
The University of South Carolina's men's basketball team, the Gamecocks, competes in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team has a rich history, winning Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945. The Gamecocks gained national attention under the leadership of hall-of-fame coach Frank McGuire, achieving remarkable success from 1967 to 1976. The women's basketball team also represents the University of South Carolina and shares the same conference affiliation, the SEC, as the men's team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Gender | Men's and Women's |
| University | University of South Carolina |
| Current Head Coach | Lamont Paris |
| Former Head Coach | Frank Martin |
| Previous Conferences | Southern Conference, Metro Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) |
| Current Conference | Southeastern Conference (SEC) |
| Division | Eastern Division |
| Stadium | Colonial Life Arena |
| Stadium Capacity | 18,000 |
| Notable Achievements | 1970 ACC Championship, 1971 ACC Tournament Title, 4 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1971-1974), 1997 SEC Championship, NIT Titles (2005, 2006), 2017 NCAA East Regional Championship, 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, 2022 and 2024 NCAA Division I Tournament National Championships |
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The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team
The Gamecocks have a rich history in college basketball, dating back to their early success in the Southern Conference. They won Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945. During this time, the team achieved regional prominence and continued to build a strong foundation for their basketball program.
The hiring of hall of fame coach Frank McGuire in the 1964-65 season marked a significant turning point for the Gamecocks. McGuire's tenure, lasting from 1967 to 1976, propelled the team to new heights. During this period, the Gamecocks posted a remarkable 205-65 record, which included an undefeated ACC regular season in 1970, an ACC Tournament championship in 1971, and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1971 to 1974. McGuire's overall record at South Carolina stood at an impressive 283-142, solidifying his legacy and leaving a lasting impact on the program.
Following McGuire's era, the team experienced a decline as an independent program. However, they regained momentum under the leadership of coach Eddie Fogler in the 1990s. Fogler guided the Gamecocks to a notable 66-28 record during the 1996-1998 stretch, which included the school's first SEC championship in 1997. The team continued to build on this success, making several appearances in the NCAA and National Invitation Tournaments (NIT).
Currently, the South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team is led by head coach Lamont Paris, who was appointed on March 24, 2022. Paris, who previously served as the head coach at Chattanooga, is the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men's basketball program. The team has continued to strive for excellence, with their most recent major accomplishment being the 2017 NCAA East Regional Championship, where they reached the Final Four for the first time in school history.
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Southeastern Conference (SEC) history
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The SEC is a collegiate athletic conference with 16 member institutions primarily located in the South Central and Southeastern United States. The conference is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I in sports competitions.
The history of the SEC dates back to the late 1800s, when football was barely a popular sport in the South. Baseball was usually the preferred sport choice in Southern schools, which were generally small at the time. On December 22, 1894, faculty representatives from seven schools met in Atlanta to discuss the organization of an association to establish common rules and provide regulation for collegiate athletics. However, the SEC as we know it today didn't become a reality until 1933, when it was formed by 13 members of the Southern Conference.
The SEC has a rich basketball history, with Kentucky winning the conference's first national basketball championship in 1948. Over the years, the SEC has expanded, with the addition of new member institutions, such as the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas in 2024. The SEC also established the SEC Academic Consortium (SECAC) in 2005 to promote research, scholarship, and achievement among its universities. The consortium was rebranded as SECU and relocated to the SEC headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2011.
The South Carolina Gamecocks have had their share of success within the SEC. They won Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945, and gained national attention under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire from 1967 to 1976. During this period, they posted an impressive record, including the 1970 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. More recently, the Gamecocks won the 2017 NCAA East Regional Championship, reaching the Final Four for the first time in their history.
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Southern Conference titles
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team has won several Southern Conference titles, including four regular season championships in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945. In 1933, they also won the Southern Conference tournament championship.
The Gamecocks' success in the Southern Conference can be partially attributed to the US Navy's assignment of outstanding athletes to the team during World War II through the V-12 program. However, the Navy leaders ensured the team's focus remained on the war effort, and as a result, the University of South Carolina declined an invitation to the Southern Conference Tournament in 1944.
The hiring of Frank McGuire as the head coach before the 1964–65 season marked the beginning of the most successful period in the team's history. During McGuire's tenure, the Gamecocks posted a remarkable 205–65 record from 1967 to 1976, which included notable achievements such as an undefeated ACC regular season in 1970 and an ACC Tournament championship in both 1971 and 1973.
Since joining the SEC in 1991 or 1992, the South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team has continued to find success, winning seven divisional titles, three regular-season conference championships (2000, 2002, and 2011), and one SEC Tournament championship in 2004. The team's head coach as of 2022, Lamont Paris, is the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men's basketball program.
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NCAA tournament appearances
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team has made 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with a combined record of 8-11.
The Gamecocks first gained national attention under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, who led the team from 1967 to 1976. During this period, the team made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1971 to 1974. This era also included an undefeated ACC regular season in 1970, an ACC Tournament championship in 1971, and three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances from 1971 to 1973.
Following McGuire's tenure, the university became affiliated with the Metro Conference in 1983. The basketball program faced setbacks due to recruiting violations and NCAA-imposed probation in the late 1980s. However, under coach George Felton from 1987 to 1991, the team made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1989.
Eddie Fogler, who was hired in 1994, led the Gamecocks to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, the team won its first SEC championship but lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
More recently, the Gamecocks broke through into the 2017 NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 2004. They achieved their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1973 by defeating the Marquette Golden Eagles. Advancing through the tournament, they beat the Duke Blue Devils, Baylor Bears, and Florida to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history. The current head coach, Lamont Paris, was appointed in 2022, becoming the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men's basketball program.
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Head coaches
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team has had a number of notable head coaches throughout its history.
Frank McGuire
McGuire is a hall of fame coach who led the team from 1964-65 to 1976. During his tenure, the Gamecocks won the 1970 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, the 1971 ACC Tournament title, and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1971 to 1974. McGuire's overall record at South Carolina was 283–142, including six consecutive 20-win seasons from 1969 to 1974.
Eddie Fogler
Fogler was the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks from 1994 until 2001. During his tenure, the team posted a 66–28 record (34–14 SEC) during the 1996–1998 stretch, which included the school's first SEC championship in 1997. Fogler stepped down after the 2001 campaign, finishing with a record of 123–117 in eight seasons. He is considered one of the most successful head coaches in SEC Basketball history.
Lamont Paris
Lamont Paris, the former Chattanooga head coach, became the 33rd head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team on March 24, 2022. He is the first African-American head coach in the history of the program. Under his leadership, the team has continued to build on its successes, including appearances in the NCAA and National Invitation Tournaments.
The South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team also competes in the Southeastern Conference and has had its own share of accomplishments. The women's team is currently coached by 3-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley, who has led the team to multiple SEC regular-season and tournament championships, as well as NCAA Tournament appearances and National Championships.
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Frequently asked questions
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
The University of South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991 or 1992.
The team plays in the Eastern Division of the SEC.
The South Carolina Gamecocks have won seven divisional titles.
The South Carolina Gamecocks play their home games at the Colonial Life Arena, which has a capacity of 18,000.













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