It is a weird time to be a hoops fan in the 803 and the 864. Honestly, if you told someone five years ago that the best brand of basketball in the ACC would be coming out of Upstate South Carolina, they’d probably assume you were talking about a different sport. But here we are. South Carolina college basketball is currently having a massive identity crisis—the good kind.
On one side of the state, you have a women’s program that basically doesn't know how to lose. On the other, you’ve got two men’s programs in Clemson and Columbia that are fighting tooth and nail to prove they belong in the national conversation. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. And it’s exactly what the state needed.
The Dawn Staley Era is Just Different
Let's just be real for a second. What Dawn Staley has built in Columbia isn't just a "good run." It’s a dynasty that makes other coaches lose their minds. Just this week, Texas coach Vic Schaefer went on a bit of a rant about the SEC schedule, essentially claiming the league has a "vendetta" against the Longhorns because they have to play South Carolina on the road.
Staley, in her classic style, just shrugged it off as "emotional."
The Gamecocks women's team is currently sitting at 17-1. Their only loss? A blip. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 36 points. Think about that. Most teams are happy to win by ten. This squad is basically ending games by the first media timeout. With players like MiLaysia Fulwiley and Chloe Kitts, the "reloading" phase people expected after last year’s championship hasn't slowed them down one bit. They’re ranked #2 in the country, trailing only UConn, and the gap between them and everyone else feels like a canyon.
Clemson Men: The Brad Brownell Masterclass
Now, if you want to talk about a surprise, look at Clemson. Brad Brownell is currently in his 16th season. Usually, that’s when a coach starts to feel like "old news," right?
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Wrong.
The Tigers are 15-3 and a perfect 5-0 in the ACC. They just beat Notre Dame on the road by 15. That was their 11th straight ACC road win. Only Houston has a longer conference road streak in the entire country.
The wildest part? Brownell had to replace his top five scorers from last year. Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin—they’re all gone. Instead of crumbling, Clemson has turned into a Hydra. Seven different players have led the team in scoring this year. RJ Godfrey is a beast in the paint, and Dillon Hunter has stepped into a leadership role that most didn't see coming. They aren't just winning; they're "gritty," as Debbie Antonelli recently put it.
The Struggles in Columbia (Men's Side)
It hasn't been all sunshine and tailgates, though. Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks men's team are hitting some serious turbulence. They’re 10-7 overall and 1-3 in the SEC.
Wednesday night was... rough. A 108-74 blowout loss to Arkansas in Fayetteville.
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Meechie Johnson did his best, putting up 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting, but the rest of the team just couldn't find the bucket. The defense, which was the hallmark of Paris's team last year, looked like it was standing in quicksand. They forced a season-low four turnovers. You can’t win in the SEC if you don't guard the paint, and right now, the Gamecocks are letting people walk right to the rim.
There's hope, though. Eli Ellis, the freshman sensation, is showing flashes of being a future star. But the "right now" is a bit painful for the fans at Colonial Life Arena.
The Mid-Major Power Move
Don't sleep on the mid-majors in this state. South Carolina college basketball isn't just the SEC and ACC.
- Furman: The Paladins are 13-5. Alex Wilkins just dropped 28 on Samford. They play a style of ball that is just fun to watch—lots of movement, lots of threes.
- College of Charleston: They’ve won seven straight. Chris Mack has them playing at a tempo that wears teams down by the twelve-minute mark of the second half.
- Wofford: They’re 11-7, but coming off a tough home loss to Chattanooga. Kahmare Holmes is a legit bucket-getter, but they need to find some consistency on the defensive glass if they want to make a run in the SoCon.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about South Carolina college basketball is that it’s a "football state."
Sure, Saturdays in the fall are religion. But look at the attendance numbers. Look at the TV ratings for Staley’s team. Look at the way Littlejohn Coliseum is shaking when Clemson plays a ranked opponent. The "football school" label is a lazy narrative that doesn't hold up anymore.
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The reality is that this state is currently the epicenter of women's basketball and a legitimate dark horse in the men's national picture. Clemson is outperforming North Carolina and Virginia. Think about how crazy that sounds.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following the action, keep an eye on these specific shifts:
- Clemson's "Runway": The Tigers have a stretch against Miami, NC State, and Georgia Tech before a massive Valentine's Day showdown with Duke. If they enter that Duke game undefeated in the ACC, the hype will be uncontrollable.
- Gamecock Defense: Watch Lamont Paris's rotations. If they don't tighten up the interior defense by the time they play Auburn on January 17th, it could be a long February.
- The #1 Spot: South Carolina's women are chasing UConn for that top rank. Every blowout win brings them closer, and the inevitable matchup in the tournament will be the ticket of the year.
South Carolina college basketball has moved past the era of being a "scrappy underdog." Between a legendary coach in Columbia and a masterclass in roster management in Clemson, the state is no longer just a pitstop on the way to Tobacco Road. It's the destination.
Next Steps for Fans: Check the upcoming schedule for the January 17th "Super Saturday," where nearly every major program in the state is in action, specifically the Furman vs. Wofford rivalry game which often determines the pecking order in the Southern Conference.