Basketball Opponent Previews: South Carolina
With basketball season just 25 days away, let's start previewing the familiar foes on Tennessee's path to a potential SEC Championship. In these previews, you can expect to find an evaluation of the team and coach and how Tennessee matches up against every team in the conference. Without further ado, let's begin with the team I project to finish last in the SEC.
Lamont Paris took his time getting it right at Chattanooga, and I expect much of the same at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are still at a talent disadvantage compared to the rest of the SEC and are picked to finish 14th in the league by many. KenPom has them at 66th in the preseason, which would be a 155-spot increase from last year. If the Gamecocks can finish 66th despite being last in the conference, that would be a massive improvement.
In terms of the roster, losing G.G. Jackson may be addition by subtraction. Jackson had bad efficiency numbers last year to go with high usage. The Gamecocks had a 91.6 Offensive Rating when Jackson was on the floor. He also had a 44.4 eFG% and 47.4 TS%. His shots will be better allocated elsewhere.
Meechie Johnson Jr. returns along with Jacobi Wright, so they do still have some familiarity with the system, but overall, the roster needed an overhaul. I like the addition of Myles Stute from Vanderbilt to replace Chico Carter's shooting. Ta'Lon Cooper coming in also gives them a steady ball handler they were missing last year. B.J. Mack was also an excellent all-around player last year at Wofford and could average double figures again this season.
How Tennessee matches up
South Carolina was a team that Tennessee held under 50 twice last season. While it'll be hard to do that again against this improved roster, South Carolina still has a lack of effective shot creation. The Vols draw the Gamecocks twice this season, and I feel comfortable marking that down as two wins for Tennessee. Of course, anything can happen in conference play in college basketball, but you need to be able to hit outside shots to beat Tennessee, and South Carolina was 269th in three-point percentage last season.
South Carolina Gamecocks HC Lamont Paris during a loss to Tennessee. (Photo by Randy Sartin of USA Today Sports)
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