Gamecocks make their 2018 Bracketology debut

After two wins against ranked teams in three games, it seemed likely this was coming.

Now one expert is projection South Carolina basketball to return to the field of 64.

CBS’s Jerry Palm included USC in his Friday morning update, slotting Frank Martin’s team as an 11 seed. He put them in the Midwest Regional, facing Michigan.

And he has the winner of that game meeting No. 3 seed Clemson. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi does not have USC in his first eight out.

South Carolina is trying to go to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 1997-98. Last year, they snapped a 12-year streak of missing the Big Dance.

The Gamecocks picked up two RPI Top-25 wins against No. 14 Kentucky at home and No. 37 Florida on the road. When they beat No. 55 Georgia, the Bulldogs were the No. 41 team.

USC has only two non-Top-50 losses. Though Illinois State has fallen to No. 113. The Gamecocks face seven teams currently 37 or better, four Top-20, in the final 11 games.

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Gamecocks make their 2018 Bracketology debut."