3 Predictions For the USC Gamecocks’ 2021-22 Basketball Season

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David Hucks
David Huckshttps://myrtlebeachsc.com
David Hucks is a 12th generation descendant of the area we now call Myrtle Beach, S.C. David attended Coastal Carolina University and like most of his family, has never left the area. David is the lead journalist at MyrtleBeachSC.com

The year was 2017, and the South Carolina Gamecocks’ men’s basketball team made it to the Final Four round of that season’s March Madness tournament, only to have a devastating four-point loss against Gonzaga stop them on their way to making it to the 2016/17 season college basketball title game. For March Madness predictions experts, the horizon was looking as bright as ever for the University of South Carolina’s men’s basketball program, and then just like that, darkness descended upon Gamecock’s basketball.

In the past few years, success in basketball has not been easy to find for the Gamecocks and as the new college basketball season is starting to get underway, one simple question arises. Could this be the year in which South Carolina starts turning things around in their basketball program? Here we bring you three predictions of what Gamecocks fans can expect from the 2021-22 men’s college basketball season.

It’s Frank Martin’s Time To Go

All Gamecocks fans thought that last season would probably end up being Frank Martin’s last as the head coach of South Carolina’s men’s basketball team, yet, he was met with a contract extension which includes a lower buyout clause, but that’s about it. When Martin was first brought into South Carolina, away from Kansas State, the panorama seemed to be a positive one for the Gamecocks, given Martin’s previous record with Kansas State and his positive NCAA Tournament runs. Yes, Martin was able to take South Carolina to a Final Four appearance in 2017, but asides from that, his tenure with the Gamecocks has been one of the continuous perils and an underwhelming capacity to lift this team once again.

If you take a look at all the rankings and predictions for the SEC conference for this season, you’ll find that South Carolina sadly does not amount up for much. If you take that into account as well as the fact that this team doesn’t hold any true star power to back any claims, it would only make sense for the school and Martin to go their separate ways either during the season or at the end of it, because sadly, it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to put on a miraculously amazing season to save him from being the one coach in the conference whose seat will be burning up as time progresses.

The Roster Will Need Some Serious Inspiration To Play Well

Be it because of the NBA draft or the transfer portal allowing players to find other schools to play for, the Gamecocks suffered a shocking exodus of eight of their players from last season entering this season. But at least, there is a certain level of continuance found in South Carolina’s roster still. With senior Keyshawn Bryant, who was one of the team’s shining players last season and Jermaine Couisnard coming back, as well as Wildens Leveque, the Gamecocks might be able to build a foundation for a starting lineup who will be in dire need of help in almost all parts of the court.

Given that Frank Martin’s teams are usually known for playing strong, physical ball, it should be expected for players like TreVaughn Minott, Ja’Von Benson, TaQuan Woodley, Josh Gray, and Leveque to be in charge of doing all of the team’s defensive heavy lifting. Asides from that, on an offensive note, Bryant, Couisnard, and freshmen guards Jacobi Wright and Devin Carter will surely be in charge of carrying the team in the point-scoring department. But what is more than true is that this team cannot end up relying only on what Bryant and Couisnard can do. In order for this team to beat the odds and actually put up respectable numbers, they need to find inspiration within themselves to pull through because if not, it will be a long and arduous season for the University of South Carolina.

There Will Be Growth, But Not Enough

While Gamecock fans can find it in themselves to see hope and promise in the return of Bryant, Leveque and Couisnard, sadly, this does not really feel like it will be a season where South Carolina will be able to prevail and come out victorious. Frank Martin’s team look like they have given up on very important aspects of the game and from the looks of it, all of Martin’s faulty decisions will end up costing this team greatly.

Their off conference schedule does not ready easily, and while we can see the Gamecocks securing even over 10 wins, it wouldn’t come as a shock if their losing record rolls over 20. For South Carolina the season seems like it will be long and torturous, but Gamecocks fans can still hope.

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