The key to South Carolina returning back to the NCAA Tournament in year two under Lamont Paris
Regardless of what South Carolina men’s basketball is able to accomplish this tournament, it’s been a season to remember.
From being picked last in the SEC to finishing tied for second in the conference. Or, already tying the program record for wins in a season with 26. But before the Gamecocks got to this point, players needed to buy into the program. They needed to buy into the system. They needed to buy into Lamont Paris.
Above, is my video report on how South Carolina was able to do that. Below, are the full answers Lamont Paris, Meechie Johnson, and BJ Mack gave me when I asked them that question and similar questions.
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Q. With so many new faces on this team this year, we talk so much about from a coaching standpoint a coach comes in, players earning your trust, but it works both ways in sports. What do you think has allowed this team to trust you and believe in what you envisioned, especially after being here just two years and after the year you guys had in the transition year your first year?
LAMONT PARIS: Yeah, I think some of it starts in the recruiting process when you show what you’re about. And after a year like last year — and last year was my first year here — you have to use vision. They have to trust in your vision. So some of it is how you frame the vision up and what have you done in your career and in your history. These are things that I like, these are things that I value. You do those things well. Also, if you look back at my track record, teams that I’ve been around have been extremely good with those values, and you fit right in there. And so I think that’s what it is that initially earns their trust. I think they trust your plan and how it fits their vision. I think that’s the first level of trust that has to happen. Then when you get here and those things are aligning up the exact way, trust is emboldened even more. And then I think when they spend time around you and they hear you say the things that you say, I don’t think there’s one guy on our team that believes this whole process is about me. I don’t think there’s one guy on our team that thinks that for a second. And so because they know you’re about them and you’re here for them, then I think it’s pretty easy to get them to trust you and you’re telling the truth and they believe that it’s the truth. And once you start playing games and there’s success, then it’s a little bit easier to do that at that point.
But I think the big part once they get here is that they have to know one way or another when all the dust settles and the smoke clears that you are for them. And again, I don’t think there’s any one guy on our team that doesn’t believe that wholeheartedly.
[Enter: On3 Bracket Challenge]
Q. For either of you guys, being able to believe in Lamont, Meechie, we’ve talked about it before, transferring in, what was it about Lamont when you guys had an opportunity to go through the recruiting process that said, hey, you know what, I believe in this vision to be able to get South Carolina in the position that you guys are in this week?
B.J. MACK: It’s been the honesty that he had with us up front, just telling us what he sees for the team, and then what our personal goals are lined up. So just throughout this whole year it has just been a perfect match for all of us, and we’ve just been putting in the work since.
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Q. Meechie, for you, when we talk about being able to buy into a system, especially the system that’s so much different than maybe what other programs run across the country, what do you think allowed this team this year to be able to buy in so quickly to what Lamont is trying to do when maybe other players wouldn’t want to play in this system?
MEECHIE JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, Lamont, he allows you to play your game. With that, when you have great guys you can build a great team, which the coaching staff did this year. We just played for each other. That’s all it’s about. We said before, as you’ve seen all year, it’s been different guys’ nights, 25 for this guy, 25 for that guy, and next day it’s somebody different and we’re all happy at the end of the day because we’re winning and now we’re in this position. This is about buying in and winning and that’s the main goal and everybody eats at the end of the day.
