March 16, 2009

Like most of you, I was disappointed when the NCAA brackets were revealed and South Carolina was not among the 65 teams invited to participate in the Big Dance.

Certainly, with a 21-9 overall record, a 10-6 regular season mark in a BCS conference, a share of the SEC Eastern Division title, regular season wins over the likes of Kentucky (twice), Florida, Auburn and Baylor, and no “bad” losses, we were optimistic that our resume was good enough for an NCAA Tournament berth. Unfortunately, we fell just short this year in the eyes of the selection committee. However, this disappointment does not take away from the tremendous season that head coach Darrin Horn and the South Carolina basketball team enjoyed.

Coach Horn, along with his staff and the team have embodied the “Garnet Way” – by working hard every day, being accountable both on and off the court, and winning with class.

As we’ve said all along, our goal as an athletics department is to compete for championships and to become a nationally-prominent program. As co-champions of the SEC Eastern Division, and with wins over traditionally strong programs like Kentucky and Florida, the men’s basketball team took a huge step towards seeing our goals come to fruition.

A special thank you goes out to all the Carolina fans that helped make this season special. We filled the Colonial Life Arena several times and, with the help of the Garnet Army, gave us a home-court advantage – something many “experts” did not think was possible.

I’m sure I speak for all the Gamecock Nation in wishing Coach Horn and the Gamecocks the best of luck in the NIT. The NIT gives us tournament experience, which will help us toward our goal of battling for NCAA championships in the future. The NIT is a much stronger tournament than in the past with only 32 teams in the field, all of whom barely missed the NCAA big dance. Please continue to support our upwardly mobile Gamecock team so they gain needed experience to reach the “Big Dance” next year.

Go Gamecocks!

Eric