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Multiple prognosticators.

All of whom are inaccurate and unreliable.

 

[gamecock stock]

Not only are we stuck with Paris but, Tanner, who gave Holbrook and Muschamp 5 seasons each, just got a contract extension. We are STUCK.

 

[gamecock stock]

All of whom are inaccurate and unreliable.

All of whom predicted we'd finish lower than we did in the SEC. And Paris did better in his first year here than Holtz and Staley did.

 

[18IsTheMan]

All of whom predicted we'd finish lower than we did in the SEC.

And all of whom also inaccurately predicted the rest of the SEC.

 

[gamecock stock]

And all of whom also inaccurately predicted the rest of the SEC.

And multiple prognosticators were wrong about USC, as we finished higher than they predicted.

 

[18IsTheMan]

And multiple prognosticators were wrong about USC, as we finished higher than they predicted.

When the prognosticators are wrong about everything then the prognostications are irrelevant.