NCAA Basketball: Ranking state of South Carolina programs for 2019-20

In the past few seasons, NCAA Basketball teams from South Carolina have had breakthroughs that have put the sport on notice. Let’s see how these teams rank in 2019-20.

The state of South Carolina has long been overlooked and never viewed as a state possessing much basketball talent. That has certainly changed over the past few years with many individuals from the state seemingly dominating NCAA basketball. The two most notable are of course Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, but there are plenty more.

The teams in the state of South Carolina have also turned heads the past few years. The two high-majors in the state, South Carolina and Clemson, are not very far removed from having seasons in which they competed toward the top of their power conferences. Additionally, the state’s mid-majors have found plenty of success recently, winning conference championships and getting the chance to carry the state flag into the NCAA Tournament.

I feel confident that the schools that are the best in the state will be great once again. A few will improve and look to compete for at-large tournament bids while others will have a chance for conference supremacy and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Others in the state have not been so fortunate through the years, nor will they be very fortunate this year in NCAA basketball. They have remained toward the bottom of their respective leagues and continue to show no signs of being able to climb to a new level anytime soon.

As South Carolina and Clemson have not seemed to get anything going these last couple of years, the door has certainly opened for the mid-majors. They play with a chip on their shoulders and pride themselves in finding success while the Gamecocks and Tigers have seemed to be lingering around facing an identity crisis. When Wofford dominated South Carolina 81-61 a season ago, it was made clear that the basketball dynamic in the state had changed to favor mid-major success.

As I assess the state for this season, I see that the mid-majors will dominate once again. South Carolina and Clemson will certainly look to be better, but they’ve got plenty of work to do.

Now, here is how I have decided to rank the D1 Programs form the state of South Carolina in 2019-20.