South Carolina Gamecocks News: NCAA Tournament updates, football recruiting, baseball domination, and more

The latest South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week in Columbia, starting with some March Madness updates on the South Carolina basketball squads.

Lamont Paris and the South Carolina basketball men's team fell in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament to the Oregon Ducks (and former Gamecock Jermaine Couisnard) by a score of 87-73.

Dawn Staley and the South Carolina basketball women's squad dominated both the Presbyterian Blue Hose (91-39) and North Carolina Tar Heels (88-41) to advance to their 10th Sweet Sixteen in a row.

Though the Gamecocks lost in their first March Madness experience since 2017, Lamont Paris received a well-deserved coaching honor.

The National Association of Basketball Coaches named Coach Paris the National Coach of the Year.

An incoming Gamecock freshman received a high honor.

5-star guard Maddy McDaniel will be a part of Dawn Staley's program next year, but she was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year in Maryland this year. It was her second time winning that award as she also was honored as the Player of the Year last season.

Some current Gamecocks received honors, as well.

Kamilla Cardoso and Te-Hina Paopao were named All-Americans by the AP and the USBWA.

Cardoso also was selected by the Sporting News.

That wasn't the only news Kamilla Cardoso made.

Releasing in May, ESPN is putting out a 4-part docuseries that followed the seasons of Cardoso, Caitlin Clark (Iowa), and Kiki Rice (UCLA). It is entitled Full Court Press.

The Gamecocks suffered their first transfer portal casualty, as well, though it was an expected one.

Sahnya Jah officially entered the transfer portal. She had been suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

The South Carolina football team began spring practice.

Nothing of major note has transpired during spring practice (which is a good thing). Several notable players have not been full participants, including running back Rocket Sanders.

The Gamecocks had a little bit of recruiting news not go their way last week.

The nation's top-ranked quarterback in the class of 2026, Jared Curtis, picked the Georgia Bulldogs over the Gamecocks, announcing his commitment over the weekend.

Another weekend commitment went to a USC rival as 4-star tight end Marshall Pritchett pledged his services to the North Carolina Tar Heels instead of the Gamecocks.

A former Gamecock is following another former Gamecock in the coaching world.

South Carolina tight ends coach Jody Wright left the program earlier this offseason to become the head coach at Murray State and has hired several former players and coaches from Columbia to his staff. The latest is former USC defensive back and graduate assistant Jaylin Dickerson. Dickerson will serve as the cornerbacks coach with the MSU Racers.

Speaking of Gamecock coaches...

Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains told the media last week that the South Carolina football program had hired former Alabama head coach and long-time NFL assistant Mike Shula to the staff as an offensive analyst.

After a bad series loss to Ole Miss, the South Carolina baseball club bounced back with a big offensive week.

The Gamecocks knocked off USC-Upstate 12-8 in an offensive-heavy game in Greenville.

Then, when the top-5 Vanderbilt Commodores came to Columbia, the strong offense showed up again as the Gamecocks swept the 'Dores 8-3, 8-4, and 10-2.

South Carolina softball played some of their orange rivals last week.

The Gamecocks beat the #11 Clemson Tigers in extra innings during the mid-week. The weekend series against Tennessee was shifted to a Saturday-Sunday-Monday affair, but USC dropped the first two games of the series to the #7-ranked Volunteers.