South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball

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South Carolina Gamecocks
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team
South Carolina Gamecocks logo.svg
University University of South Carolina
First season1908–09
All-time record1,505–1,325–1 (.532)
Athletic directorJeremiah Donati
Head coach Lamont Paris (3rd season)
Conference Southeastern Conference
Location Columbia, South Carolina
Arena Colonial Life Arena
(capacity: 18,000)
Nickname Gamecocks
Student sectionThe Cockpit
ColorsGarnet and black [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament Final Four
2017
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
2017
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1971, 1972, 1973, 2017
NCAA tournament second round
1971, 1972, 1973, 2017
NCAA tournament appearances
1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2017, 2024
Conference tournament champions
SoCon: 1933
ACC: 1971
Conference regular season champions
SoCon: 1927, 1933, 1934, 1945
ACC: 1970
SEC: 1997, 2009

The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gamecocks won Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945, and then they gained national attention under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205–65 record from 1967 to 1976, which included the 1970 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, the 1971 ACC Tournament title, and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1971 to 1974. The program also won the 1997 SEC championship, National Invitation Tournament (NIT) titles in 2005 and 2006, and co-champions of the 2009 SEC East division title. Most recently, the Gamecocks won the 2017 NCAA East Regional Championship, reaching the Final Four for the first time in school history. Lamont Paris is the current head coach, and the team plays at the 18,000-seat Colonial Life Arena.

Contents

History

Southern Conference years

South Carolina achieved a measure of regional prominence during its tenure in the Southern Conference, winning regular season championships in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945. The program also won the conference's tournament championship in 1933. During World War II, the basketball team's success was partially attributed to being assigned outstanding athletes by the U.S. Navy as part of the V-12 program. [2] However, the Navy leaders kept the teams focus towards the war effort, and USC declined an invitation to the Southern Conference Tournament in 1944. [3]

Frank McGuire era (1965–1980)

John Roche was twice ACC Player of the Year, in 1969 and 1970. John Roche USC.jpg
John Roche was twice ACC Player of the Year, in 1969 and 1970.
Alex English, a 1975 All-American at South Carolina, would go on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Alex English 1971 Dreher High School.JPG
Alex English, a 1975 All-American at South Carolina, would go on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The hiring of Frank McGuire before the 1964–65 season propelled South Carolina to its most successful period to date. McGuire's 16-year tenure was highlighted by an undefeated ACC regular season in 1970, an ACC Tournament championship in 1971, and three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances from 1971 to 1973. USC also posted a 69–16 overall record from 1968 to 1971, and John Roche won consecutive ACC Player of the Year Awards (1969–1970). In November 1968, the Gamecocks began playing at the 12,401 seat Carolina Coliseum, which became known as the "House that Frank Built." The success South Carolina achieved on the court brought resentment and anger from fellow ACC schools, especially those on "Tobacco Road," as the conference members of the state of North Carolina were known. The hostility of the road crowds, the unfriendly behavior of coaches and athletic directors in the conference, and the discrepancies in eligibility to compete in the NCAA tournament, which at that time was delegated strictly to the winner of the ACC tournament despite that year's championship game being the only Gamecocks loss, led McGuire to support South Carolina becoming an Independent before the 1971–72 season. [4]

As an independent, the program gradually declined, and the university sought entrance into an athletic conference. This proved problematic because most conferences required schools to have a single athletic director, and South Carolina had multiple directors at the time. McGuire served as athletic director for the basketball program, and he would not relinquish his position. The university made several attempts to obtain McGuire's resignation, but ultimately honored his contract through 1980. McGuire finished with a 283–142 overall record at South Carolina and continues to be held in high regard by Gamecock fans. His six consecutive 20-win seasons from 1969 to 1974, which produced a 137–33 record, remain the benchmark for USC Basketball.

Metro Conference and SEC

In 1983, the university became affiliated with the Metro Conference. The basketball program was placed on probation by the NCAA in the spring of 1987 for two years because of recruiting violations and the sale of complimentary player tickets. [5] From 1987 to 1991, George Felton led the Gamecocks to an 87–62 overall record, which included a 1989 NCAA Tournament appearance and a 1991 NIT berth. For three of Felton's five seasons (1987–1989), Tubby Smith served as an assistant coach before leaving to join Rick Pitino's staff at Kentucky. South Carolina joined the SEC before the 1992 season and initially struggled, posting a combined 20–35 record in 1992 and 1993.

Eddie Fogler era (1994–2001)

Eddie Fogler was hired away from Vanderbilt before the 1994 season and within a few years returned the Gamecocks to respectability. Under Fogler, South Carolina posted an impressive 66–28 record (34–14 SEC) during the 1996–1998 stretch, which included the school's first SEC championship in 1997. The 1997 Gamecocks posted a 15–1 record in SEC play and defeated league rival Kentucky twice, but lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Fogler stepped down after the 2001 campaign, going 123–117 in eight seasons as the Gamecocks' head coach. His tenure included two NCAA Tournament appearances (1997, 1998) and two NIT appearances (1996, 2001). Fogler retired as one of the most successful head coaches in SEC Basketball history, having won regular season conference championships at both Vanderbilt and South Carolina.

Dave Odom era (2002–2008)

Subsequent coach Dave Odom posted four 20-win seasons during his tenure at South Carolina. He led the Gamecocks to an appearance in the 2004 NCAA Tournament and consecutive NIT championships in 2005 and 2006. Odom's tenure also saw USC begin play at the 18,000 seat Colonial Life Arena during the 2002–2003 season. Following the 2007–2008 campaign, Odom resigned with a 128–104 overall record at USC.

Darrin Horn era (2009–2012)

On April 1, 2008, Darrin Horn was named the new head basketball coach at USC. [6] In his first season, Horn led the Gamecocks to a 21–10 record (10–6 SEC), two victories over Kentucky, and a share of the 2009 SEC Eastern Division title. After a 10–21 campaign in 2011–12, his third straight losing season, Horn was fired on March 13, 2012, finishing his tenure at Carolina with a 60–63 overall record and a 23–45 mark in the SEC.

Frank Martin era (2012–2022)

Martin led the Gamecocks to their first Final Four in 2017. Frank Martin basketball 2012.jpg
Martin led the Gamecocks to their first Final Four in 2017.

Frank Martin came to USC from Kansas State, where he had enjoyed five winning seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance with the Wildcats in 2010. After losing records in his first two seasons with the Gamecocks, he achieved a winning season in 2015, then reached the NIT in 2016, and then broke through into the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the program's first appearance in the event since 2004. On March 17, 2017, USC achieved its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1973 with a 20-point win over the Marquette Golden Eagles. Two nights later, the Gamecocks upset the #2 seed Duke Blue Devils to advance to their fourth Sweet 16. [7] South Carolina then beat #3 seed Baylor Bears to advance to their first-ever Elite 8, two days later they upset Florida to advance to their first ever Final Four.

Lamont Paris era (2022–present)

A game between South Carolina and East Carolina at Colonial Life Arena in 2024 Military Appreciation Night at University of South Carolina (241207-Z-XE576-1204).jpg
A game between South Carolina and East Carolina at Colonial Life Arena in 2024

Former Chattanooga head coach Lamont Paris was named South Carolina's 33rd head coach on March 24, 2022, to replace the terminated Frank Martin. [8] Paris is the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men's basketball program. [9]

Year-by-year results

SeasonCoachRecordNotes
OverallConference
1908–1909J. H. Brown0–3—
1909–1910 F. E. Schofield 0–1—
1910–1911No coach1–1—
1911–1912 James G. Driver 3–4—
1912–1913James G. Driver2–3—
1913–1914 John Blackburn 5–4–1—
1914–1915 L. W. Hill 2–7—
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1915–1916 Charles C. Farrell 4–6—
1916–1917 Dixon Foster 7–8—
1917–1918Dixon Foster8–5—
1918–1919Dixon Foster4–7—
1919–1920Dixon Foster7–11—
1920–1921 Sol Metzger 7–11—
1921–1922 Lana A. Sims 7–12—
Southern Conference
1922–1923 Jack Crawford 6–130–3
1923–1924Jack Crawford11–92–2
1924–1925 Branch Bocock 10–74–2
1925–1926Branch Bocock9–54–2
1926–1927Branch Bocock14–49–1SoCon Champions
1927–1928 A. Burnet Stoney 8–124–7
1928–1929 Rock Norman 8–134–9
1929–1930Rock Norman6–100–6
1930–1931Rock Norman1–171–12
1931–1932Rock Norman9–72–2
1932–1933 Billy Laval 17–24–0SoCon Champions; SoCon Tournament Champions
1933–1934 Rock Norman 18–16–0SoCon Champions
1934–1935Rock Norman15–95–7
1935–1936 Ted Petoskey 11–81–6
1936–1937Ted Petoskey13–78–4
1937–1938Ted Petoskey3–211–13
1938–1939Ted Petoskey5–183–8
1939–1940Ted Petoskey5–133–10
1940–1941 Frank Johnson 15–98–3
1941–1942Frank Johnson12–98–4
1942–1943Frank Johnson (first 2 games)
Rex Enright (last 17 games)		13–66–3
1943–1944 Henry Findley 13–21–2
1944–1945 John D. McMillan 19–39–0SoCon Champions
1945–1946 Dick Anderson (first 12 games)
Frank Johnson (last 8 games)		9–114–7
1946–1947Frank Johnson16–97–5
1947–1948Frank Johnson12–118–7
1948–1949Frank Johnson10–127–6
1949–1950Frank Johnson13–125–8
1950–1951Frank Johnson13–1212–7
1951–1952Frank Johnson14–108–8
1952–1953Frank Johnson11–137–12
Atlantic Coast Conference
1953–1954Frank Johnson10–162–7
1954–1955Frank Johnson10–172–12
1955–1956Frank Johnson9–143–11
1956–1957Frank Johnson17–125–9
1957–1958Frank Johnson5–193–11
1958–1959 Walt Hambrick 4–202–12
1959–1960 Bob Stevens 10–166–8
1960–1961Bob Stevens9–172–12
1961–1962Bob Stevens15–127–7
1962–1963 Chuck Noe 9–154–10
1963–1964Chuck Noe (first 12 games)
Dwane Morrison (last 12 games)		10–147–7
1964–1965 Frank McGuire 6–172–12
1965–1966Frank McGuire11–134–10
1966–1967Frank McGuire16–78–4
1967–1968Frank McGuire15–79–5
1968–69 Frank McGuire21–711–3 NIT second round
1969–70 Frank McGuire25–314–0ACC Champions
1970–71 Frank McGuire23–610–4ACC Tournament Champions; NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1971–72 Frank McGuire24–5— NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1972–1973Frank McGuire22–7— NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1973–1974Frank McGuire22–5— NCAA first round
1974–1975Frank McGuire19–9— NIT second round
1975–1976Frank McGuire18–9—
1976–1977Frank McGuire14–12—
1977–1978Frank McGuire16–12— NIT first round
1978–1979Frank McGuire15–12—
1979–1980Frank McGuire16–11—
1980–1981 Bill Foster 17–10—
1981–1982Bill Foster14–15—
1982–1983Bill Foster22–9— NIT third round
Metro Conference
1983–1984Bill Foster12–165–9
1984–1985Bill Foster15–136–8
1985–1986Bill Foster12–162–10
1986–1987 George Felton 15–145–7
1987–1988George Felton19–106–6
1988–1989George Felton19–118–4 NCAA first round
1989–1990George Felton14–146–8
1990–1991George Felton20–135–9 NIT second round
1991–1992 Steve Newton 11–173–13
1992–1993Steve Newton9–185–11
1993–1994 Eddie Fogler 9–194–12
1994–1995Eddie Fogler10–175–11
1995–1996Eddie Fogler19–128–8 NIT third round
1996–1997 Eddie Fogler24–815–1SEC Champions; NCAA first round
1997–1998Eddie Fogler23–811–5 NCAA first round
1998–1999Eddie Fogler8–213–13
1999–2000Eddie Fogler15–175–11
2000–2001Eddie Fogler15–156–10 NIT first round
2001–2002 Dave Odom 22–156–10 NIT Runners-up
2002–2003Dave Odom12–165–11
2003–2004Dave Odom23–118–8 NCAA first round
2004–2005Dave Odom20–137–9 NIT Champions
2005–2006Dave Odom23–156–10 NIT Champions
2006–2007Dave Odom14–164–12
2007–2008Dave Odom14–185–11
2008–2009 Darrin Horn 21–1010–6 NIT first round
2009–2010 Darrin Horn15–166–10
2010–2011 Darrin Horn14–165–11
2011–2012 Darrin Horn10–212–14
2012–2013 Frank Martin 14–184–14
2013–2014 Frank Martin14–205–13
2014–2015 Frank Martin17–166–12
2015–2016 Frank Martin25–911–7 NIT second round
2016–2017 Frank Martin26–1112–6 NCAA Final Four
2017–2018 Frank Martin17–167–11
2018–2019 Frank Martin16–16 [10] 11–7 [11]
2019–2020 Frank Martin18–1310–8
2020–2021 Frank Martin6–154–12
2021–2022 Frank Martin18–139–9
2022–2023 Lamont Paris 11–204–14
2023–2024 Lamont Paris26–813–5 NCAA first round
2024–2025 Lamont Paris12–192–16

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Gamecocks have appeared in the NCAA tournament 10 times. Their combined record is 8–11.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1971 Second Round
Regional 3rd Place Game		 Penn
Fordham 		L 64–79
L 90–100
1972 Round of 25
Second Round
Regional 3rd Place Game		 Temple
North Carolina
Villanova 		W 53–51
L 62–92
W 90–78
1973 Round of 25
Second Round
Regional 3rd Place Game		 Texas Tech
Memphis State
Southwestern Louisiana 		W 78–70
L 76–90
W 90–85
1974 Round of 25 Furman L 67–75
1989 (12)Round of 64(5) NC State L 66–81
1997 (2)Round of 64(15) Coppin State L 65–78
1998 (3)Round of 64(14) Richmond L 61–62
2004 (10)Round of 64(7) Memphis L 43–59
2017 (7)Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		(10) Marquette
(2) Duke
(3) Baylor
(4) Florida
(1) Gonzaga 		W 93–73
W 88–81
W 70–50
W 77–70
L 73–77
2024 #6Round of 64#11 Oregon L 73–87

NIT results

The Gamecocks have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 12 times. Their combined record is 22–10. They were NIT champions in 2005 and 2006.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1969 First Round
Quarterfinals		Southern Illinois
Army		W 72–63
L 45–59
1975 First Round
Quarterfinals		Connecticut
Princeton		W 71–61
L 67–86
1978 First RoundNC StateL 70–83
1983 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		Old Dominion
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest		W 100–90
W 76–75
L 61–78
1991 First Round
Second Round		George Washington
Siena		W 69–63
L 58–63
1996 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		Davidson
Vanderbilt
Alabama		W 100–73
W 80–70
L 67–68
2001 First RoundConnecticutL 65–72
2002 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		Virginia
UNLV
Ball State
Syracuse
Memphis		W 74–67
W 75–65
W 82–47
W 66–59
L 62–72
2005 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		Miami (FL)
UNLV
Georgetown
Maryland
Saint Joseph's		W 69–67
W 77–66
W 69–66
W 75–67
W 60–57
2006 #3First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		#6 Western Kentucky
#2 Florida State
#1 Cincinnati
#1 Louisville
#1 Michigan		W 74–55
W 69–68
W 65–62
W 78–63
W 76–64
2009 #3First Round#6 DavidsonL 63–70
2016 #1First Round
Second Round		#8 High Point
#4 Georgia Tech		W 88–66
L 66–83

Conference championships

Head coaches

NameYearsSeasonsWonLostPct.
John Hertz Brown 1908–1909103.000
F. E. Schofield 1909–1910101.000
No coach1910–1911111.500
James G. Driver 1911–1913257.417
John Blackburn 1913–1914154.550
L. W. Hill 1914–1915127.286
Charles C. Farrell 1915–1916146.400
Dixon Foster 1916–192042631.456
Sol Metzger 1920–19211711.389
Lana A. Sims 1921–19221712.368
Jack Crawford 1922–192421722.436
Branch Bocock 1924–192733316.673
A. Burnet Stoney 1927–19281812.400
Rock Norman 1928–1932
1933–1935		65757.500
Billy Laval 1932–19331172.895
Ted Petoskey 1935–194053767.354
Frank Johnson 1940–1943
1946–1958		14.5174175.499
Rex Enright 19431116.647
Henry Findley 1943–19441132.867
Johnny McMillan 1944–19451193.864
*** Anderson1945–19460.548.333
Walt Hambrick 1958–19591420.167
Bob Stevens 1959–196233445.430
Chuck Noe 1962–19631.51621.417
Dwane Morrison 19640.548.333
Frank McGuire 1964–198016283142.666
Bill Foster 1980–198669279.538
George Felton 1986–199158762.584
Steve Newton 1991–199322035.364
Eddie Fogler 1993–20018123117.513
Dave Odom 2001–20087128104.552
Darrin Horn 2008–201246063.488
Frank Martin 2012–202210171147.538
Lamont Paris 2022–present23729.561

All-Americans

PlayerPositionYear(s)electors
Freddie Thompkins1934Converse Yearbook
Jim Slaughter Center1951Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press
Grady Wallace Forward1957Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, Converse Yearbook, UPI, International News Service
Skip Harlicka Guard1968Converse Yearbook
John Roche (3)Guard1969, 1970, 1971United Savings Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, Converse Yearbook, UPI, Basketball Weekly, Look Magazine, The Sporting News, NABC, NBA Coaches
Tom Riker Forward1972National Association of Basketball Writers, United Savings Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, UPI, The Sporting News, NABC
Kevin Joyce Guard1973United Savings Helms Athletic Foundation, Associated Press, UPI, NABC
Brian Winters Guard/Forward1974Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation
Alex English Forward1975Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation, Independent All-America
Zam Fredrick Guard1981Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation
Larry Davis Guard1997Basketball Weekly, Associated Press
Melvin WatsonGuard1997Associated Press
BJ McKie (3)Guard1997, 1998, 1999Basketball Weekly, Associated Press
Devan Downey (2)Guard2009, 2010Associated Press, The Sporting News
Source: South Carolina Media Guide [12]

Awards

Sindarius Thornwell became the Gamecocks' first SEC Player of the Year in 2017. Sindarius Thornwell Free Throw.jpg
Sindarius Thornwell became the Gamecocks' first SEC Player of the Year in 2017.

National Scoring Leader

ACC Player of the Year

All-ACC First Team

All-ACC Second Team

ACC Tournament Outstanding Player

Metro Conference Newcomer of the Year

All-Metro First Team

All-Metro Second Team

SEC Player of the Year

SEC Rookie of the Year

SEC Coach of the Year

SEC Defensive Player of the Year

SEC Sixth Man of the Year

All-SEC First Team

All-SEC Second Team

All-SEC Third Team

NIT Most Valuable Player

Gamecocks in the NBA

Alex English was the NBA's leading scorer of the 1980s Alex English.jpg
Alex English was the NBA's leading scorer of the 1980s

Retired numbers

Kevin Joyce as a junior at South Carolina Kevin Joyce.jpg
Kevin Joyce as a junior at South Carolina

South Carolina has retired five jersey numbers. [13]

South Carolina Gamecocks retired numbers
No.PlayerPositionTenureRef.
3 BJ McKie PG 1995–1999 [14]
11 John Roche PG1968–1971 [14]
22 Alex English SF 1972–1976 [14]
42 Grady Wallace F 1955–1957 [14]
43 Kevin Joyce PG / SG 1970–1973 [14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Colors – Communications and Public Affairs | University of South Carolina" . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 27.
  3. ↑ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 28.
  4. ↑ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 232.
  5. ↑ Lesesne, Henry H. (2001). A History of the University of South Carolina, 1940–2000. University of South Carolina Press. p. 311.
  6. ↑ Darrin Horn Named Men's Basketball Coach
  7. ↑ "South Carolina stuns Duke with 88–81 win to advance to its fourth Sweet 16" . Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  8. ↑ "Lamont Paris hired as new South Carolina basketball coach". The State.
  9. ↑ "Bio". The University of South Carolina.
  10. ↑ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics".
  11. ↑ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics".
  12. ↑ "South Carolina All-Americans" (PDF). South Carolina. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  13. ↑ "2006–07 Men's Basketball Media Guide History" (PDF).
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Gamecocks ready to retire more jerseys. And it should happen soon BY JOSH KENDALL on The State - April 11, 2018
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