South Carolina Basketball 2017-2018 Season Preview
By Blake Krass
After their Final Four run last season, Frank Martin and the South Carolina basketball team look to prove they can build a real program.
In the midst of football season in Columbia, South Carolina it’s easy to forget anything could exist outside of Williams-Brice Stadium. However, Monday another Gamecocks team started preseason practice. This team also just so happens to be coming off their best season in program history.
South Carolina basketball made a statement to the world this past March that they were the real deal. Doubted at times throughout the regular season, albeit deservedly at points, when in came time to win in the clutch, Frank Martin’s Gamecocks rose to the occasion on the highest stage. Going forward they’ll look to prove that their success was not just a fluke, but losing three starters, including All-American Sindarius Thornwell, could make that task difficult.
Backcourt
The backcourt is crowded with players that have a lot of talent, but not a lot of experience playing together. The Gamecocks will have three transfers and a freshman carrying a lot of the weight in the backcourt this season. The key to success for the backcourt will be if the new faces can build chemistry as a unit.
Hassani Gravett- Gravett showed a lot of promise last year. Averaging 16 minutes a game, Gravett got a lot of experience in big games and really shined on the defensive end. He was able to lock down in big spots and handled the ball well on offense. If he can add a more consistent jump shot to his game he could be starting for the Gamecocks in big games this year.
Rakym Felder- Felder was the big story in the offseason for South Carolina basketball. Felder was charged with third degree assault and battery in July, but had all charges dropped against him last month. So, criminally he is in the clear but is still suspended indefinitely by the program. He is not in classes this fall and it is unclear whether he will return to the team this season. Felder was a huge part of last year’s Final Four run and his raw scoring ability would help the team tremendously come postseason time.
Kory Holden- Holden, a junior transfer from the University of Delaware, has the potential to be a star on this South Carolina basketball team. Holden averaged 17.7 PPG his sophomore year at Delaware and is one of the only players on the roster with the scoring ability to replace Sindarius Thornwell’s output from last year. Holden also took advantage of his year off by bulking up. He left Delaware at 165 pounds and will be going into this season at 205 pounds, a strong weight for the 6’1 point guard.
Wesley Myers- Myers, also a junior transfer, averaged 17 PPG at Maine last season and could provide some much needed scoring to this Gamecock offense. Myers will also be a much needed ball handler for the inexperienced South Carolina backcourt.
Frank Booker- The graduate transfer from Florida Atlantic will provide some valuable minutes and veteran leadership for the young Gamecocks backcourt.
David Beatty- The three star freshman from Philadelphia, PA looks to provide a huge spark to the team this season. At 6’3, he has size for his position and can finish strong at the rim. A source inside the team calls him, “one of the more athletic players I’ve seen come through our program.”
Frontcourt
The frontcourt will feature returning starters Chris Silva and Maik Kotsar. Besides that, the frontcourt depth is up in the air. Several returners who did not see a lot of the floor last year and incoming freshmen will be battling over the remaining minutes.
Chris Silva- Silva is the player that I’m most excited about on this year’s team. Silva was one of only two players that started every game for the Gamecocks last year, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds a game. Silva’s biggest struggle all year was staying out of foul trouble, but he fixed that problem in March. During their Final Four run Silva averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds a game while dominating the post against some great competition. Silva has been putting in work all off season and could be an all-SEC type of player this year.
Maik Kotsar- Kotsar will also bring a full season’s worth of starting experience with him this year. Kotsar averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds a game last year, but his minutes, particularly in March, will mean a lot in his sophomore season. Kotsar has the skill set to be a double digit scorer this season, he just needs to bring more consistency and confidence to the court.
The Freshmen- Behind the returning starters, four freshmen will see a lot of the remaining front court minutes. 7’1 Jason Cudd will look to use his size to gain minutes and produce for the Gamecocks inside. Four-star recruit Ibrahim Doumbia could surprise a lot of people this year. His size and athleticism could get him a lot of minutes in the depleted South Carolina frontcourt. Felipe Haase and Justin Minaya will also look to provide some big minutes for the Gamecocks.
Predictions
It will be nearly impossible for South Carolina basketball to repeat last year’s historic Final Four run. However, the team could still make a lot of noise in the SEC. Despite the massive overhaul, the Gamecocks are bringing in a lot of talent and their returners will have invaluable experience from their March Madness run.
SEC Standings: I have the Gamecocks going 10-8 in the SEC and finishing fifth in the regular season. Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and Texas A&M all look to be very strong teams in the SEC this season.
Non-Conference- I think the Gamecocks will take advantage of their weak non-conference schedule and possibly be undefeated heading into conference play. The Puerto Rico Tip-Off preseason tournament has been moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C. due to damages from Hurricane Maria. This will make the toughest games of South Carolina’s non-conference schedule basically home games. Those wins, along with a 10-8 SEC season, and at least one SEC tournament win could still get the Gamecocks into the tournament.
Players- Besides their two graduate transfers, all of South Carolina’s roster should return next season. Therefore, it is important for this team to get better and build chemistry for the future. However, despite it being a rebuilding year for the Gamecocks they should still make their main objective to win. Chris Silva has the capability to be an all-SEC performer and Kory Holden has the potential to be a dominant scorer in the SEC.
A young, unexperienced team, with a lot of transfers, coming off their best season ever has a very low bar set for the season. However, the raw skill on this team is capable of coming together and producing a high quality product. If Frank Martin hones his players’ talents correctly than the Gamecocks will be in contention for a tournament bid come March.