South Carolina Basketball: 5 biggest “musts” entering the offseason
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Basketball Must Have an Identity on Offense
As mentioned previously, the Gamecocks were not a good offensive team this season. Some of that is because, for most of the year, there seemed to be no clear direction on that end of the floor. In most games, Carolina only scored when GG Jackson, Hayden Brown, Meechie Johnson, or Jacobi Wright made a play off of a ball screen or in isolation. That type of play is not sustainable, and the Gamecocks’ spot at the bottom of all offensive rankings in the conference proved that.
Toward the end of the season, the Gamecocks’ halfcourt offense was much improved. The numbers didn’t always bare this out as they missed more perimeter shots than in the early parts of the schedule, but clean cuts to the basket and better off-ball movement were new realities in the last month of the season. Continuing to diversify the offense, while still holding to what the players are good at, is essential in modern basketball.
Johnson, in particular, did a much better job in recent weeks of making plays for his teammates. If he and Wright can improve their abilities as facilitators even more, the Gamecocks will be better off. Coach Paris and his staff then will have the ability to add more set plays as their guards progress as distributors.