More respect for USC? Where Lamont Paris’ Gamecocks are predicted to finish in SEC

Not everybody is sold on the Gamecocks coming off of their NCAA Tournament appearance.

South Carolina was picked to finish 11th in this year’s SEC preseason media poll, released Monday, for the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

The Gamecocks (26-8 overall, 13-5 SEC) finished last season tied for second out of 14 teams in the conference. They were predicted to finish last in the conference last year before making their first tournament since 2017.

This year’s order-of-finish predictions include 16 teams with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the league.

Alabama was predicted to win the league in 2024-25, followed by Auburn and Tennessee, in a vote from select SEC media members.

The poll was released ahead of this week’s SEC Basketball Tipoff media event in Birmingham, Alabama. Head coach Lamont Paris, Nick Pringle and Collin Murray-Boyles will represent South Carolina at the SEC Tipoff on Tuesday.

South Carolina had three of its four top scorers leave the program at the end of last season. The Gamecocks replenished their ranks with three transfers: Pringle (Alabama), Jamarii Thomas (Norfolk State) and Jordan Butler (Missouri). They also brought in four-star freshman Cam Scott, who was released from his national letter of intent with Texas to return home to play for USC.

Murray-Boyles, Jacobi Wright, Zachary Davis and Myles Stute — all key contributors to USC last season — return to the program. Redshirt freshman Arden Conyers is also expected to play a role for the Gamecocks this year.

Murray-Boyles was selected to the preseason All-SEC third team. Alabama’s Mark Sears was voted as the preseason player of the year.

The Gamecocks host their exhibition games Oct. 30 against the College of Wooster, head coach Lamont Paris’ alma mater before opening the regular season against North Florida on Nov. 4. SEC play begins Jan. 4 when USC travels to Mississippi State.

SEC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. Alabama

2. Auburn

3. Tennessee

4. Arkansas

5. Texas A&M

6. Florida

7. Texas

8. Kentucky

9. Ole Miss

10. Mississippi State

11. South Carolina

12. Georgia

13. Missouri

14. LSU

15. Oklahoma

16. Vanderbilt

SEC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mark Sears – Alabama

PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM

Mark Sears – Alabama

Johni Broome – Auburn

Walter Clayton Jr. – Florida

Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee

Wade Taylor IV – Texas A&M

PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM

Grant Nelson – Alabama

Jonas Aidoo – Arkansas

Johnell Davis – Arkansas

Matthew Murrell – Ole Miss

Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State

PRESEASON ALL-SEC THIRD TEAM

Chad Baker-Mazara – Auburn

Alex Condon – Florida

Jaxson Robinson – Kentucky

Collin Murray-Boyles – South Carolina

Tramon Mark – Texas