SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Matt Melton | Apr 13, 2021

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Juwan Gary #4 and Jahvon Quinerly #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate connecting on a alley oop dunk as head coach Ben Howland of the Mississippi State Bulldogs calls a timeout during the first half of their quarterfinal game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

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SEC Basketball AJ Lawson South Carolina Gamecocks (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

No. 12 – South Carolina Gamecocks

The 2020-2021 season was easily the Gamecocks worst season in recent memory as South Carolina finished 6-15 overall, and 4-12 in the SEC finishing 12th in the conference. This was their worst season since the 1964-1965 season in which South Carolina finished 6-17.

Looking ahead to next season, however, I would expect the Gamecocks to be improved, especially defensively. After allowing 79.1 PPG to opponents last season, the most in nearly 30 years, South Carolina must bounce back on the defensive end.

The Gamecocks will be one of the most experienced teams in the SEC next season as they return nine of their top ten leading scorers from this past season headlined by guards AJ Lawson and Jermaine Couisnard and forward Keyshawn Bryant.

South Carolina also brings in the #8 ranked recruiting class in the SEC. Incoming 3-star guards Jacobi Wright and Devin Carter, as well as 3-star forwards TaQuan Woodley and Carlous Williams might not feature much due to the Gamecocks veteran roster, but should develop next season into important players in the future.

South Carolina will be out to prove that their 2020-2021 season was a one-time thing, and will return an experienced and familiar roster under head coach Frank Martin. Don’t be surprised if the Gamecocks bounce back in a big way next season.

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