Lamont Paris focused on 'building something that we can reproduce over and over again' after win versus Kentucky
For a moment, a grin appeared on Lamont Paris’ face. Around this time last year, there wasn’t much to smile about. South Carolina was a young team trying to scrap and claw its way game after game.
It’s crazy how much things can change in the span of a year.
On Tuesday, Paris’ squad picked up a signature win over No. 6 Kentucky, winning 79-62. It was a game that really put into perspective just how much the Gamecocks have improved.
“I don’t know. I would have probably said, ‘Where are we ranked?’ I’m kidding. That’s a sideways statement,” Paris said when asked about what his response would be to where his team is at now compared to last season.
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The win is a big one for South Carolina. It now moves to 16-3 on the year with a legitimate case to earn a postseason tournament bid later on in the year.
But that’s far from the focus for Paris and his team. Sure, it was a great night for the program. But they still know there’s so much left to accomplish.
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“We were and are still focused on getting better, being better and building,” Paris said. “That’s my job is to build something that we can reproduce over and over again. That’s what I’ve done in my career, that’s where I’ve been. And I know what those results look like. So that was our mission was to continue to build this year, and we’ve done that.
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“When I look at our culture, when I look at the character of the human beings that I have in my locker room, we have built, we have built. And then they are also good basketball players. They’re also incredible competitors, they also get along well. But we were focused on building. And we have done that, we’ll continue to do that.”
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Looking ahead, the schedule doesn’t get any easier for South Carolina. The Gamecocks will play 10 of their next 12 SEC games against KenPom top 100 opponents. But if they can keep playing like they have been, Paris knows there is no limit to what they can do.
“A lot of people are surprised. Maybe we’ve got a couple guys a little surprised themselves that you go out there and you’re up 20 at one point,” he said. “But again, we’re just really focused on just getting better and seeing if we can achieve, get as close as we can to our ceiling. That is the main mission is to see how close to our ceiling as a unit can we possibly get?”
