USC a basketball school?

[18IsTheMan]

Very long way to go for this, but this article speculates:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/south-carolina-paris-joining-staley-s-women-in-18644445.php

Made me wonder how I would feel about it. I've always been a football first, second and third guy. I follow the men's basketball team fairly closely but haven't watched many games over the years because we generally are not very good. If MBB ascended under Paris and had prolonged success, could I become a basketball first guy if the football teams continues to be mediocre?

Food for thought. Very hypothetical thought.

 

[Deleted11512]

Very long way to go for this, but this article speculates:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/south-carolina-paris-joining-staley-s-women-in-18644445.php

Made me wonder how I would feel about it. I've always been a football first, second and third guy. I follow the men's basketball team fairly closely but haven't watched many games over the years because we generally are not very good. If MBB ascended under Paris and had prolonged success, could I become a basketball first guy if the football teams continues to be mediocre?

Food for thought. Very hypothetical thought.

I think we're better positioned to be a bball power than football. You've got Cola, CLT, ATL...bigger metro, fertile grounds to recruit. Tobacco road can't take 'em all. Got a big 'ol arena to play in, that we fill up when the team is good. Our instate rival is terrible, the SEC has one traditional power that has been on a decline of late.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I think we're better positioned to be a bball power than football. You've got Cola, CLT, ATL...bigger metro, fertile grounds to recruit. Tobacco road can't take 'em all. Got a big 'ol arena to play in, that we fill up when the team is good. Our instate rival is terrible, the SEC has one traditional power that has been on a decline of late.

In spite of how long we've been mediocre or worse in football, it's still driven the ship. Shoot, it's still more popular than the WBB team who has won 2 titles recently. Could we envision a scenario where basketball is prioritized and football plays second fiddle? Along the lines of UK?

 

[Deleted11512]

In spite of how long we've been mediocre or worse in football, it's still driven the ship. Shoot, it's still more popular than the WBB team who has won 2 titles recently. Could we envision a scenario where basketball is prioritized and football plays second fiddle? Along the lines of UK?

I don't think so. People just love football so much around here.

 

[Uscg1984]

I don't think so. People just love football so much around here.

Indeed. Your previous post was also correct: There really is no reason we can't be a strong basketball program in this conference. I dare say we SHOULD be a strong basketball program. But the hearts and minds of Gamecock Nation, for the foreseeable future, are with football.

But that's okay. The two ideas aren't mutually exclusive. We can still be a "football first" school while also selling out our 18,000 seat arena to watch a basketball powerhouse. Certainly, being a perennial tournament team in basketball wouldn't hurt our football program.

 

[Prestonyte]

What's even more strange is reading that in a SF newspaper article!

 

[KingWard]

I'd rather be nationally relevant in men's and women's basketball than anything else that isn't football. And if I can't get football, I'll take men's and women's basketball, while pining for football.

 

[Abush]

I would always much rather we be a basketball school, but that's just because I understand basketball more, and I enjoy watching it more.

I would say my top sports are baseball, basketball, and then football. However, I also know I'm in the minority.

Actually, the whole reason I let my subscription expire for GCC is because we don't have any basketball recruiting, now that Collyn Taylor left for a position at USC. Even before he left, we really didn't get much in terms of insider info because LP's staff plays is very close to the vest, but we were at least getting more than we do now.

 

[TN-Gamecock]

I would love to see us be the next UCONN. Both men's and women's basketball teams excel. They both have won National Championships

I'm ok with being National Powers in Men's and Women's Basketball along with Baseball, Tennis, with the occasional big Football bowl game invites.

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Technically speaking, yes, we ARE a basketball school: we ARE a school, and we DO allow basketball to be played there......

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

 

[wob]

I don't think so. People just love football so much around here.

People love a winner.

Remember how everyone was a baseball fan 15 years ago?

 

[USC2USC]

Very long way to go for this, but this article speculates:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/south-carolina-paris-joining-staley-s-women-in-18644445.php

Made me wonder how I would feel about it. I've always been a football first, second and third guy. I follow the men's basketball team fairly closely but haven't watched many games over the years because we generally are not very good. If MBB ascended under Paris and had prolonged success, could I become a basketball first guy if the football teams continues to be mediocre?

Food for thought. Very hypothetical thought.

Its a great article and love the national exposure. Thanks SF Chronicle.

Also interesting to think when was the last time you read something that positive about USC athletics in The State, The Greenville News, The Charlotte Observer, etc.???

I have always thought it will be easier for USC to establish itself as a consistent nationally relevant program in men's basketball than football. In football we have two inherent challenges.....the elite level play in our own league and that program in the upstate. The SEC is good in basketball but not like football and we could dominate in-state in bball.

 

[SuperCock99]

It’s awesome that the basketball team is doing well. But when we say things like “we are a basketball school”, we are saying it because we are mad and being spiteful because our football program isn’t living up to expectations.

 

[atl-cock]

Didn't Pete Iacobelli used to write for The State?

I want USC to be an all sports school, where all sports excel and win championships. The sports I personally follow are irrelevant.

 

[Tngamecock]

We can be good in all sports and should strive for that. Pitting one against the other is silly.

I am a football fan first. However, probably the most invested I ever felt in a Gamecock sport was the back to back baseball titles. I had tears after the first one. The high from the women’s titles was real. So basically, I am a Gamecock fan.

 

[Cackmandu]

What's even more strange is reading that in a SF newspaper article!

No kidding, nice pick up 18!

 

[Cackmandu]

I'm getting a little giddy just thinking how far LP can take this thing this year! I think that defense could take us a long way.

 

[atl-cock]

We can be good in all sports and should strive for that. Pitting one against the other is silly.

I am a football fan first. However, probably the most invested I ever felt in a Gamecock sport was the back to back baseball titles. I had tears after the first one. The high from the women’s titles was real. So basically, I am a Gamecock fan.

I had tears after we won it at Rosenblatt too. I was thinking of my late father, and how much he would have enjoyed it.

 

[atl-cock]

What's even more strange is reading that in a SF newspaper article!

Not when you consider that the article was written by Pete Iacobelli, who I believe used to write for The State.