South Carolina Men’s Basketball: Three Holiday Wishes for a Stronger Second Half
It’s the season of giving, and if South Carolina men’s basketball could ask for a few gifts heading into the new year, they wouldn’t mind a little help from the basketball gods. At 8-4 on the season after a convincing 95-70 win over South Carolina State, the Gamecocks are just a tick behind where they stood at this point last year (9-3). But the record doesn’t tell the whole story - especially when you consider they’re 0-4 against top-100 NET opponents.
The good news? There’s a lot of basketball left to be played, and the SEC schedule is loaded with opportunities to build a resume and find a rhythm. But if this team wants to make real noise down the stretch, there are a few key areas that need some serious attention.
Let’s break down the Gamecocks’ holiday wish list heading into the heart of the season.
1. Snap the Shooting Slump - One Way or Another
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: South Carolina has been ice-cold from beyond the arc.
Over the last six games, the Gamecocks have shot above 30% from three just once - a 44% outburst against Stetson on December 6. Outside of that, it’s been rough.
They hit just 15% from deep against Clemson and 13% against The Citadel. That’s not just a cold streak - that’s a full-on freeze.
Here’s the kicker: despite the struggles, South Carolina is still hoisting up nearly 28 three-point attempts per game - sixth-most in the SEC - while converting at just 29.8%, second-worst in the conference. That’s a tough combo to live with.
So what’s the fix? It’s a fork-in-the-road moment. Either the Gamecocks start knocking down shots at a higher clip, or they have to scale back the volume from deep to avoid digging themselves into early deficits.
Head coach Lamont Paris seems committed to the long ball, and it’s clear this roster was built with shooters in mind. After the loss to Clemson, Paris said the team was constructed with the idea that it could weather cold nights simply due to the number of capable shooters. But when the shots aren’t falling, they’re not falling for anyone - and that’s been the story too often lately.
The solution may not be abandoning the three entirely, but finding more balance and better looks - whether that’s through ball movement, attacking the paint, or creating inside-out opportunities.
2. Stack Some Resume Wins in SEC Play
South Carolina’s non-conference résumé is missing that signature win. The Gamecocks have one more tune-up - a December 30 matchup with Albany - before the real gauntlet begins: SEC play.
And this year, the conference is no joke.
Almost every game on the SEC slate will come against a Quadrant 1 or 2 opponent, meaning there’s no shortage of chances to prove themselves. But that also means the margin for error is razor-thin. If South Carolina wants to earn a look from the NCAA Tournament selection committee come March, they’ll need to do more than just hang around - they’ll need to win.
Getting to around a .500 mark in SEC play - think nine wins - could be enough to put them in the conversation, especially if they can snag a few statement victories along the way. It’s a tall order, but not out of reach.
The key will be consistency. The Gamecocks have shown flashes of what they can be, but they’ll need to string together performances against top-tier competition. The opportunity is there - now it’s about seizing it.
3. Find a Secondary Offensive Gear
If the threes aren’t falling and the shooting volume isn’t going down, South Carolina needs another way to generate offense. The numbers suggest there’s room to grow.
Right now, the Gamecocks rank near the bottom of the SEC in field-goal attempts per game (58.3). Combine that with their heavy reliance on the three, and you get a team that doesn’t take many shots - and doesn’t hit a high percentage of the ones they do.
So what’s the adjustment?
One option: speed things up. Push the tempo, get into sets quicker, and create more possessions.
It’s the kind of philosophy that former NBA coach Mike D’Antoni used to great effect - not necessarily changing what you shoot, but when you shoot it. More possessions mean more opportunities, and when the threes do fall, the payoff is bigger.
Another path? Get downhill.
Attack the rim. Drive and kick.
Against Clemson, senior guards Mike Sharavjamts and Kobe Knox combined for 26 points - and only one of those came from beyond the arc. That’s the kind of balance this team needs more of.
Knox said it best: “Coach Paris keeps emphasizing us to keep attacking on the rim, because once we attack the rim, we’re going to create more open shots for the guys, and not have to take more contested shots.”
There’s also the rebounding factor. South Carolina is last in the SEC in offensive boards per game (9.7).
That’s a tough stat to stomach, especially for a team that needs all the second-chance points it can get. Improving there - even marginally - could pay major dividends.
But given the team’s lack of size, that’s a big ask.
Looking Ahead
The Gamecocks have laid a solid foundation, but the road ahead is where the real tests begin. With SEC play looming, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether this team can turn a promising start into something more meaningful.
If they can heat up from deep, snag a few key wins, and diversify the offense, South Carolina could be a tough out in the second half of the season.
And if not? Well, they’ll need a little more than holiday cheer to keep their postseason hopes alive.