South Carolina's SEC struggles are closer than the winless record suggests

Losers of nine straight games, South Carolina is in last place in the Southeastern Conference, the only winless team in the SEC. However, not all losses are the same, and the Gamecocks’ scoring margin isn’t nearly what the 0-9 record suggests.

In fact, five of the nine losses came by a combined 16 points, including some of the toughest games on the schedule. First-place Auburn should’ve lost in Columbia in early January if not for Carolina’s scoring drought in the last five minutes to blow the lead and lose the game. Auburn won by three.

Florida, ranked fifth in the country, trailed by seven at halftime and then needed a game-winning layup with seconds to go. No. 14 Mississippi State needed overtime to beat the Gamecocks. Plus, two other SEC games, including No. 13 Texas A&M, were decided by four points or less.

The margin of victory for Auburn, Florida, Vanderbilt, #14 Mississippi State, and #13 Texas A&M was 3.2 points against South Carolina.

South Carolina vs. the SEC

#17 Mississippi State	L	50-85
#5  Alabama	L	68-88
#2 Auburn	L	63-66
at Vanderbilt	L	63-66
at Oklahoma	L	62-82
#5 Florida	L	69-70
#14 Mississippi State	L	60-65 (OT)
Georgia	L	71-60
#13 Texas A&M	L	76-72

From Coach of the Year to last place

South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris won SEC Coach of the Year last season for leading the Gamecocks to a 13-5 league record and back to the NCAA Tournament in only his second season. He signed a $26 million extension heading into Year 3, only for South Carolina to regress to last place in the conference.

Still, Paris is 0-2 lifetime against Kentucky, including a win in Rupp Arena as a 19.5-point underdog in 2023. His Gamecocks may be down this year, but the last two years proved that Kentucky can’t overlook South Carolina.

South Carolina haunted Kentucky lately, but hasn’t won often in Rupp Arena