Men's Basketball . February 12, 2024

Gamecocks Move Up to No. 11 in Both Major Polls

South Carolina Athletics

Carolina's No. 11 ranking in the AP Poll the highest for the program since the team was slotted 11th in Week 7 (DEc. 29) of the 1997-98 season

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina moved up to No. 11 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches Poll on Monday. The No. 11 ranking in the AP Poll is the highest for the program since being ranked No. 11 in Week 7 (Dec. 29) of the 1997-98 season. The Gamecocks nine-spot jump in the Coaches Poll was the most by teams ranked in last week’s top-25.

Carolina has won seven-straight SEC games, the team’s longest win streak in league play since starting the conference slate 11-0 during the 1996-97 season. It’s also the longest active win streak currently in the SEC.

Head coach Lamont Paris has led the team to a 21-3 overall record and an 9-2 mark in SEC action, which has the team tied at the top of the standings with No. 15/15 Alabama (17-7, 9-2 SEC). It’s the team’s third 21-3 or better start in program history (2015-16, 1969-70).

It’s been a special season so far for the Gamecocks and the team’s current win streak features a pair of top-10 wins over No. 6/6 Kentucky (Jan. 23) and No. 5/5 Tennessee (Jan. 30). The victories came in a three-game stretch, the first time the program has notched top-10 wins in a three-game span since 1968, per Elias Sports Bureau. The Gamecocks 63-59 win in Knoxville was just the fourth true road win this season over a top-five opponent (Arizona, James Madison and Clemson also on the list). It was the first top-five road win by the Gamecocks since defeating No. 3 Kentucky on March 2, 1997 at Rupp Arena.

Carolina is 8-2 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games this season and has four wins against teams currently ranked in the top-60 of the NET Rankings (No. 6 Tennessee, No. 25 Kentucky, No. 36 Mississippi State, No. 44 Grand Canyon).

The team went 13-1 to start the season, the sixth 13-1 start or better in program history (1933-34, 1944-45, 1969-70, 2003-04, 2015-16 and 2023-24).

The Gamecocks head west to face No. 12/14 Auburn (19-5, 8-3 SEC) on Wednesday night in a battle of top-25 teams at the top of the league standings. Kevin Fitzgerald (pxp) and Jon Sundvold (analyst) will be on the call for the 8:30 p.m. (ET) SEC Network broadcast.

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