Feb. 13, 2012

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina was selected to finish in second place in the Eastern Division in the 2012 SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released on Monday, Feb. 13. Carolina has finished in the upper half of the SEC Eastern Division 15 of 20 seasons since joining the league including 12 of 15 years under head coach Ray Tanner. The 2012 season begins on Friday, February 17 as the Gamecocks host a three-game series with VMI at Carolina Stadium.

Florida is the choice to win the 2012 SEC championship with Arkansas the choice to win the West. In addition to picking a preseason champion, the head coaches voted a predicted order of finish in the SEC Eastern and Western Divisions. Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

2012 SEC COACHES PRESEASON POLL RESULTS

Eastern Division
Team Points
1. Florida 66
2. South Carolina 56
3. Georgia 42
4. Vanderbilt 40
5. Kentucky 25
6. Tennessee 18

Western Division
Team Points
1. Arkansas 64
2. LSU 58
3. Alabama 38
4. Ole Miss 34
5. Mississippi State 33
6. Auburn

SOUTH CAROLINA'S SEC HISTORYYEAR    RECORD  DIV. FINISH1992    13-11   2nd1993    15-10-1 2nd1994    11-15   4th1995    12-14   3rd1996    13-17   5thUNDER COACH Ray Tanner1997    13-17   4th1998    19-10   2nd1999    15-15   1st2000    25-5    1st2001    17-13   3rd2002    21-8    1st2003    19-11   1st2004    17-13   2nd2005    16-14   2nd2006    15-15   4th2007    17-13   2nd2008    15-15   5th2009    17-13   2nd2010    21-9    2nd2011    22-8    T1st
SEC EAST TITLES (5)1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011
SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS (3)2000, 2002, 2011
SEC TOURNAMENT TITLE (1)2004
EASTERN DIVISION FINISHES        Total   Tanner Years1st Place   5   52nd Place   8   63rd Place   2   14th Place   3   25th Place   2   16th Place   0   0