South Carolina hopes to return of Meechie Johnson will help team bounce back from 12-20 season

South Carolina hopes to return of Meechie Johnson will help team bounce back from 12-20 season | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson brings the ball up during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on March 6, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., file)

South Carolina (12-20, 2-16 SEC)

South Carolina stumbled in the Southeastern Conference last season and things aren’t expected to change this much as the Gamecocks were picked to finish last for the second straight season per media polls. Coach Lamont Paris went from 11 wins in his first season to 26 in his second to earn SEC Coach of the Year honors, but the Gamecocks regressed.

Meechie Johnson has rejoined the Gamecocks after transferring back to the program following a season at Ohio State. He led the Gamecocks’ 2023-24 team in scoring at 14.1 points per game. However, the loss of forward Collin Murray-Boyles to the NBA leaves a major hole.

Players to watch

Johnson (redshirt senior, G, 6-2, 14.1 ppg). Johnson averaged 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game over the two seasons with South Carolina before transferring to Ohio State. Now he’s back. He was selected as a second team All-SEC selection in 2024.

Myles Stute (redshirt senior, G, 6-7, 5.4 ppg). Stute also played on the 2024 NCAA Tournament team. He started 14 games last season and averaged 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists before an injury ended his season.

Mike Sharavjamts (senior, G/F, 6-9, 5.4 ppg). Sharavjamts spent last season at Utah, where he averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He has spent all four years of his collegiate career at different schools, making stops at Dayton and San Francisco as well.

Departures and arrivals

South Carolina has only three players returning from last season alongside 12 new faces.

The Gamecocks lost three forwards after last season including Murray-Boyles, who averaged 16.8 points per game to lead the team, Nick Pringle and Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk.

Forward Christ Essandoko (Providence), guard Kobe Knox (USF), forward Elijah Strong (Boston College) and forward Nordin Kapic (UC San Diego) are among South Carolina’s incoming transfers. Eli Ellis, a 6-foot sharpshooter, is viewed as one of the program’s top incoming freshman. He had five 3s in an exhibition game against NC State.

Top games

South Carolina opens at home on Nov. 4 against North Carolina A&T. … The Gamecocks first game against a ranked opponent comes Jan. 14 at No. 14 Arkansas, followed a Jan. 20 game at No. 20 Auburn. They host defending national champion Florida on Jan. 28.

Facts and figures

The Gamecocks have an 11-1 record under Lamont Paris when shooting 50% or higher. … South Carolina is 40-9 in three seasons under Paris when holding teams below 70 points. …. Eight of South Carolina’s 16 SEC losses last season came by a combined 39 points.

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