Lamont Paris explains struggles for South Carolina against Auburn

It has been a magical season for South Carolina thus far, but Wednesday night’s game against Auburn was a struggle.

The Gamecocks suffered a 101-61 loss, losing for only the fourth time this season. Afterwards, South Carolina coach Lamont Paris discussed what went wrong for his team.

“Nothing that we didn’t prepare for. We prepared really hard. We’re [25] games into this. So we prepared,” Lamont Paris said. “But they made a lot of shots, and their pressure bothered us at times.”

The defense was the biggest issue for South Carolina. The Gamecocks entered the game allowing 64 points per contest, before giving up 101.

Auburn shot 61 percent from the field and 60 percent from 3-point range in the win.

Paris was pleased with the offense in the game but certainly not the defense.

“We still were 1 point per possession,” Paris said. “It was not the Mona Lisa for us offensively. But at one point, while we were still statting it, at one point we were 1 point per possession offensively, which generally generates enough offense for us to win or have a good chance to win once our defense sinks in.”

Paris also detailed what exactly went wrong defensively and added that in some ways it was just one of those nights.

“Some of our ball screen coverages were off and they took advantage of them. And, you know, a loose ball in front of our bench. We dive on it. We don’t get it. It squirts up to them, and they shoot a 3 right in front of our bench,” Paris said. “So there were a lot of plays like that. But they’re a good defensive team. That’s no secret. I think their pressure bothered us to some degree. But again, we were at 1 point per possession through a large majority of the game. The biggest thing – we don’t give up 100 points like that, not in one game.”

Lamont Paris shares South Carolina’s mindset regarding SEC race

Despite the loss to Auburn, South Carolina is still in the race for the SEC regular season title.

The Gamecocks are half a game back of Alabama with six games remaining.

“To be honest with you, in my mind, that [win over Vanderbilt on Saturday] was the domino that we needed to fall before we could have the audacity to look at what the standings are,” Paris said ahead of the game with Auburn. “I think we are to that point. So, we’ll talk about it a little bit.”

Obviously the game with Auburn didn’t go as planned, but the Gamecocks are still in the thick of the SEC regular season title race. Up next, the Gamecocks host LSU on Saturday.

“I think there is still some room for growth in our product,” Paris said. “At some point, that won’t be the case. We’ll be playing the best that we can possibly play. And then you try to do that for as long as you can… I don’t think you can do it for two months. If you can start finding your way into that mode for the next week or two, I think you do that for the rest of the season and ride it off.”