3 things to know about South Carolina MBB, the SEC as conference play begins
The South Carolina’s men’s basketball team enters Southeastern Conference play with much to prove.
Through 13 non-conference games with a 10-3 record, the Gamecocks have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled to establish consistency.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of USC’s SEC opener at No. 17 Mississippi State on Saturday:
State of the Gamecocks
As expected coming into the season, South Carolina’s engine on offense has been sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who averages team highs in points (16.5), rebounds (9.3), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.4), while shooting an efficient 64.6% from the floor.
The transfers have also been significant for the Gamecocks, as senior transfers Jamarii Thomas (Norfolk State) and Nick Pringle (Alabama) have been significant contributors. Thomas, a guard, leads the team with 3.3 assists per game and is second in scoring with 12.6 points a game.
Pringle, a forward, has recently found his offensive groove. He’s scored in double digits in five of the last six contests after only doing so twice in the seven games prior.
Senior forward Myles Stute and freshman guard Cam Scott have both struggled to start the season. Stute had perhaps his best three games in non-conference play against the Gamecocks’ three ranked opponents.
Before he made five 3-pointers — his high as a Gamecock — in USC’s overtime win over rival Clemson, the 3-point specialist was shooting 28.9% from behind the arc.
Scott, the team’s top freshman signee and a big-time recruit from nearby Lexington High School, has seen his minutes decrease. He’s averaging 3.2 points on 25.9% shooting.
An uptick in his production could be significant for a Gamecock offense that ranks last in the SEC. The Gamecocks’ 75.62 points per game are the worst in the conference and their 45.8% shooting from the field is the third worst.
USC finds itself prone to slow starts often, but it has fought back with concerted second-half efforts often. Its ability to string stops together in key moments has been its biggest strength this season.
South Carolina’s best win came against No. 25 Clemson, where the Gamecocks rode a strong first half and a defensively sound overtime to their first Quad 1 win of the season. Conversely, USC’s most disappointing loss was the season-opening loss to North Florida.
The Gamecocks currently sit at No. 86 in the NET rankings, the lowest of all 16 SEC teams.
State of the SEC
The SEC has established itself as one of the premier basketball conferences in the nation this season. Every team in the league is ranked inside the top 86 of the NET rankings, a testament to the depth and quality across the board. Ten SEC programs are featured in the AP Top 25, with five inside the top 10: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Auburn, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, and No. 10 Kentucky.
Excluding USC, the rest of the conference is ranked in the top 55. As such, almost every game in the SEC will be a Quad 1 opportunity, giving the Gamecocks ample chances to bolster their postseason résumé.
Schedule ups and downs
South Carolina’s SEC schedule is a test of endurance from the opening tip with a trio of tough matchups.
The Gamecocks open conference play on the road at No. 17 Mississippi State before returning home for back-to-back matchups against top-five opponents in No. 5 Alabama and No. 2 Auburn. This opening trio sets the tone for a stretch that will test South Carolina’s endurance and resilience.
The grind continues with a road game against No. 12 Oklahoma (13-0), one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the country, followed by a trip to surprising Vanderbilt, which boasts a 12-1 record.
This stretch to begin January, featuring three ranked opponents and two tough road games, could shape the trajectory of the Gamecocks’ season.
Opportunities for recovery appear sporadically in the schedule. Home matchups against Florida (Jan. 22) and Mississippi State (Jan. 25) offer winnable chances to regain confidence before another road challenge at Georgia on Jan. 28.
South Carolina must capitalize on these games to build momentum ahead of February’s equally unforgiving slate.
As the season progresses, the Gamecocks will face five more currently ranked opponents, including No. 6 Florida, No. 10 Kentucky, and No. 13 Texas A&M.
The regular-season finale will arguably be the toughest of them all when USC travels to play current No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville (though South Carolina won there last year).
What channel is the South Carolina game on?
- Who: South Carolina (10-3) at No. 17 Mississippi State (12-1)
- When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
- Where: Humphrey Coliseum (9,100) in Starkville, Mississippi
- TV Network: SEC Network
- Stream: Via ESPN app and ESPN.com
- Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (See see full radio affiliate list here)
This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
