Putting Carolina's 20 wins (so far) into perspective

2023-24 is shaping up to be a historically special year for the Gamecocks

Frank McGuire had something special going in Columbia in the late 1960’s and early 70’s. Most Gamecock fans old enough to remember can cite chapter and verse the story of his program’s slow, excruciating decline in the years following USC’s departure from the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1971. I won’t rehash that here.

Suffice it to say that by the mid-70’s, McGuire’s program was a shell of its former self, and the 1973-74 season marked the Gamecocks final NCAA Tournament team under the legendary Irishman.

The fifty years since has been, to put it mildly, a tough slog for Gamecock men’s basketball fans. While there have been brilliant players, team successes have been few and far between, and the program has been a relative non-entity on the national stage during those decades.

There have been a few bright spots to be sure, including USC’s lone Southeastern Conference title in 1997, and perhaps even more notable, Frank Martin’s magical Final Four team of 2017.

But to really appreciate what second-year Coach Lamont Paris is doing with this 2023-24 team, it’s useful to put his 20 wins (as of February 6) into historical perspective.

Consider the following from 49 seasons of basketball between McGuire’s last NCAA Tournament team in 1974 and this year’s squad:

• South Carolina has had just eleven 20+ win seasons during that span, with 20+ wins occurring less that a quarter of the time (.224)

• The Gamecocks have made the NCAA Tournament just five times - about once every decade on average (.102)

• When making it to the Big Dance, Carolina has typically exited quickly, and often in dramatic fashion. Carolina famously went 43 years between NCAA Tournament wins, and can claim only four wins during this 49 year span - all coming in 2017

• There has been just a single occurrence of consecutive seasons with an NCAA Tournament appearance (1996-97 & 1997-98 under Eddie Fogler)

• South Carolina has been to eight NIT tournaments during this forty-nine year span, where it has been relatively more successful, including three championship game appearances and two-consecutive NIT championships under Dave Odom (2004-05 & 2005-06)

• That’s a combined total of just 13 post-season tournaments in 49 years (.265)

• Over this stretch, Carolina has posted just eight winning conference ledgers - one in the Metro, and seven in the SEC (the Gamecocks were an Independent prior to the 1983-84 season)

At the close of a mostly painful half-century of Gamecock men’s basketball, fans have a reason for hope once again. And while nothing is guaranteed, Coach Paris’ squad seems destined for an NCAA Tournament invitation with a 20-win season already secured and greater things to come as the season plays out.

It has been said that scarcity gives things their value. From that perspective, the 2023-24 season is shaping up to be a valuable one indeed. So enjoy the ride, and appreciate just how special this team is proving to be.