South Carolina basketball: Is Frank Martin to blame for the team’s struggles?

South Carolina basketball is off to a 3-5 start.

South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin believed that this was his top team in Columbia since the Gamecocks’ Final Four run back in 2016-17. The roster returned strong guard play in Jermaine Couisnard and AJ Lawson, an experienced transfer in Seventh Woods, and promising post players Keyshawn Bryant, Justin Minaya, Jalyn McCreary, and Alanzo Frink.

"“There have been three times in my career where this time of year I’ve had this kind of experience and depth on a team. In 2010 at K-State we set the school record with 29 wins. I had it in 2016 here and we set the school record with 25 wins and then again in 2017 with 26 wins and went to a Final Four… I know what we have in place and I’m excited because we have big-time kids and experience… You have veteran guards and long and active forwards and have the chance to be a great defensive team. You have a chance, in my opinion, to get back.”"

Unfortunately, for many different reasons, those expectations have not come to fruition, with the team off to a 3-5 start and in the midst of a three-game skid. The Gamecocks have faded down the stretch in matchups with Houston and LSU, while not looking competitive in contests versus LIberty, Missouri, and Auburn.

So what’s the issue, and is all the blame to fall on coach Martin? What does his future in Columbia look like if things continue in this trajectory for the rest of 2021?