Problems Lamont Paris Must Address in the Transfer Portal
Before going 11-21 in his first season, Paris was already expected to have a tough time reconstructing the Gamecocks' roster, and the expected list of players moving on from the program exacerbates this task. Thus, coach Paris must diligently search for talent via the transfer portal this off-season for the Gamecocks to experience any success next season.
South Carolina's struggles this past season were both plentiful and well-documented, meaning the Gamecocks have obvious issues they can address. A few main facets of the team need to be and can be readjusted this off-season.
Ball Security
No issue served as a more considerable roadblock to success last season for the Gamecocks than their abysmal ball security, as they ranked 247th in Division I basketball in turnovers a game with 13.2 and were one of two teams in the SEC with an assist/turnover ratio below 1.00. Despite having good talent in terms of ball-handlers this past season, small mistakes like turnovers costed the Gamecocks multiple shots at winning games.
Finding a few competent ball handlers who can distribute the ball with low turnover rates in the transfer portal would go a long way for the Gamecocks' ball movement and Lamont Paris' free-flowing offense this next season.
Depth
Every sports team on the planet could use more depth on its roster, but few need it as badly as South Carolina does. Considering just four teams in Division I basketball averaged fewer bench points a game than the Gamecocks did this past season, who scored just 10.53 points per game, the Gamecocks desperately need viable playmakers off the bench.
Furthermore, the losses of Chico Carter, Daniel Haskins-Sanford, and Ford Cooper make finding depth and solid bench pieces even more vital for the Gamecocks.
Three-point Shooting
Unsurprisingly, the team who averaged the fewest points per game in the SEC this past season struggled to shoot the three-ball. South Carolina's 32.32 three-point percentage ranked 271st in the nation. The Gamecocks had just four players shoot over 30 percent from the three-point line this past season, and they will likely lose two of them. Chico Carter, the Gamecocks' best three-point shooter, has already announced his decision to enter the transfer portal, while GG Jackson, a 32.4% shooter beyond the arc in his freshman season, also might be entering this year's NBA draft.
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