Classifying the top 25 teams in the country is a difficult task, but imagine classifying all college basketball teams in the country’s top division. CBS takes on this challenge to start each season and the South Carolina basketball team will enter the NCAA tournament if the prediction is correct.
Of course, there are automatic bids and the list is not one that projects the NCAA tournament field, but Matt Norlander of CBS regards Gamecocks with some favor. Head coach Frank Martin, entering its ninth year with the program, wants to take its team to the tournament for the first time since reaching the Final Four to end the 2016-17 season.
South Carolina arrived as the country’s number 67 team in the initial CBS ratings. Here’s what Norlander wrote about Gamecocks:
67. South Carolina: Frank Martin has four players starting an 18-win team that has registered as one of the top 50 defenders in 2019-20. AJ Lawsonis back, and he could be one of the top 10 SEC players. Seventh woods is looking for a story of redemption after not working at UNC. Hmmm … I could actually end up having Gamecocks 10-12 very low points.
Gamecocks welcome most of their training, losing only veterans Maik Kotsar, who now plays professionally in Germany, to graduate with his guard Jair Bolden transfer.
The two best scorers – guards Jermaine Couisnard and AJ Lawson – return to the team this season with typical starters Keyshawn Bryant and Justin Minaya. Post players Alanzo Frink and Wildens Leveque everyone has a considerable number of matches as well.
There are a few other programs in the state that are also among the top 68. Clemson is on the Norlander list at No. 57. Furman is right behind the Gamecocks at No. 68. Here is an excerpt from what CBS wrote about the Paladins: “They say this is Bob Richey’s best team to date. … This team could end a 41-year drought at the NCAA Tournament for the FU. There are always some top middle teams that reach the top 60 or 70; Paladins fit the profile well and should be in the mix by March. “
South Carolina, like most SEC teams, has yet to release its basketball schedule for the season. Teams can start playing on November 25th.