'It's surreal': Lamont Paris, South Carolina players react after learning NCAA Tournament fate
They waited and waited and waited. As each matchup was announced, there were oooh’s and aaah’s in the small crowd at Home Team BBQ.
After almost 25 minutes of waiting, the moment finally came. As the players and coaches watched a South Carolina logo flash on the TV screen, pandemonium ensued.
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Players, sitting anxiously, stood up and yelled in excitement, holding their phones up to record the moment. It’s finally here. South Carolina is going dancing for the first time since 2017.
“It was fun just to watch the guys,” head coach Lamont Paris said. “You know your name is going to get called up there. But still, when the moment happens, to see their immediate reaction to that and all the work that they’ve put in, to be rewarded with having their name called was awesome. Just really excited for our fan base, for our students, for our city and the state. It was just an exciting moment.”
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The Gamecocks will be a No. 6 seed and face 11-seeded Oregon on Thursday in Pittsburgh, PA in the first round of the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
“I’m very excited,” BJ Mack said. “Being able to experience my first March Madness is very exciting. I know that for the team, it is too. So we’re just very excited and ready to get playing.”
While the players and coaches don’t know much about Oregon right now, they will soon enough. But that’s not what this day is about. It’s a celebration of a lot of hard work to get to this point.
“It’s surreal. To think this is where we would be on March whatever a year ago, back in the summer, I can’t comprehend it,” Stephen Clark said. I mean, to think back to the beginning of the summer when we first got here and we’re just trying to put the pieces together. You see all these pieces fit together and we’re here now and having a watch party for Selection Sunday, it’s just awesome.”
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As the matchups were shown on the CBS broadcast, almost everyone was hoping South Carolina wouldn’t have to travel too far. There was a real possibility the Gamecocks could’ve been out West for this week.
“That’s one thing we were very worried about is if we had to go to like Salt Lake or Spokane,” Mack said. “Being able to be on this side in Pittsburgh means we might be able to have a good crowd.”
The time for Thursday’s game has yet to be announced. Right now, all the team is worried about is living in the moment and soaking up this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But after today, the focus will shift to the game itself and trying to keep a magical season alive.
“I know everyone had a goal coming in of making it to the tournament. So far, we’ve done that,” Mack said. “It’s a new season — season three for us. So hopefully we’ll be able to make a run it.”
