Three first impressions from South Carolina basketball’s first three games
Two home games and a neutral-site win have set up South Carolina men’s basketball up for a positive outlook in the early beginnings of this season. Even if the Gamecocks haven’t played a perfect game, the quick 3-0 start has come with a few good first impressions.
Looking at the team’s overall disposition, USC has improved on some critical errors from last year. New faces have emerged, and familiar names have started off in a better place than 2022-23.
With the team’s first major road trip this weekend, there are three elements of USC’s game that have stood out from the first three games.
Chemistry is good, but there’s still a ways to go
Lamont Paris had his starting five set by the exhibition game against Wofford. Myles Stute, Meechie Johnson, Ta’Lon Cooper, BJ Mack and Stephen Clark. The quintet has been Paris’ go-to choice to start the second half of games as well.
The Gamecocks went on a trip to the Bahamas for a summer tournament, and Paris referred back to that offseason experience on multiple occasions through these opening games. The team all spent an entire day off together, without the coaches know it happened until after dinner.
“That was great. I think that works to really solidify some relationships and bonds can grow during that time,” Paris said Nov. 6 after the 82-53 win over USC Upstate. “It’s a fun-loving group, and we don’t have one selfish guy on the team. And that’s a rarity.”
There were nine new faces for USC this season. The only returning player in the starting lineup is Johnson. There are still things the team has to learn about one another, but after the 3-0 start, it’s hard to ignore how quickly the Gamecocks have come together.
Johnson in the preseason said that Bahamas trip has created an advantage, since USC wasn’t trying to learn how to mesh with one another during the exhibition and into the opening games. The missing piece now is having the full bench back, and seeing how South Carolina evolves with the entire roster in play.
That doesn’t include Austin Herro or Arden Conyers, however, who are both redshirting, according to Paris. Eventually, Ebrima Dibba and Collin Murray-Boyles will return from their respective long-term situations — Dibba with his Achilles and Murray-Boyles with mono — and that will be a true indication of how the dynamics of this USC will work.
Sustainability beyond the arc ... so far
South Carolina is a 3-point-focused team. Three games into the season, nearly every player has taken a 3-point attempt. The Gamecocks have made at least seven 3s every game this year.
When they can score from beyond, it can turn into a run very quickly. Once one Gamecock gets a 3-pointer, the other four on the floor aren’t far behind.
Paris has been adamant about 3-pointers being a focal point, so it’s not a surprise to see South Carolina rely on the long-range shot. There’s uncertainty about how USC can survive an off-day of shooting. That hasn’t been a problem during the first three games, though.
USC has scored at least 32 points in the paint in its three games, despite it feeling like the Gamecocks weren’t getting easy buckets against VMI on Monday night. That game felt like a lull after the neutral-site win over Virginia Tech last week, with VMI as the middle game between the Hokies and a weekend trip to Phoenix for the Arizona Tip Off event.
How successful will USC be if it can’t shoot seven-plus 3s in a game — or if they can only shoot 3s against an opponent?
More than one player can score
The biggest green flag South Carolina has shown this early is this team’s ability to rely on more than one player to score. All three games, USC has had at least three players hit double-digits, with Mack earning the first double-double of the season against the Keydets on Monday.
Cooper, Stute and Johnson have all scored in double figures consistently as guards. With Cooper’s vision and basketball IQ, he’s picked up a significant number of assists as well.
Last season, USC relied on former Gamecocks GG Jackson and Chico Carter Jr. to carry the load. Now, having a consistent group of players who can score takes pressure off Johnson, who’s expected to develop a starring role this year. It’s not only on his shoulders, and if Cooper, Mack, Stute or any other Gamecock has the better game, Paris can let that player have his moment.
If USC can get a handful of its players consistently performing in conference play, the Gamecocks should be well-positioned to outdo the media’s predictions for a last-place SEC finish.. However, a lot can happen between now and January, or even March. Injuries, stretches of bad games or good games, etc. can change the outlook of the season in a heartbeat.
“There’ll be some adversity that comes along,” Paris said Nov. 6. “And that’ll be the true test. ... Are we still able to have the same spirit? Are we still connected in the same ways?”
Getting this team through their Arizona trip and through December with a positive nonconference record is possible. This team could be better than last year’s team that won 11 games.
For the beginning of Paris’ second season at the helm, that’s not too bad.
South Carolina’s next four games
vs. DePaul (Arizona Tip Off) - 11:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
vs. Grand Caynon/San Franscico (Arizona Tip Off) - TBA (CBS Sports Network)
vs. Notre Dame (ACC/SEC Challenge) - 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
vs. George Washington - 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
