MBB- Is this the year we return to postseason play?

[Gamekem]

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The 2024 Men's Basketball Schedule for the South Carolina Gamecocks with today’s scores plus records, conference records, post season records, strength of schedule, streaks and statistics.

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We're only about 1/3 of the way into the regular season and I'm sure most like myself has had little or no expectations for this team. While looking at our current resume and how we've performed it looks like this team could be on track for a postseason (likely NIT) appearance for the first time since the Final four run in 2017.


As of today we have two pretty good wins on neutral courts against Grand Canyon and Virginia Tech and then we have one close loss to Clemson on the road. Our last 4 non conference games are winnable and if we continue to beat who we should, we're looking at a 12-1 record going into SEC play.

If we enter SEC play with 12 wins, I figure 5-6 SEC wins guarantees an NIT appearance and 9 puts solidly on the bubble for the NCAA tournament consideration.

 

[Deleted11512]

South Carolina Men's Basketball Schedule Scores & Stats | WarrenNolan.com

The 2024 Men's Basketball Schedule for the South Carolina Gamecocks with today’s scores plus records, conference records, post season records, strength of schedule, streaks and statistics.

www.warrennolan.com

We're only about 1/3 of the way into the regular season and I'm sure most like myself has had little or no expectations for this team. While looking at our current resume and how we've performed it looks like this team could be on track for a postseason (likely NIT) appearance for the first time since the Final four run in 2017.


As of today we have two pretty good wins on neutral courts against Grand Canyon and Virginia Tech and then we have one close loss to Clemson on the road. Our last 4 non conference games are winnable and if we continue to beat who we should, we're looking at a 12-1 record going into SEC play.

If we enter SEC play with 12 wins, I figure 5-6 SEC wins guarantees an NIT appearance and 9 puts solidly on the bubble for the NCAA tournament consideration.

I think so. CMB continuing to improve is huge. Really like this team.

 

[Kdaddy78]

Its definitely possible. We are much improved and as a whole, the SEC currently looks a little down. I think there are 3 teams in the T25 right now? So, if we finish .500ish in conference play, I think its very possible. I would have never thought this the case in September. Regardless of how it plays out, kudos to Coach Paris.

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

Its definitely possible. We are much improved and as a whole, the SEC currently looks a little down. I think there are 3 teams in the T25 right now? So, if we finish .500ish in conference play, I think its very possible. I would have never thought this the case in September. Regardless of how it plays out, kudos to Coach Paris.

The only team I do not feel good about playing is Tennessee because lately they just seem to blast South Carolina. Other than that who knows? Maybe six or seven conference home wins and two or three conference road wins? I doubt South Carolina will finish last in the conference as they were picked to do so.

 

[Prestonyte]

This group seems to be playing as a "team" and are on a mission to do the unexpected. If our 3pt shooting continues to hold, I like our inside game a lot when teams can't collapse. Our 3pt shooting fell off the last 10 mins of the Clemson game or we would have won that one as well.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If we enter conference play 12-1, a .500 conference record probably gets us to the NCAAT. That's not likely, but not as outlandish as it seemed a couple months ago.

I don't really care about making the NIT, but some consider it postseason play.

 

[KingWard]

If it's not the Dance, I'm not interested. If you can't find a way into the top 68, what good is it?

 

[Blues man]

Yes

 

[18IsTheMan]

If it's not the Dance, I'm not interested. If you can't find a way into the top 68, what good is it?

A long time ago, I thought making the NIT meant something. Ever since we claimed the ignominious title of back-to-back NIT champs, I have no desire to ever go back.

But, hey, it is the ORIGINAL tournament!

 

[Kdaddy78]

The only team I do not feel good about playing is Tennessee because lately they just seem to blast South Carolina. Other than that who knows? Maybe six or seven conference home wins and two or three conference road wins? I doubt South Carolina will finish last in the conference as they were picked to do so.

Agreed. TN just has our #.

 

[Gamekem]

If it's not the Dance, I'm not interested. If you can't find a way into the top 68, what good is it?

Progress is always welcomed and shouldn't be overlooked. More recruits are more willing to go somewhere where they know their season won't end in the SEC tournament, which has been the norm for years.

In the past 20 years 14 our past 20 seasons have ended in the SEC tournament if coach Paris can get any type of postseason look in year 2 that would bode well for the program and future recruiting.

 

[will110]

If we enter conference play 12-1, a .500 conference record probably gets us to the NCAAT. That's not likely, but not as outlandish as it seemed a couple months ago.

I don't really care about making the NIT, but some consider it postseason play.

I don't care about the NIT either, but it's a lot better to be there than not playing. I'll care if Carolina is playing.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Progress is always welcomed and shouldn't be overlooked. More recruits are more willing to go somewhere where they know their season won't end in the SEC tournament, which has been the norm for years.

In the past 20 years 14 our past 20 seasons have ended in the SEC tournament if coach Paris can get any type of postseason look in year 2 that would bode well for the program and future recruiting.

I know that's what folks always say, but how many times in our history have we used the NIT as a springboard to greater success? Twice. Fogler took us to the NIT in 95-96 and then the NCAAT the next 2 seasons. Frank took us to the NIT in 15-16 and then the NCAAT the following season (yeah, we were screwed out of the NCAAT in 15-16).

Otherwise, you go back to the 70s and we never made anything of it. Going back to the mid 70s, we've made the NIT 9 other teams and didn't do diddly the following season (I don't consider back-to-back NIT seasons as progress).

 

[Kdaddy78]

The argument for playing in the NIT used to be allowing the younger players to develop. These days with the various summer leagues and the transition portal, this no longer holds water. However, do I want to watch my Gamecocks continue to play? Of course.
I guess I am of the mindset that if we don't make the dance, would I rather continue to watch them play or not. I would want to keep watching them. Am I going to buy a NIT Champs shirt? No.
Maybe my reasoning is a little selfish.

 

[Gamekem]

One can't expect to be a NCAA tournament team if we can't even make the NIT. Many teams use the NIT as a springboard to level up their program and get to the tournament.

We're not in a position as program to be NCAA tournament or busts. We've been sitting at home for years and we've entered this season projected to be last in the SEC, so yeah I would gladly take a NIT bid because as of late that means the team is moving more in the right direction than most of the more recent seasons.

 

[18IsTheMan]

One can't expect to be a NCAA tournament team if we can't even make the NIT. Many teams use the NIT as a springboard to level up their program and get to the tournament.

We're not in a position as program to be NCAA tournament or busts. We've been sitting at home for years and we've entered this season projected to be last in the SEC, so yeah I would gladly take a NIT bid because as of late that means the team is moving more in the right direction than most of the more recent seasons.

The reality is that it is NCAAT or bust, for everyone. The NIT just a post-season exhibition. If you don't make the NCAAT, it doesn't matter.

It's altogether odd that there is a tournament for teams who couldn't make the real tournament and people just go on treating it like it's real postseason play. Teams actually reference making the postseason when they make the NIT.

 

[FootballLVR]

It's definitely a improved team. I think it could be a tourny team IF everyone stays healthy. We shall see.

 

[KingWard]

Progress is always welcomed and shouldn't be overlooked. More recruits are more willing to go somewhere where they know their season won't end in the SEC tournament, which has been the norm for years.

In the past 20 years 14 our past 20 seasons have ended in the SEC tournament if coach Paris can get any type of postseason look in year 2 that would bode well for the program and future recruiting.

I'm old. I need more impact.

 

[KingWard]

A long time ago, I thought making the NIT meant something. Ever since we claimed the ignominious title of back-to-back NIT champs, I have no desire to ever go back.

But, hey, it is the ORIGINAL tournament!

I remember when Al McGuire TURNED DOWN a trip to the NCAA Tournament in order to take his team to New York. Everyone was astounded. But expansion of the NCAA field to 68 teams and the visibility enjoyed by the Dance renders the NIT little more than nothing.

 

[Uscg1984]

Not that it means much this early in the season, but for the first time in a long time, ESPN's Bracketology includes the Gamecocks. Last 4 byes, currently.

Just keep winning and the rest will take care of itself. We have the best team we've had in a long while.

 

[AngloCock]

Guys, I was as big a Frank fan as any. Last year, I thought the Paris hire was bland as hell. I’m now a convert. I love his cool demeanor. Being black doesn’t hurt. He has put together an amazing group of unselfish guys, who understand spacing, cutting without the ball, and they can shoot from the outside. We are so MuCH better than the last 4 years. We might, if lucky and injury free, make the NcAA tourney. I’m now a believer.

 

[AnsonCock]

A long time ago, I thought making the NIT meant something. Ever since we claimed the ignominious title of back-to-back NIT champs, I have no desire to ever go back.

But, hey, it is the ORIGINAL tournament!

How long has it been since we received an invitation to the NIT?

 

[AnsonCock]

Agreed. TN just has our #.

And usually, one of our best in state recruits!

 

[Kdaddy78]

I see that Joe Lunardi has us as a 10 seed playing NW in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament. Hard to believe that based on last year(s).

 

[ToddFlanders]

With the new NIT rules (which are really terrible, but here to stay), I think some postseason seems like a lot better of a chance than not going. I don't throw around words like "guaranteed" a lot, and won't here, but it's hard to imagine them not in the postseason at this point.