South Carolina men's basketball is ready to embrace the disrespect again this season

Before the 2023-2024 season, the South Carolina Gamecocks were projected to finish last in the SEC, and they embraced the disrespect and used it as fuel to make it to the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season. Not only did the Gamecocks make it to the tournament, they were a six-seed and one of the teams to watch.

Unfortunately, the season didn't have the happy ending they were hoping for as the Gamecocks were upset in the first round by the Oregon Ducks, and their season was over.

The new season is almost upon us, and head coach Lamont Paris is having a few of his players speak at SEC media days, and with media days come the SEC Media Polls. That poll has the Gamecocks projected to finish 11th in the SEC this season, just three spots ahead of where they were projected to finish last season.

The Big 12 is easily one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball, but the SEC is close behind with some top basketball schools between Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida, and others. South Carolina should be considered one of those top schools in the conference but instead they can't even finish in the top 10 of the conference.

Clearly, the media did not learn from their mistake last season and is giving South Carolina all the fuel and motivation they need to succeed yet again this season.

"Honestly, I think it’s a favor to be put in a position where you have to prove yourself, and I think we all have to prove ourselves,” Paris said during his SEC media days press conference. “When you get a ranking that’s not as high as what guys think, it sets the stage for constant validation and approval amongst your peers, amongst the media, amongst the selection committee."

Feeling disrespected can be all a team needs to succeed, and South Carolina is planning to use that to fuel them this season. No one has proved themselves yet as the season has yet to even start, so until the basketball hits the court and some teams show what they are truly made of, it is an even playing field.