South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball

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South Carolina Gamecocks
2023–24 South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of South Carolina
All-time record1428-1252-1[1] (.533)
Head coachLamont Paris (2nd season)
ConferenceSEC
LocationColumbia, South Carolina
ArenaColonial Life Arena
(Capacity: 18,000)
NicknameGamecocks
Student sectionThe Cockpit
ColorsGarnet and black[2]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament Final Four
2017
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
2017
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1971, 1972, 1973, 2017
NCAA tournament second round
1971, 1972, 1973, 2017
NCAA tournament appearances
1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2017, 2024
Conference tournament champions
SoCon: 1933

ACC: 1971
Conference regular season champions
SoCon: 1927, 1933, 1934, 1945

ACC: 1970

SEC: 1997, 2009

The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gamecocks won Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945, and then they gained national attention under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205–65 record from 1967 to 1976, which included the 1970 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, the 1971 ACC Tournament title, and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1971 to 1974. The program also won the 1997 SEC championship, National Invitation Tournament (NIT) titles in 2005 and 2006, and a share of the 2009 SEC East division title. Most recently, the Gamecocks won the 2017 NCAA East Regional Championship, reaching the Final Four for the first time in school history. Lamont Paris is the current head coach, and the team plays at the 18,000-seat Colonial Life Arena.

History[edit]

Southern Conference years[edit]

South Carolina achieved a measure of regional prominence during its tenure in the Southern Conference, winning regular season championships in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945. The program also won the conference's tournament championship in 1933. During World War II, the basketball team's success was partially attributed to being assigned outstanding athletes by the U.S. Navy as part of the V-12 program.[3] However, the Navy leaders kept the teams focus towards the war effort, and USC declined an invitation to the Southern Conference Tournament in 1944.[4]

Frank McGuire era (1965–1980)[edit]

John Roche was twice ACC Player of the Year, in 1969 and 1970.
Alex English, a 1975 All-American at South Carolina, would go on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The hiring of Frank McGuire before the 1964–65 season propelled South Carolina to its most successful period to date. McGuire's 16-year tenure was highlighted by an undefeated ACC regular season in 1970, an ACC Tournament championship in 1971, and three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances from 1971 to 1973. USC also posted a 69–16 overall record from 1968 to 1971, and John Roche won consecutive ACC Player of the Year Awards (1969–1970). In November 1968, the Gamecocks began playing at the 12,401 seat Carolina Coliseum, which became known as the "House that Frank Built." The success South Carolina achieved on the court brought resentment and anger from fellow ACC schools, especially those on "Tobacco Road," as the conference members of the state of North Carolina were known. The hostility of the road crowds, the unfriendly behavior of coaches and athletic directors in the conference, and the discrepancies in eligibility to compete in the NCAA tournament, which at that time was delegated strictly to the winner of the ACC tournament despite that year's championship game being the only Gamecocks loss, led McGuire to support South Carolina becoming an Independent before the 1971–72 season.[5]

As an independent, the program gradually declined, and the university sought entrance into an athletic conference. This proved problematic because most conferences required schools to have a single athletic director, and South Carolina had multiple directors at the time. McGuire served as athletic director for the basketball program, and he would not relinquish his position. The university made several attempts to obtain McGuire's resignation, but ultimately honored his contract through 1980. McGuire finished with a 283–142 overall record at South Carolina and continues to be held in high regard by Gamecock fans. His six consecutive 20-win seasons from 1969 to 1974, which produced a 137–33 record, remain the benchmark for USC Basketball.

Metro Conference and SEC[edit]

In 1983, the university became affiliated with the Metro Conference. The basketball program was placed on probation by the NCAA in the spring of 1987 for two years because of recruiting violations and the sale of complimentary player tickets.[6] From 1987 to 1991, George Felton led the Gamecocks to an 87–62 overall record, which included a 1989 NCAA Tournament appearance and a 1991 NIT berth. For three of Felton's five seasons (1987–1989), Tubby Smith served as an assistant coach before leaving to join Rick Pitino's staff at Kentucky. South Carolina joined the SEC before the 1992 season and initially struggled, posting a combined 20–35 record in 1992 and 1993.

Eddie Fogler era (1994–2001)[edit]

Eddie Fogler was hired away from Vanderbilt before the 1994 season and within a few years returned the Gamecocks to respectability. Under Fogler, South Carolina posted an impressive 66–28 record (34–14 SEC) during the 1996–1998 stretch, which included the school's first SEC championship in 1997. The 1997 Gamecocks posted a 15–1 record in SEC play and defeated league rival Kentucky twice, but lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Fogler stepped down after the 2001 campaign, going 123–117 in eight seasons as the Gamecocks' head coach. His tenure included two NCAA Tournament appearances (1997, 1998) and two NIT appearances (1996, 2001). Fogler retired as one of the most successful head coaches in SEC Basketball history, having won regular season conference championships at both Vanderbilt and South Carolina.

Dave Odom era (2002–2008)[edit]

Subsequent coach Dave Odom posted four 20-win seasons during his tenure at South Carolina. He led the Gamecocks to an appearance in the 2004 NCAA Tournament and consecutive NIT championships in 2005 and 2006. Odom's tenure also saw USC begin play at the 18,000 seat Colonial Life Arena during the 2002–2003 season. Following the 2007–2008 campaign, Odom resigned with a 128–104 overall record at USC.

Darrin Horn era (2009–2012)[edit]

On April 1, 2008, Darrin Horn was named the new head basketball coach at USC.[7] In his first season, Horn led the Gamecocks to a 21–10 record (10–6 SEC), two victories over Kentucky, and a share of the 2009 SEC Eastern Division title. After a 10–21 campaign in 2011–12, his third straight losing season, Horn was fired on March 13, 2012, finishing his tenure at Carolina with a 60–63 overall record and a 23–45 mark in the SEC.

Frank Martin era (2012–2022)[edit]

Martin led the Gamecocks to their first Final Four in 2017.

Frank Martin came to USC from Kansas State, where he had enjoyed five winning seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance with the Wildcats in 2010. After losing records in his first two seasons with the Gamecocks, he achieved a winning season in 2015, then reached the NIT in 2016, and then broke through into the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the program's first appearance in the event since 2004. On March 17, 2017, USC achieved its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1973 with a 20-point win over the Marquette Golden Eagles. Two nights later, the Gamecocks upset the #2 seed Duke Blue Devils to advance to their fourth Sweet 16.[8] South Carolina then beat #3 seed Baylor Bears to advance to their first-ever Elite 8, two days later they upset Florida to advance to their first ever Final Four.

Lamont Paris era (2022–present)[edit]

Former Chattanooga head coach Lamont Paris was named South Carolina's 33rd head coach on March 24, 2022, to replace the terminated Frank Martin.[9] Paris is the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men's basketball program.[10]

Year-by-year results[edit]

Season Coach Record Notes
Overall Conference
1908–1909 J. H. Brown 0–3
1909–1910 F. E. Schofield 0–1
1910–1911 No coach 1–1
1911–1912 James G. Driver 3–4
1912–1913 James G. Driver 2–3
1913–1914 John Blackburn 5–4–1
1914–1915 L. W. Hill 2–7
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1915–1916 Charles C. Farrell 4–6
1916–1917 Dixon Foster 7–8
1917–1918 Dixon Foster 8–5
1918–1919 Dixon Foster 4–7
1919–1920 Dixon Foster 7–11
1920–1921 Sol Metzger 7–11
1921–1922 Lana A. Sims 7–12
Southern Conference
1922–1923 Jack Crawford 6–13 0–3
1923–1924 Jack Crawford 11–9 2–2
1924–1925 Branch Bocock 10–7 4–2
1925–1926 Branch Bocock 9–5 4–2
1926–1927 Branch Bocock 14–4 9–1 SoCon Champions
1927–1928 A. Burnet Stoney 8–12 4–7
1928–1929 Rock Norman 8–13 4–9
1929–1930 Rock Norman 6–10 0–6
1930–1931 Rock Norman 1–17 1–12
1931–1932 Rock Norman 9–7 2–2
1932–1933 Billy Laval 17–2 4–0 SoCon Champions; SoCon Tournament Champions
1933–1934 Rock Norman 18–1 6–0 SoCon Champions
1934–1935 Rock Norman 15–9 5–7
1935–1936 Ted Petoskey 11–8 1–6
1936–1937 Ted Petoskey 13–7 8–4
1937–1938 Ted Petoskey 3–21 1–13
1938–1939 Ted Petoskey 5–18 3–8
1939–1940 Ted Petoskey 5–13 3–10
1940–1941 Frank Johnson 15–9 8–3
1941–1942 Frank Johnson 12–9 8–4
1942–1943 Frank Johnson (first 2 games)
Rex Enright (last 17 games)
13–6 6–3
1943–1944 Henry Findley 13–2 1–2
1944–1945 John D. McMillan 19–3 9–0 SoCon Champions
1945–1946 Dick Anderson (first 12 games)
Frank Johnson (last 8 games)
9–11 4–7
1946–1947 Frank Johnson 16–9 7–5
1947–1948 Frank Johnson 12–11 8–7
1948–1949 Frank Johnson 10–12 7–6
1949–1950 Frank Johnson 13–12 5–8
1950–1951 Frank Johnson 13–12 12–7
1951–1952 Frank Johnson 14–10 8–8
1952–1953 Frank Johnson 11–13 7–12
Atlantic Coast Conference
1953–1954 Frank Johnson 10–16 2–7
1954–1955 Frank Johnson 10–17 2–12
1955–1956 Frank Johnson 9–14 3–11
1956–1957 Frank Johnson 17–12 5–9
1957–1958 Frank Johnson 5–19 3–11
1958–1959 Walt Hambrick 4–20 2–12
1959–1960 Bob Stevens 10–16 6–8
1960–1961 Bob Stevens 9–17 2–12
1961–1962 Bob Stevens 15–12 7–7
1962–1963 Chuck Noe 9–15 4–10
1963–1964 Chuck Noe (first 12 games)
Dwane Morrison (last 12 games)
10–14 7–7
1964–1965 Frank McGuire 6–17 2–12
1965–1966 Frank McGuire 11–13 4–10
1966–1967 Frank McGuire 16–7 8–4
1967–1968 Frank McGuire 15–7 9–5
1968–69 Frank McGuire 21–7 11–3 NIT second round
1969–70 Frank McGuire 25–3 14–0 ACC Champions
1970–71 Frank McGuire 23–6 10–4 ACC Tournament Champions; NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1971–72 Frank McGuire 24–5 NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1972–1973 Frank McGuire 22–7 NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1973–1974 Frank McGuire 22–5 NCAA first round
1974–1975 Frank McGuire 19–9 NIT second round
1975–1976 Frank McGuire 18–9
1976–1977 Frank McGuire 14–12
1977–1978 Frank McGuire 16–12 NIT first round
1978–1979 Frank McGuire 15–12
1979–1980 Frank McGuire 16–11
1980–1981 Bill Foster 17–10
1981–1982 Bill Foster 14–15
1982–1983 Bill Foster 22–9 NIT third round
Metro Conference
1983–1984 Bill Foster 12–16 5–9
1984–1985 Bill Foster 15–13 6–8
1985–1986 Bill Foster 12–16 2–10
1986–1987 George Felton 15–14 5–7
1987–1988 George Felton 19–10 6–6
1988–1989 George Felton 19–11 8–4 NCAA first round
1989–1990 George Felton 14–14 6–8
1990–1991 George Felton 20–13 5–9 NIT second round
1991–1992 Steve Newton 11–17 3–13
1992–1993 Steve Newton 9–18 5–11
1993–1994 Eddie Fogler 9–19 4–12
1994–1995 Eddie Fogler 10–17 5–11
1995–1996 Eddie Fogler 19–12 8–8 NIT third round
1996–1997 Eddie Fogler 24–8 15–1 SEC Champions; NCAA first round
1997–1998 Eddie Fogler 23–8 11–5 NCAA first round
1998–1999 Eddie Fogler 8–21 3–13
1999–2000 Eddie Fogler 15–17 5–11
2000–2001 Eddie Fogler 15–15 6–10 NIT first round
2001–2002 Dave Odom 22–15 6–10 NIT Runners-up
2002–2003 Dave Odom 12–16 5–11
2003–2004 Dave Odom 23–11 8–8 NCAA first round
2004–2005 Dave Odom 20–13 7–9 NIT Champions
2005–2006 Dave Odom 23–15 6–10 NIT Champions
2006–2007 Dave Odom 14–16 4–12
2007–2008 Dave Odom 14–18 5–11
2008–2009 Darrin Horn 21–10 10–6 NIT first round
2009–2010 Darrin Horn 15–16 6–10
2010–2011 Darrin Horn 14–16 5–11
2011–2012 Darrin Horn 10–21 2–14
2012–2013 Frank Martin 14–18 4–14
2013–2014 Frank Martin 14–20 5–13
2014–2015 Frank Martin 17–16 6–12
2015–2016 Frank Martin 25–9 11–7 NIT second round
2016–2017 Frank Martin 26–11 12–6 NCAA Final Four
2017–2018 Frank Martin 17–16 7–11
2018–2019 Frank Martin 16–16[11] 11–7[12]
2019–2020 Frank Martin 18–13 10–8
2020–2021 Frank Martin 6–15 4–12
2021–2022 Frank Martin 18–13 9–9
2022–2023 Lamont Paris 11–20 4–14
2023–2024 Lamont Paris 26–8 13–5 NCAA first round

Postseason[edit]

NCAA tournament results[edit]

The Gamecocks have appeared in the NCAA tournament 10 times. Their combined record is 8–11.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1971 Second Round
Regional 3rd Place Game
Penn
Fordham
L 64–79
L 90–100
1972 Round of 25
Second Round
Regional 3rd Place Game
Temple
North Carolina
Villanova
W 53–51
L 62–92
W 90–78
1973 Round of 25
Second Round
Regional 3rd Place Game
Texas Tech
Memphis State
Southwest Louisiana
W 78–70
L 76–90
W 90–85
1974 Round of 25 Furman L 67–75
1989 #12 Round of 64 #5 NC State L 66–81
1997 #2 Round of 64 #15 Coppin State L 65–78
1998 #3 Round of 64 #14 Richmond L 61–62
2004 #10 Round of 64 #7 Memphis L 43–59
2017 #7 Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
#10 Marquette
#2 Duke
#3 Baylor
#4 Florida
#1 Gonzaga
W 93–73
W 88–81
W 70–50
W 77–70
L 73–77
2024 #6 Round of 64 #11 Oregon L 73-87

NIT results[edit]

The Gamecocks have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 12 times. Their combined record is 22–10. They were NIT champions in 2005 and 2006.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1969 First Round
Quarterfinals
Southern Illinois
Army
W 72–63
L 45–59
1975 First Round
Quarterfinals
Connecticut
Princeton
W 71–61
L 67–86
1978 First Round NC State L 70–83
1983 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Old Dominion
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
W 100–90
W 76–75
L 61–78
1991 First Round
Second Round
George Washington
Siena
W 69–63
L 58–63
1996 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Davidson
Vanderbilt
Alabama
W 100–73
W 80–70
L 67–68
2001 First Round Connecticut L 65–72
2002 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Virginia
UNLV
Ball State
Syracuse
Memphis
W 74–67
W 75–65
W 82–47
W 66–59
L 62–72
2005 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Miami (FL)
UNLV
Georgetown
Maryland
Saint Joseph's
W 69–67
W 77–66
W 69–66
W 75–67
W 60–57
2006 #3 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
#6 Western Kentucky
#2 Florida State
#1 Cincinnati
#1 Louisville
#1 Michigan
W 74–55
W 69–68
W 65–62
W 78–63
W 76–64
2009 #3 First Round #6 Davidson L 63–70
2016 #1 First Round
Second Round
#8 High Point
#4 Georgia Tech
W 88–66
L 66–83

Conference championships[edit]

  • 1927 SoCon (season) – South Carolina went 14–4 overall and 9–1 in Southern Conference play.
  • 1933 SoCon (season & tournament) – South Carolina posted a 17–2 record (4–1 SoCon) and won the Southern Conference tournament.
  • 1934 SoCon (season) – South Carolina went 18–1 overall and 6–0 in Southern Conference play.
  • 1945 SoCon (season) – South Carolina went 19–3 overall and 9–0 in Southern Conference play.
  • 1970 ACC (season) – South Carolina went 25–3 overall and 14–0 in ACC play.
  • 1971 ACC (tournament) – South Carolina posted a 23–6 overall record and defeated North Carolina for the ACC Tournament title.
  • 1997 SEC (season & division) – South Carolina posted a 24–8 record (15–1 SEC) to win the SEC championship and Eastern Division title.
  • 2009 SEC East (division) – South Carolina went 21–10 overall and 10–6 in SEC play to win a share of the SEC East title.

Head coaches[edit]

Name Years Seasons Won Lost Pct.
John Hertz Brown 1908–1909 1 0 3 .000
F. E. Schofield 1909–1910 1 0 1 .000
No coach 1910–1911 1 1 1 .500
James G. Driver 1911–1913 2 5 7 .417
John Blackburn 1913–1914 1 5 4 .550
L. W. Hill 1914–1915 1 2 7 .286
Charles C. Farrell 1915–1916 1 4 6 .400
Dixon Foster 1916–1920 4 26 31 .456
Sol Metzger 1920–1921 1 7 11 .389
Lana A. Sims 1921–1922 1 7 12 .368
Jack Crawford 1922–1924 2 17 22 .436
Branch Bocock 1924–1927 3 33 16 .673
A. Burnet Stoney 1927–1928 1 8 12 .400
Rock Norman 1928–1932
1933–1935
6 57 57 .500
Billy Laval 1932–1933 1 17 2 .895
Ted Petoskey 1935–1940 5 37 67 .354
Frank Johnson 1940–1943
1946–1958
14.5 174 175 .499
Rex Enright 1943 1 11 6 .647
Henry Findley 1943–1944 1 13 2 .867
Johnny McMillan 1944–1945 1 19 3 .864
*** Anderson 1945–1946 0.5 4 8 .333
Walt Hambrick 1958–1959 1 4 20 .167
Bob Stevens 1959–1962 3 34 45 .430
Chuck Noe 1962–1963 1.5 16 21 .417
Dwane Morrison 1964 0.5 4 8 .333
Frank McGuire 1964–1980 16 283 142 .666
Bill Foster 1980–1986 6 92 79 .538
George Felton 1986–1991 5 87 62 .584
Steve Newton 1991–1993 2 20 35 .364
Eddie Fogler 1993–2001 8 123 117 .513
Dave Odom 2001–2008 7 128 104 .552
Darrin Horn 2008–2012 4 60 63 .488
Frank Martin 2012–2022 10 171 147 .538
Lamont Paris 2022–present 1 11 20 .355

All-Americans[edit]

Player Position Year(s) electors
Freddie Thompkins 1934 Converse Yearbook
Jim Slaughter Center 1951 Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press
Grady Wallace Forward 1957 Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, Converse Yearbook, UPI, International News Service
Skip Harlicka Guard 1968 Converse Yearbook
John Roche (3) Guard 1969, 1970, 1971 United Savings Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, Converse Yearbook, UPI, Basketball Weekly, Look Magazine, The Sporting News, NABC, NBA Coaches
Tom Riker Forward 1972 National Association of Basketball Writers, United Savings Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, UPI, The Sporting News, NABC
Kevin Joyce Guard 1973 United Savings Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, UPI, NABC
Brian Winters Guard/Forward 1974 Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation
Alex English Forward 1975 Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation, Independent All-America
Zam Fredrick Guard 1981 Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation
Larry Davis Guard 1997 Basketball Weekly, Associated Press
Melvin Watson Guard 1997 Associated Press
BJ McKie (3) Guard 1997, 1998, 1999 Basketball Weekly, Associated Press
Devan Downey (2) Guard 2009, 2010 Associated Press, The Sporting News
Source: South Carolina Media Guide[13]

Awards[edit]

Sindarius Thornwell became the Gamecocks' first SEC Player of the Year in 2017.

National Scoring Leader

ACC Player of the Year

All-ACC First Team

All-ACC Second Team

ACC Tournament Outstanding Player

  • John Roche – 1971

Metro Conference Newcomer of the Year

  • Linwood Moye – 1985

All-Metro First Team

  • Jimmy Foster – 1984

All-Metro Second Team

SEC Player of the Year

SEC Rookie of the Year

SEC Coach of the Year

SEC Defensive Player of the Year

SEC Sixth Man of the Year

All-SEC First Team

All-SEC Second Team

All-SEC Third Team

NIT Most Valuable Player

Gamecocks in the NBA[edit]

Chris Silva Play for the Miami heat

2021 Gamecocks in the NBA

A.J. Lawson (Atlanta)

Chris Silva (Minnesota)

Hassani Gravett (Orlando)

Brian Bowen II (Minnesota)

Anthony Gill (Washington)

Sindarius Thornwell (free agent)

Retired numbers[edit]

South Carolina has retired five jersey numbers.[14]

South Carolina Gamecocks retired numbers
No. Player Position Tenure Ref.
3 BJ McKie PG 1995–1999 [15]
11 John Roche PG 1968–1971 [15]
22 Alex English SF 1972–1976 [15]
42 Grady Wallace F 1955–1957 [15]
43 Kevin Joyce PG / SG 1970–1973 [15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks Index".
  2. ^ "Colors – Communications and Public Affairs | University of South Carolina". Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 27.
  4. ^ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 28.
  5. ^ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 232.
  6. ^ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 311.
  7. ^ Darrin Horn Named Men's Basketball Coach
  8. ^ "South Carolina stuns Duke with 88–81 win to advance to its fourth Sweet 16". Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  9. ^ "Lamont Paris hired as new South Carolina basketball coach". The State.
  10. ^ "Bio". The University of South Carolina.
  11. ^ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics".
  12. ^ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics".
  13. ^ "South Carolina All-Americans" (PDF). South Carolina. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  14. ^ "2006–07 Men's Basketball Media Guide History" (PDF).
  15. ^ a b c d e Gamecocks ready to retire more jerseys. And it should happen soon BY JOSH KENDALL on The State - April 11, 2018

External links[edit]