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Where South Carolina Basketball Ranks in Joe Lunardi’s 2021 NCAA Tournament Field

By Jacob Elsey

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half during their game against the Houston Cougars at Colonial Life Arena on December 08, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half during their game against the Houston Cougars at Colonial Life Arena on December 08, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN, AL – JANUARY 22: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives around Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the game at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL – JANUARY 22: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives around Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers during the second half of the game at Auburn Arena on January 22, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Postseason basketball was cancelled this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next season.  ESPN analyst and Bracketology guru, Joe Lunardi, has already released his initial projections for the NCAA Tournament field of 2021.

Lunardi has listed the Gamecocks as one of his last four teams in, placing them as a No. 11 seed in the East region, and battling the Colorado Buffaloes in the opening round of March Madness.  The winner of the play-in game would go on to face the sixth-seeded Texas Longhorns in the round of 64.

Frank Martin returns a great group of core players next season, particularly in the backcourt.  South Carolina is set to have leading scorer AJ Lawson back after contemplating the NBA Draft.  Jermaine Couisnard, Justin Minaya, and Keyshawn Bryant will also be back in starting roles.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 22: A.J. Lawson #00 of the South Carolina Gamecocks takes a shot during a college basketball game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on December 22, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – DECEMBER 22: A.J. Lawson #00 of the South Carolina Gamecocks takes a shot during a college basketball game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on December 22, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

South Carolina does lose last year’s leading rebounder and shot blocker Maik Kotsar to graduation, which was expected.  Alanzo Frink, Jalyn McCreary, and Wildens Leveque are the most likely options to fill the void.  The staff also brought in two bigs with the 2020 recruiting class to add depth.

The Gamecocks will need to replace leading three-point shooter Jair Bolden, too, as he intends to transfer for his final season of eligibility.  This was a bit unexpected, but the team is deep at guard, so the move shouldn’t impact the lineup too much.  It also opens up a spot for former four-star prospect Seventh Woods, whom Gamecock fans will see for the first time following his transfer from North Carolina.

Coach Martin’s crew posted an 18-13 record last year, finishing sixth in the SEC.  They were on pace to earn an NIT bid prior to the cancellation of the postseason.  The Gamecocks took down conference champ Kentucky and defending national champion Virginia.  They also knocked off in-state rival Clemson.  With the majority of its production returning in 2020, Carolina’s expectations will be very high when the regular season begins.

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