South Carolina basketball 3-2-1
South Carolina’s men’s basketball season begins unofficially Wednesday night with an exhibition against Mars Hill.
It’s the first real chance to evaluate South Carolina under new head coach Lamont Paris. So with tip-off quickly approaching, here are three things we know, two questions and a prediction about the Gamecocks.
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Three things we know about South Carolina
There will be some growing pains–South Carolina has half of its roster as newcomers, a five-star talent who won’t be able to buy a lottery ticket until mid-December and no one on the roster having played a minute for Lamont Paris. That, coupled with a season-ending injury to Ebrima Dibba, who was going to be leaned on heavily, means there will be some growing pains. How quickly the Gamecocks work through those will be the question.
There will be a trio as a focal point–GG Jackson is going to play and have a lot of the Gamecocks’ offense run through him. How he adjusts to the college game will be key to Paris’s first year. Outside of him, the two other pieces offensively will be Meechie Johnson and Hayden Brown. That seems to be the three-headed monster entering the season.
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This year is about installing the foundation–South Carolina is going to try and win every game, but Paris has mentioned multiple times still needs to bring in personnel to maximize his system. This year will be about instilling some of those foundational pieces of the program and system along with bringing in talent to compete consistently in the SEC.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
Two questions about the Gamecocks
Can South Carolina get good frontcourt play?
The center spot is still a question with two unproven plays in Josh Gray and Tre-Vaughn Minott. The Gamecocks could opt to play small, but there are inherent risks in that with the SEC having a bevy of quality bigs. Paris-coached teams have typically finished as a good rebounding team defensively and last year was a good offensive rebounding team. South Carolina needs someone in the front court to step up.
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Can Meechie Johnson lead the point?
The South Carolina staff certainly feels like he can, but that won’t be proven until the season starts. Johnson played limited minutes at Ohio State, mostly off the ball. He’s been talked about highly through the start of preseason practice. But South Carolina needs him to be the facilitator and shooter on this team.
One prediction
South Carolina will not finish last in the SEC
This is not saying the Gamecocks would be in the top half of the SEC if I were filling out a ballot, but I think they finish ahead of a few teams in the league this season.
South Carolina is a team that should get better as the season progresses. It has enough to be competitive in games this year. Having an NBA-level talent should help South Carolina win some games and finish ahead of potentially Georgia or Vanderbilt this year.
