When South Carolina and LSU tip off Saturday in Columbia, it won’t just be about climbing the SEC standings - it’ll be about pride, urgency, and who can bounce back from a week they’d rather forget.
Let’s call it what it is: both teams are struggling. South Carolina sits at 11-10 overall and just 2-6 in conference play.
LSU isn’t faring much better at 13-8, but their 1-7 SEC record tells the real story. And both programs are coming off arguably their worst performances of the season.
For the Gamecocks, Wednesday night was a gut punch. Hosting No.
19 Florida, South Carolina got run out of their own gym in a 95-48 blowout - their most lopsided loss of the season. Head coach Lamont Paris didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Just a poor effort overall on our behalf,” Paris said. “We have to worry about ourselves. I was disappointed in our effort, in our competitive spirit.”
That kind of honesty is telling. And it’s not the first time South Carolina’s had to regroup quickly.
Back on Jan. 14, the Gamecocks were hammered 108-74 at Arkansas. But just three days later, they responded with a gritty 71-67 loss to Auburn - a game that showed some fight and identity.
“I thought that would be the only time we were faced with that challenge,” Paris said. “But I thought that was a significant response in terms of identifying who this team was going to be moving forward.”
Now they’ll need that same kind of bounce-back mentality - fast.
LSU, meanwhile, is licking its wounds after an 80-66 home loss to Mississippi State. And while the final score might suggest a competitive game, it wasn’t.
The Bulldogs led by as many as 27 and were up 44-21 at halftime. It was a rough night for a Tigers squad that’s been searching for answers.
Head coach Matt McMahon didn’t mince words either.
“They played with a sense of urgency that we were unable to match,” McMahon said. “Very disappointing performance. We dug too deep of a hole to have a chance in the game.”
The 3-point line continues to be a thorn in LSU’s side. The Tigers rank 12th in the SEC in 3-point shooting percentage at 32.9%, and that number has plummeted to just 21.7% over their last three games. In a conference where perimeter shooting can swing games, LSU’s inconsistency from deep has been a major issue.
Saturday’s matchup is also a rematch. South Carolina won the first meeting back on Jan. 6 in Baton Rouge, 78-68. That game feels like a long time ago for both teams, but it’s worth noting as the Tigers look for revenge and the Gamecocks try to get back on track.
Player-wise, there’s some firepower on both sides. LSU is led by freshman guard Dedan Thomas Jr., who’s averaging 15.3 points and 6.5 assists per game.
He’s been a steady hand in an up-and-down season. South Carolina counters with Meechie Johnson, who’s putting up 15.4 points and 4.1 assists per game.
Johnson’s ability to create off the dribble and knock down tough shots makes him a key piece in the Gamecocks’ offensive puzzle.
So yes, both teams are reeling. But that only raises the stakes. Saturday isn’t about rankings or records - it’s about which team can look in the mirror, shake off a tough week, and play with the kind of edge that’s been missing.
Two desperate teams. One chance to reset the narrative. Let’s see who shows up.