South Carolina Basketball: How does this dominant Gamecock squad compare to 2017 and 2022?

South Carolina Basketball:
Is this year’s team on the same level as the championship squads?

In a word: yes. While it is too early in the season to make any sweeping declarations, the 2023-2024 South Carolina basketball team has shown themselves to be capable of producing at a national championship level.

Through just three games, the offense has been significantly better than the two championship teams of 2016-2017 and 2021-2022. The offense scores more and does so more efficiently. The pace is much quicker, the willingness to take outside shots is there, and ball movement has never been better in Columbia.

The defense seems, at first glance, to be less effective. However, when one accounts for the increased pace of play, it is clear that this year’s defense actually is pretty comparable to the two title-winning Gamecock squads. The shooting stats for USC opponents are very similar to the yearly stats from 2016-2017 and 2021-2022.

A very encouraging reality for South Carolina basketball fans is that the majority of the team has more eligibility remaining. Only Kamilla Cardoso is completely out of eligibility, and the incoming freshman class of 2024 has three 5-stars (versatile forward Joyce Edwards, guard Madisen McDaniel, and post player Adhel Tac) incoming.

The current iteration of Dawn Staley’s team also has six freshmen or sophomore contributors, meaning that the team is likely to get even better as the year progresses. Those same players, theoretically, will grow as players over the next two seasons, as well.

Don’t look now, but the Gamecocks could be in line to be national championship contenders for the foreseeable future.

Not bad for what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, huh?