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South Carolina basketball at bottom of preseason SEC poll, Gamecocks shut out of All-SEC team

Screenshotby: Kevin Miller10/13/25kevinmillerGC
Mar 14, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris talks with guard Meechie Johnson (5) against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Mar 14, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris talks with guard Meechie Johnson (5) against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

On Monday, the SEC league office announced results from the conference’s preseason voting for All-SEC teams and end-of-season standings. Voting was conducted by select media members of the national media and media from across the SEC. As expected, South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris and his team have been picked as the last-place team in the conference.

The entire order of finish can be seen below:

1. Florida Gators
2. Kentucky Wildcats
3. Tennessee Volunteers
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Arkansas Razorbacks
6. Auburn Tigers
7. Missouri Tigers
8. Ole Miss Rebels
9. Texas Longhorns
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs
11. Vanderbilt Commodores
12. Oklahoma Sooners
13. Texas A&M Aggies
14. Georgia Bulldogs
15. LSU Tigers
16. South Carolina Gamecocks

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Last season, the Gamecocks finished last in the SEC with a 2-16 mark in conference play. Two seasons ago, Carolina tied for second place in the league despite a preseason last-place pick.

There is optimism around the 2025-2026 Gamecocks that this season could be more like the team two years ago than last year’s group. At South Carolina basketball’s media day, the team shared that they have embraced the low expectations and are confident that they can prove the rest of the college basketball world wrong.

Adding to the last-place pick, no South Carolina player earned inclusion on the preseason All-SEC squad. Senior guard Meechie Johnson was a second-team selection two seasons ago, his most recent year with the Gamecocks. Kentucky’s Otega Oweh is the preseason Player of the Year.

The first step to outperforming modest preseason expectations will come in three weeks. South Carolina will open the 2025-2026 season at home against North Carolina A&T on Tuesday, November 4th. Tip time is set for 7:00 p.m. SEC Network+ will stream the action from Colonial Life Arena.

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