The 3-2-1: Three positives, two negatives, and one lingering question from South Carolina basketball's win over The Citadel

In the 3-2-1, we typically identify three positives, two negatives, and one lingering question following South Carolina basketball’s latest time on the court.

In the first of three in-state matchups in a row, the Gamecocks beat The Citadel Bulldogs, 71-55. Let’s dive into the win.

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Three Positives

1. Winning is winning?
   
   The “positives” in this game are all somewhat reaches.
   
   In the team’s worst overall performance of the season, South Carolina also lost two contributors to injury, and another former starter who had been banged up, didn’t play. Elijah Strong and Eli Ellis both left the game with leg injuries, and Nordin Kapic, who had been dealing with his own leg issue but had been labeled as “fine” recently, didn’t see the floor.
   
   Compounding things, the Gamecocks had their worst shooting night of the season from outside. Going 3-for-23, Carolina shot just 13% on 3-point attempts.
   
   There were some bad stretches on defense in this one for USC, and though the offense had just nine turnovers, most of them were extremely avoidable. For the first half, at least, the bigger SEC team on the floor got pushed around on the boards.
   
   Still, the Gamecocks won. That counts for a W in the Win-Loss columns, even when it didn’t feel like much else.
   
2. Kobe Knox and Meechie Johnson attacking
   
   The “positives” in this game are all somewhat reaches.
   
   Kobe Knox and Meechie Johnson seemed to be the only Gamecocks willing to consistently attack the basket off the dribble after the slow shooting start.
   
   The duo combined for 31 points and were two of the team’s top three scorers. Knox and Johnson also went a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line.
   
   Johnson reached 1000 points as a Gamecock on Saturday. He was the first South Carolina player to do so since AJ Lawson in 2020-2021.
   
3. Christ Essandoko passing and freshmen bigs playing hard
   
   The “positives” in this game are all somewhat reaches.
   
   For those who had watched Christ Essandoko’s film from his previous two schools, it was apparent that the Frenchman had some skill with the ball in his hands, though he had never consistently put it together on the floor.
   
   Against The Citadel, Essandoko showcased some of that skill, especially by passing the basketball. He had two first-half assists but could have had several more had his teammates knocked down good looks. Essandoko made three really nice post-to-post passes and had an impressive cross-courter. He found a couple of cutters, leading to fouls, too.
   
   EJ Walker played with more effort than any of the other post players wearing the home whites. For a coach’s son who burned his redshirt recently, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Hayden Assemian joined him with a high motor when he was re-inserted in the second half.
   
   In what was a very ugly win, Walker set the best screens on the team, he hustled, and he battled on the glass. He finished the game with five rebounds in 12 minutes. Assemian had a really nice finish to the night. He added seven points and six rebounds in just 11 minutes.
   
   With Carolina’s bigs providing very little consistent production this season and Elijah Strong exiting this game with an injury, Gamecock fans are hopeful Essandoko, Walker, and Assemian can bring a little life to the painted area.

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Two Negatives

1. A bad game
   
   The Citadel entered Saturday winless against Division-I opponents. 14 minutes into the game, South Carolina trailed.
   
   In the first 14 minutes, the Gamecocks were bad on offense. They were bad on defense. They didn’t win 50-50 balls. The Bulldogs won the early battle on the boards. Frankly, it might have been the team’s worst stretch of basketball this season.
   
   It took until there were five minutes left in the half before an 11-0 run pushed Lamont Paris’ team ahead.
   
   No one other than Eli Ellis and Mike Sharavjamts played particularly well early, but it is worth mentioning that Meechie Johnson did a good job moving the basketball, and Kobe Knox made a few plays. Both Johnson and Knox played much better later.
   
   Following the 11-0 run, things were virtually just as ugly as they were before. Gamecock defenders routinely got lost on ball screens and back cuts, and the offense wasn’t much better. A late run and some improved defense in the second half helped the margin of victory creep into double digits.
   
   After the game, Lamont Paris said that the team had a “multitude of guys” who were not ready to play and that he was disappointed in his team’s effort. He also called the game “the closest 16-point game” he’s ever been a part of as a coach. This type of effort against almost any other team in the country would have resulted in a loss.
   
2. No fair
   
   Watching South Carolina-Citadel on Saturday night felt like watching two teams shoot on those rigged rims at the fair. However, instead of tilted, oval rims and an overinflated, slick ball, the Gamecocks and Bulldogs couldn’t get a regulation basketball to drop between perfectly hung cylinders at Colonial Life Arena.
   
   South Carolina started the game 0-for-19 from 3-point land, and The Citadel started 1-for-13. An extremely sarcastic roar rang through the arena when Myles Stute hit an open jumper with about nine minutes left.
   
   The final box score read just 13% and 10.5% on 3-point attempts for the Gamecocks and Bulldogs, respectively.
   
   This was the sixth game in the last seven in which USC has shot under 30% on 3-point attempts.

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One Lingering Question and What’s Next

Will the Gamecocks remember how to shoot the basketball?

The preseason billing on South Carolina’s 2025-2026 season was that they were going to shoot the ball from outside. So far, the Gamecocks have done just that. Unfortunately for Lamont Paris’ team, though, they haven’t been making those shots.

On the season, USC has made just 31.3% of its outside shots. That ranks outside of the top 200 nationally. In six of their 10 games, Carolina has made under 30% from the perimeter. The Gamecocks have now shot under 21% twice, as well.

With at least 23 3-point attempts each game (and an average of 29 per game), South Carolina doesn’t appear poised to alter its offensive philosophy. If they can’t make shots, they won’t win. Can they right the ship?

What’s Next?

South Carolina will play again on Tuesday in the second of three straight in-state matchups. This one will be the annual rivalry contest against the Clemson Tigers.

The Gamecocks will travel to the Upstate for a 7:00 p.m. rivalry showdown. ESPN2 will broadcast the game, while the ESPN app makes it available via streaming.

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