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South Carolina Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Gamecocks

By Brian Rauf

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 01: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 01: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 16: Frank Martin the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks gives instructions to his team against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 13, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 16: Frank Martin the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks gives instructions to his team against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 13, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

South Carolina basketball is hoping to build on last year’s 4th-place finish in the SEC. Here is how the Gamecocks look going into the new season.

Following their surprise Final Four run in 2017, South Carolina basketball has been remarkably average. They hold a 33-32 overall record in the two seasons since, including an 18-18 mark in SEC play.

This offseason was also filled mostly with news about players who will not be playing for the program this coming season.

The Gamecocks landed UNC transfer Seventh Woods, a Columbia native, but he will have to sit out a season due to transfer rules (he was not a graduate transfer). Chris Silva, South Carolina’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker from a year ago, signed with the Miami Heat as an undrafted free agent. Hassani Gravett, their starting point guard, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic.

That said, things appear to be on the upswing for this Gamecocks program. AJ Lawson and Keyshawn Bryant emerged as reliable contributors during their freshmen seasons, with Lawson flashing the potential to be a star in the SEC. Six of their top 10 scorers are back, giving this group a good bit of continuity.

The Gamecocks program has made some underrated strides under Martin in recent years, finishing in the top four in the SEC in three of the last four seasons, a streak that includes a fourth-place finish – ahead of Auburn – last season.

Can they extend that streak in 2019-20? Here is a full season preview for the Gamecocks:

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