South Carolina Gamecocks Basketball: Reasons Why The Gamecocks Could Win The SEC

I know I may get some heavy backlash from this article, but that's fine. I just want to point out that it is not THAT crazy to think the South Carolina Gamecocks can make some noise in the SEC this year.

The Gamecocks were picked to do nothing a couple years ago and went on to get a share of the SEC East title, so you never know.

The Gamecocks are off to a 7-2 start so far, and both losses are to potential Final Four participants (Also, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State is an absolute beast).

Do not get me wrong, the Gamecocks have their weaknesses (South Carolina was picked by the coaches to finish dead last in the whole SEC), but so do all the other teams in the SEC.

SEC West team weaknesses:

Auburn: Two losses to Big South (Probably the worst conference in D-1) teams (PC and UNC Ashville), losses to Campbell, Jacksonville, and Samford. Ranks 225th or below in almost all major categories. Yikes, you cannot tell me this team is better than South Carolina.

Alabama: Bad losses to St. Peter's College and Providence. Again, a team that struggles to score the ball (256th in NCAA in PPG), which always leaves you vulnerable to lose to anyone.

LSU: Bad losses to Nicholls State, Coastal Carolina, and Wichita State. The Tigers have not really played anyone, so it is hard to read them. They do not do anything really good or really bad, which is not a good sign considering how soft their schedule has been.

Arkansas: A bad loss to UAB and a tough OT loss to Texas A&M are the only blemishes, but they are the only decent teams Arkansas has played. Arkansas can score but lack an inside game.

Ole Miss: Lost to a decent Dayton team but was destroyed by a lowly Miami (FL) team. Ole Miss can shoot the three, but you live by the three and die by the three. Buckner blocks a lot of shots, but other than him there is no inside game.

Mississippi State: Bad losses to Florida Atlantic and East Tennessee State, without securing a decent win to date. They have suffered through suspensions and academic issues, so we have not seen this team whole yet. I do not care who you are missing, you cannot lose to FAU or ETSU.

SEC East team weaknesses:

Kentucky: Obviously this team is talented and has not had a bad loss yet. However, they are young, play a lot of one-on-one, and do not shoot the ball at a very high percentage. That is a good equation to be beat. No matter how good UK is or will be, they always seem to lose to South Carolina at least once a year.

Florida: I know, I know: UCF is a solid team, but losing at home to Jacksonville? Almost losing to Morehead State at home? Macklin is cooling down, and Chandler Parsons is invisible. This team seems to lack an identity on offense, which plays right into the Gamecocks' hands.

Georgia: Sorry, but I am not drinking the UGA Kool-Aid just yet. They squeaked by a down Georgia Tech team and also just got by mighty Mississippi Valley State, St. Louis, and Manhattan. This team plays hard, but they are sloppy at times on offense.

Vanderbilt: It is crazy to say, but this team has looked the best out of all the SEC teams so far. They lost heart breakers to a good Missouri team and a decent West Virginia squad. They are very balanced: they pass the ball well, they shoot the three, they rebound, and they are more athletic than Vandy teams of the past.

Vandy usually struggles on the road though, and they have yet to really play on the road (Missouri and Middle Tenn St are their only road games). So, if South Carolina could steal one at home, a split would be all South Carolina really needs.

Tennessee: Things were looking so good for them but now the wheels have fallen off with losses to Oakland, Charlotte, and Southern Cal. They are another team that cannot shoot the ball very well. Then factor in Bruce Pearl missing the start of the SEC season, and they could be buried by the 8th conference game.

Is it likely the Gamecocks can win the SEC? Probably not, but when you really look at the rest of the league, there really is not one team that makes you say, "Wow, they are so good". No one thought South Carolina football could win the SEC East this past season, but they did.

You just never know.