The South Carolina Gamecocks are staring down a harsh reality: the media predicts they'll finish dead last in the SEC this season. Ouch. But here's where it gets interesting: is this prediction a fair assessment, or are the Gamecocks being underestimated? The preseason SEC men's basketball poll, released Monday, ranks all 16 teams, and unfortunately for USC fans, their team sits at the bottom. Florida takes the top spot, followed by perennial powerhouses Kentucky and Tennessee. And this is the part most people miss: USC didn't land a single player on the media's preseason All-SEC teams – first, second, or third.
This isn't entirely surprising given recent history. The Gamecocks were predicted to finish 11th last season and ended up 12th. They've been picked last in two of Coach Lamont Paris' three seasons, with a surprising tie for second in 2024 being the outlier. So, what's holding them back?
Two main factors seem to be at play. First, there's last season's dismal performance. The Gamecocks posted a 2-16 SEC record, their worst under Paris. While their overall record of 11-21 in 2022-23 was even worse, their conference record that year was slightly better at 4-14.
The second factor is the significant roster turnover. While bringing in a large class of newcomers is common in today's college basketball landscape, integrating 11 new players is no easy feat. USC's transfer class, ranked 20th by On3, is respectable, but seven other SEC teams boast higher-ranked classes.
Is this a recipe for another disappointing season, or can Coach Paris work his magic and prove the doubters wrong?
We'll get some insights on Tuesday when Paris, along with players Meechie Johnson, Mike Sharavjamts, and Myles Stute, speak to reporters at the SEC Tipoff event in Birmingham, Alabama. The Gamecocks tip off their season on November 4th against North Carolina A&T at home, with SEC play beginning on January 3rd against Vanderbilt.
Here's the full predicted SEC order of finish:
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Auburn
- Missouri
- Ole Miss
- Texas
- Mississippi State
- Vanderbilt
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Georgia
- LSU
- South Carolina
This story was originally published on October 13, 2025.
What do you think, Gamecock fans? Is the media underestimating USC's potential, or is this a realistic prediction? Let us know in the comments!
Jackson Castellano is The State’s college sports intern covering South Carolina men’s basketball. A Cape Coral, Florida native, he is a proud alum of the University of Florida.
