South Carolina Men's Basketball Ncaa Tournament History
The South Carolina Men's Basketball team has a long and storied history in the NCAA Tournament. Since their first appearance in 1971, the Gamecocks have made a total of 10 appearances in the tournament, with their most recent coming in 2017. In this article, we will take a closer look at the team's history in the tournament, including some of their most memorable moments and standout players.
Early Years
The South Carolina Men's Basketball team made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1971 under head coach Frank McGuire. The team was led by standout players like Tom Owens and Kevin Joyce, who helped guide the Gamecocks to a Sweet 16 appearance. The team would make four more appearances in the tournament over the next decade, but were unable to advance past the second round.
1980s and 1990s
The South Carolina Men's Basketball team would make three more appearances in the NCAA Tournament during the 1980s and 1990s, but were once again unable to advance past the second round. However, the team did produce some standout players during this time, including Alex English and BJ McKie.
The Dawn Staley Era
In 2008, the South Carolina Men's Basketball team hired Dawn Staley as their new head coach. Staley had an impressive playing career at the University of Virginia and in the WNBA, and brought a new energy and focus to the Gamecocks program. Under Staley's leadership, the team made their sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2014, but were once again unable to advance past the second round.
The Final Four Run
However, the team's fortunes would soon change. In 2017, the South Carolina Men's Basketball team made a historic run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Led by standout players like Sindarius Thornwell and PJ Dozier, the team upset top-seeded Duke in the second round before knocking off Baylor and Florida in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively. In the Final Four, the team faced Gonzaga and ultimately fell short of the championship game, but the run was still a major accomplishment for the program.
Conclusion
The South Carolina Men's Basketball team has had a long and eventful history in the NCAA Tournament. While the team has had its fair share of disappointments over the years, their run to the Final Four in 2017 showed that the program is capable of achieving great things. With Dawn Staley continuing to lead the way, the Gamecocks are poised to make even more noise in the tournament in the years to come.