The South Carolina men's basketball team did not start the season the way they would have liked with a 74-71 loss to North Florida, a team that the Gamecocks were favored against. After feeling like they were disrespected by the SEC for being picked to finish 11th in the conference, it was not the way the Gamecocks wanted to make a statement at the beginning of the season.
The Gamecocks were able to dust themselves off, however, with two swift wins over South Carolina State and Towson, but they then ran into the buzzsaw that is the No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers. In their first-ranked matchup of the season, the Gamecocks did their best to hold up with the Hoosiers, but cold shooting from beyond the arc hindered South Carolina from getting big shots when they needed it most. The Hoosiers also made the most of their time at the free throw line, almost doubling the number of made freebies against the Gamecocks.
After their second loss, South Carolina was able to bounce back against Mercer with an 84-72 win over Mercer. however, when facing yet another ranked opponent in No. 22 Xavier, the Gamecocks failed yet again to get the big win as they lost 75-66, struggling against the three-point line and getting out-rebounded on the offensive glass.
Since that loss to No. 22 Xavier, though, South Carolina has been on the straightened arrow as they currently ride a four-game win streak. The Gamecocks did pick up a few power conference wins during this win streak against Virginia Tech and then against Boston College in the SEC/ACC Challenge, in which the SEC won 14-2.
The Gamecocks also picked up a big win over East Carolina, coming back to steal the game 75-68. In their latest game, South Carolina had to fend off the push of South Carolina Upstate as the Spartans looked to ruin the Gamecocks time in their home arena.
South Carolina will have a big matchup on their hands in their next matchup as they take on their bitter in-state rival, No. 25 Clemson. The Gamecocks will have to rely on their top scorer, sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles, as the 6-foot-7 forward averages 15.9 points per game and 9.6 rebounds. Murray-Boyles has also been a monster for opposing offenses averaging 1.2 blocks per game and 1.4 steals per game.
South Carolina holds the lead in the Palmetto Bowl men's basketball series with a 92-81 record. However, the two teams have traded blows over the past four years, going 2-2.