Underdog Alert: South Carolina Men’s Basketball Predicted to Finish Dead Last in the SEC—Here’s Why
The preseason buzz around SEC men’s basketball is here, and the outlook for the South Carolina Gamecocks couldn’t be more grim. According to the recently released SEC preseason media poll, the Gamecocks are projected to finish at the very bottom of the conference—a brutal prediction for a program hungry to prove its doubters wrong. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this ranking justified, or are the Gamecocks being unfairly written off?
The media’s preseason rankings, unveiled on Monday, placed all 16 SEC teams in order of their expected performance this season. Florida topped the list as the favorite to win the conference, followed by perennial powerhouses Kentucky and Tennessee. Meanwhile, South Carolina didn’t just land near the bottom—it was slotted in last place, with no Gamecocks players making the cut for the preseason All-SEC first, second, or third teams.
And this is the part most people miss: South Carolina has been here before. In Lamont Paris’ first two seasons as head coach, the team was also picked to finish last but defied expectations by tying for second place in 2024 before stumbling to a 12th-place finish in 2023. So, what’s different this time? Two critical factors are driving the pessimistic outlook.
Factor #1: Last Season’s Struggles Were Hard to Ignore
South Carolina’s 2023-24 campaign was its worst in recent memory, posting a dismal 2-16 record in SEC play. While the team’s overall record in 2022-23 (11-21) was even worse, its 4-14 conference performance that year still looked marginally better than last season’s collapse. Those numbers don’t lie—but is one disastrous season enough to condemn the Gamecocks to the cellar again?
Factor #2: Roster Overhaul Brings Uncertainty—and Opportunity
College basketball’s transfer portal era means teams are constantly reloading, and South Carolina is no exception. The Gamecocks welcomed 11 new faces this offseason, a mix of freshmen and transfers. While On3 ranked their transfer class 20th nationally, seven SEC rivals landed higher-rated hauls. Chemistry won’t develop overnight, but could this under-the-radar group surprise everyone? (Cue the controversy: Some analysts argue rankings overvalue high-profile transfers and undervalue player development—what do you think?)
Key Moments Ahead
Coach Paris and standout players Meechie Johnson, Mike Sharavjamts, and Myles Stute will address the media at the SEC Tipoff event in Birmingham, Alabama, on Tuesday—their first chance to publicly respond to these low expectations. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks tip off their season on November 4th against North Carolina A&T at home, with SEC play beginning January 3rd versus Vanderbilt.
SEC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish (2025-26):
1. Florida
2. Kentucky
3. Tennessee
4. Alabama
5. Arkansas
6. Auburn
7. Missouri
8. Ole Miss
9. Texas
10. Mississippi State
11. Vanderbilt
12. Oklahoma
13. Texas A&M
14. Georgia
15. LSU
16. South Carolina
Final Thought: A Rallying Cry or a Reality Check?
History suggests preseason polls are often wrong—remember when South Carolina was picked last and then nearly won the conference? But with so many new pieces and last year’s struggles fresh in voters’ minds, the Gamecocks face an uphill battle. Do you agree with the media’s harsh assessment, or is this team being underestimated? Drop your take in the comments—let’s debate!
Originally published October 13, 2025, at 11:33 AM by Jackson Castellano, The State’s college sports intern covering South Carolina men’s basketball. Castellano, a University of Florida alum, hails from Cape Coral, Florida.
