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South Carolina Basketball: Gamecocks find themselves in national pundit’s rankings

By Kevin Miller

South Carolina basketball starters Meechie Johnson and Josh Gray will return next season. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina basketball starters Meechie Johnson and Josh Gray will return next season. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /
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South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris appears to have the Gamecocks in the middle of a really nice turnaround.

After tying an all-time South Carolina basketball record with 21 losses last season, Paris has his squad 8-1 and in prime position to be 12-1 heading into conference play in January. The Gamecocks’ only loss was a close road contest (one in which they were winning for 3/4 of the game) to the undefeated rival Clemson Tigers.

The SEC slate will prove whether or not this is reality, but the Gamecocks do not appear to be a flash in the pan. Their blend of young talent, hungry returners, and veteran transfers are a good basketball team, and the national media is starting to take notice.

National college basketball writer Andy Katz releases a “Power 36” each week of the season, and the South Carolina basketball team finds themselves inside the rankings for the 2nd-straight week.

Coming in at #33, the Gamecocks are making their second appearance in Katz’s poll (they were 26th last week before the Clemson loss).

So far, the Gamecocks have already played #7 in the rankings (a close road loss to Clemson) and #35 (a nice win in Arizona against Grand Canyon). Remaining on the regular season schedule, USC will face #12 Tennessee (twice), #18 Kentucky, #20 Ole Miss (twice), #23 Auburn, and #25 Arkansas.

The entire poll can be found below:

  1. Arizona Wildcats
  2. Kansas Jayhawks
  3. UConn Huskies
  4. Purdue Boilermakers
  5. Baylor Bears
  6. Houston Cougars
  7. Clemson Tigers
  8. Marquette Golden Eagles
  9. Oklahoma Sooners
  10. North Carolina Tar Heels
  11. Creighton Blue Jays
  12. Tennessee Volunteers
  13. Illinois Fighting Illini
  14. Colorado State Rams
  15. Florida Atlantic Owls
  16. Texas Longhorns
  17. James Madison Dukes
  18. Kentucky Wildcats
  19. Gonzaga Bulldogs
  20. Ole Miss Rebels
  21. Virginia Cavaliers
  22. Duke Blue Devils
  23. Auburn Tigers
  24. Northwestern Wildcats
  25. Arkansas Razorbacks
  26. BYU Cougars
  27. Ohio State Buckeyes
  28. Wisconsin Badgers
  29. Memphis Tigers
  30. Colorado Buffaloes
  31. New Mexico Lobos
  32. Iowa State Hawkeyes
  33. South Carolina Gamecocks
  34. Saint Joseph’s Hawks
  35. Grand Canyon Antelopes
  36. Drake Bulldogs

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