Must-win game? 3 things to watch in South Carolina MBB vs. Virginia Tech
After a bounce-back win Friday against Charleston Southern, the South Carolina men’s basketball team is set to host the third true challenger of its 2025-26 non-conference schedule.
The Gamecocks (5-2) host Virginia Tech (6-2) Tuesday as part of the 2025 ACC-SEC Challenge. It will be the third top-100 NET opponent for USC this season after it fell to Butler and Northwestern at the Greenbrier Tip-Off. The matchup might be a must-win for the Gamecocks as they look to move closer to the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
“You’ve got to come ready to play,” USC head coach Lamont Paris said.
ESPN Analytics’ matchup predictor currently gives USC a 71% chance to win. Here are three things to watch in the Power 4 matchup:
Scouting report
Of the four top-100 NET opponents South Carolina will face by the end of non-conference play, the Hokies (No. 76) seem to be the most even matchup for USC (No. 89). It’s the first road game of the year for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech started the year 6-0 but dropped the last two games to top-100 NET opponents Saint Mary’s and VCU by an average of 15 points. Both teams are outside the latest bracketology predictions looking in, presenting an opportunity for the Gamecocks to leapfrog Virginia Tech and get closer to a tournament-worthy resume.
USC’s size problem, which has led to the Gamecocks being outplayed in the paint, shouldn’t be a huge factor Tuesday. Virginia Tech has three players standing 6-foot-10 or taller to USC’s two, but the three big Hokies are all freshmen playing 10 minutes or less per game. Solomon Davis, a 6-foot-11 center from Maryland, hasn’t played in a game for the Hokies this season and is expected to redshirt.
Virginia Tech’s most intriguing player is freshman Neoklis Avdalas. The 6-foot-9 freshman guard signed with the Hokies out of Kalamata, Greece. He’s second on the team with 13.8 points per game and first in assists with 4.6 per game.
Avdalas scored 33 points in 34 minutes in a 107-101 overtime win Nov. 8 against Providence. He shot 56.5% from the floor and went 5 for 8 on 3-pointers against the Friars with five rebounds and six assists to boot. If he finds open shots and gets in rhythm early against USC, Advalis could be primed for a big night.
Getting healthy
Against Charleston Southern, USC was without freshman forward Hayden Assemian and sixth-year guard Myles Stute. Both were inactive (concussion protocol) but were listed as day-to-day.
Being able to play a healthy Assemian against the Hokies would be huge for the Gamecocks. He’s arguably been USC’s best defender this season, particularly when guarding away from the ball and in the paint. His play in the paint earned him the starting job for the last four games prior to his injury.
“I’ll tell you what he’s done a tremendous job of doing is, is knowing where his bread is buttered, and then sticking right there,” Paris said. “And I say that in the highest regard, because there are just so many guys that don’t understand that, especially early in their careers, and so he’s found a way that’s going to make him a valuable asset to us.”
Stute hasn’t had the best season on paper, averaging seven points on 33.3% shooting as a starter, but he provides experience and another healthy body for the Gamecocks. He can eat minutes as USC’s other guards battle an ongoing shooting slump, and Paris clearly trusts him as one of USC’s three returners from last season.
Elijah Strong’s health is also something to watch Tuesday. Strong played just three minutes in the first half against Charleston Southern as a precaution for knee pain before dropping 20 second-half points and leading his team to a win. Strong also led the team with 16 points against Northwestern.
As Strong continues to progress offensively, being able to play without restrictions could be a big factor for the Gamecocks.
Meechie Johnson’s consistency
Which version of Meechie Johnson will take the court for USC on a given night will be a factor the entire season, not just on Tuesday night. Johnson returned to the Gamecocks from Ohio State this offseason hoping to lead the team and replicate an All-SEC second team season from 2023-24.
He’s done well on paper so far, with a team-high 14.4 points per game, along with 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists. But there hasn’t been a consistent effort from Johnson across each of USC’s seven games.
Some days he’s the hero, like when he dropped 33 against Southern Mississippi, including 11-straight in the fourth quarter to force overtime and eventually get the win. Or against Butler, when he put up 24 points to keep USC in a game the Bulldogs otherwise dominated.
“He’s going to be very comfortable in the role that he has for us,” Paris said.
Other days, he’s not even the villain — he’s a non-factor. Although the Gamecocks defeated Radford 87-58 Nov. 18, Johnson scored two points on 1 for 5 shooting and simply stopped attempting shots.
It didn’t matter then, but it almost did against Charleston Southern — the Gamecocks trailed 40-39 with just over 13 minutes left and looked like they might need another scoring outburst from Johnson. He finished with four points from the foul line and shot 0 for 3 from the floor.
USC will need Johnson in tight games through the end of non-conference play and as the SEC schedule begins in January. If he continues to show up seemingly uninterested some nights, the Gamecocks won’t come out on the other side in one piece.
How to watch South Carolina men’s basketball vs. Virginia Tech
- When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
- Where: Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, South Carolina)
- TV: SEC Network
- Radio: Gamecock Sports Network (see affiliates here)
