5 things to know about the South Carolina Gamecocks’ NCAA Tournament history
South Carolina’s men’s basketball team is back in the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history.
The Gamecocks (26-7) are a No. 6 seed and will play 11-seed Oregon (23-11) at 4 p.m. Thursday (TNT) in a Midwest Region game in Pittsburgh.
USC is 8-10 all time in NCAA Tournament games with four Sweet 16 appearances (1971, 1972, 1973 and 2017). Here are five things to know about that tournament history:
1. That historic Final Four run
The Gamecocks were the seventh SEC program to make a Final Four when they went in 2017 under coach Frank Martin. Auburn joined them two years later. Tennessee and Alabama are third and fourth in all-time winning percentage in the SEC, but neither has been to the final weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
2. Dave Odom leads USC to March Madness
South Carolina pulled off the unusual distinction in 2004 finishing as a top-25 team in the regular season (No. 23), but only were a 10 seed for March Madness. Led by Mike Boynton, Carlos Powell and Josh Gonner, they started the year 18-2 on the way to the only tournament trip under Dave Odom’s coaching tenure. South Carolina lost to a talented Memphis team, coached by John Calipari, in the first round.
3. Frank McGuire’s teams
Under Frank McGuire, South Carolina made the Sweet 16 in the early 1970s, but they only had to two non-consolation games in those runs in an era when the tournament format looked quite different. They topped Temple and Texas Tech in regular play. The Gamecocks also went 3-0 in regional consolation games. Forward Tom Riker was a big scorer in the first two runs run, averaging 23.6 points.
4. Doziers’ legacy
Twenty-eight years apart, the father-son duo of Perry and P.J. Dozier scored more than 20 points in NCAA Tournament games. The elder Dozier led South Carolina with 21 points in a 81-66 loss to N.C. State in 1989. In 2017, P.J. Dozier put up 21 in a 93-73 blowout of Marquette in the opening round.
5. Don’t remind Gamecock fans
South Carolina made a less-than-enjoyable bit of history in 1997 and 1998. The Gamecocks became only the third No. 2 seed to lose in the opening round, taking a 78-65 loss to Coppin State after an SEC title season in 1997. The next year, Eddie Fogler’s team became the 12th No. 3 seed to lose in the opening round.
South Carolina NCAA tournament history
1971
Lost 79-64 to Penn
Lost regional 3rd place game 100-90 to Fordham
1972
Won 53–51 vs. Temple
Lost 92-62 to North Carolina
Won regional 3rd place game 90-78 vs. Villanova
1973
Won 78–70 vs. Texas Tech
Lost 90-76 to Memphis State
Won regional 3rd place game 90-85 vs. Southwest Louisiana
1974
Lost 75-67 to Furman
1989
Lost 81-66 to N.C. State
1997
Lost 78-65 to Coppin State
1998
Lost 62-61 to Richmond
2004
Lost 59-43 to Memphis
2017
Won 93-73 vs. Marquette
Won 88-81 vs. Duke
Won 70-50 vs. Baylor
Won 77-70 vs. Florida
Lost 77-73 to Gonzaga
This story was originally published March 19, 2024 at 10:06 PM.