The rankings disrespect toward South Carolina basketball continues

On Saturday, the South Carolina basketball team traveled to Arkansas and laid a beatdown on the Razorbacks in Bud Walton Arena. The final margin was just 13 points, but the Gamecocks dominated in a way that was much bigger than the final score indicated.

It was the latest showing by Lamont Paris' team that they are a legitimately good basketball team. Are they a real national championship contender? No. Are they the caliber of a real NCAA Tournament team who deserves a chance to see if they can get hot in March? Right now, yes.

The AP poll didn't rank the Gamecocks. In fact, South Carolina basketball didn't even receive any votes in the latest AP poll, despite the Gamecocks 15-3 record and 3-2 SEC performance so far. Ole Miss, who has the same record, a worse in-conference record, a blowout loss last week, and played an almost identical schedule, received votes.

College Basketball Report left South Carolina basketball out of their top-40. Mississippi State, who has lost to Carolina already, has a worse record, a worse in-conference record, a blowout loss last week, and played an almost identical schedule, is in the top-40.

Thankfully, not every polling outlet has forgotten about the Gamecocks.

Andy Katz has the Gamecocks in his 35th-ranked spot in his weekly Power-36 poll. Honestly, that seems about right for a resume like USC's. The Gamecocks have beaten some good teams this year (Grand Canyon, Virginia Tech, George Washington, and Mississippi State), and they haven't lost to any teams below Quadrant-2 (two Quadrant-1 losses and one Quadrant-2 loss).

With 13 more SEC games to go, things will work themselves out for USC and the rest of the college basketball world. However, it sure would be nice for South Carolina basketball fans to able to see their team get the recognition they deserve along the way.