📰: ESPN Feature on Gamecock Men’s Basketball

Lamont Paris has turned South Carolina from an afterthought into a tournament team

ESPN.com — Following South Carolina’s 75-60 win over Vanderbilt on Feb. 10, a large group of Gamecocks fans at Colonial Life Arena refused to budge, even as a frustrated security guard urged the team’s supporters to exit the facility. Huddled along the baseline of the court, shoulder-to-shoulder near the entrance of the home team’s tunnel, they lingered because they wanted a picture with head coach Lamont Paris, a national coach of the year contender, and his players, who’ve orchestrated one of the college basketball season’s most impressive turnarounds.

“They didn’t wait around like this after games last season,” the security guard noted.

“They didn’t wait around like this after games last season,” the security guard noted.

A year ago, South Carolina played most of its games in front of a half-empty home arena en route to an 11-21 record in Paris’ first season as head coach. This year, the No. 20 Gamecocks, who will play at Ole Miss on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network, are legit contenders in the SEC race and one of the biggest surprises in men’s college basketball.

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