South Carolina men’s basketball rising up in latest NCAA Tournament bracketology
The South Carolina men’s basketball team jumped up two spots in ESPN’s latest NCAA Tournament bracketology released Friday morning.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Gamecocks as a No. 9 seed in the South region with its first- and second-round games projected for Omaha. Lunardi has USC matched up with No. 9 Seton Hall. Houston and Wisconsin-Green Bay also are in the bracket with the Gamecocks for the first two rounds.
South Carolina was No. 11 in ESPN’s bracketology from earlier this week but knocked off sixth-ranked Kentucky, 79-62, on Tuesday night that ended with a court-storming by USC fans.
It was the Gamecocks’ highest-ranked win at home since defeating No. 1 Kentucky on Jan. 26, 2010.
USC (16-3, 4-2 SEC) has been as high as a No. 7 seed in NCAA Tournament projections. The Gamecocks are one of seven Southeastern Conference teams in the latest bracketology.
CBS’ Jerry Palm has the Gamecocks as an eight seed in the South, playing Seton Hall in Memphis. Houston and Central Connecticut State also are in the four-team pod with USC.
They are No. 51 in the latest NET rankings, a metric used by the NCAA Tournament committee to determine at-large teams. NET rankings factor in results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses.
USC isn’t ranked in either The Associated Press or USA Today Coaches, but that could change if the Gamecocks win at home on Saturday against Missouri.
This story was originally published January 26, 2024 at 10:06 AM.
