At a time when most tournament-bound teams are peaking, South Carolina is lying dead with its hand outstretched across the finish line.
Somehow, this Gamecock team has made it into the NCAA tournament. But it was not due to their recent play.
When listing the Gamecocks' accomplishments this season, one must stop 54 days ago, with their win over Florida. Since that point, South Carolina has not beat a top-five team in the SEC, much less a team bound for the NCAA Tournament. With losses to Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas and Vanderbilt, South Carolina has not been able to beat any of the top competition in the SEC down the stretch of the season.
To make matters worse, not only have they been unable to beat good teams, but South Carolina has not performed well against bad teams. The Gamecocks lost twice to Alabama, who, despite a deep run in the SEC Tournament, posted under 20 wins on the season. They also were played close by Mississippi State in both late season matchups, with the latest taking place at Colonial Life and the Bulldogs missing their star, Quinndary Weatherspoon.
The problems for South Carolina as of late have been extensive and all encompassing. The inability of their big men to be a reliable threat on offense, or even avoid foul trouble and stay on the court, has put tremendous pressure on the Gamecocks' guards. And the guards, outside of Thornwell, have largely crumbled under this pressure.
PJ Dozier, who at midseason seemed poised for a breakout season, has taken steps backward in recent games to appear more like his freshman self. He has appeared hesitant and less assertive on the offensive end, seeming much more willing to defer to Sindarius Thornwell than create his own shot. This hesitancy has shown, as he has averaged just 11.5 points per game on under 33 percent shooting from the field through the last eight games. This is more than a four-point drop from what he was averaging through the first 14 games of the season, where he also shot a much better 46 percent from the field through that stretch.
With the fall of Dozier’s play, more pressure has been placed on Thornwell. The SEC Player of the Year has done his best to carry his team down the stretch to the NCAA Tournament and, in that regard, he has been successful. Yet his often herculean efforts have not been enough to single-handedly lead the Gamecocks to victory. Just as his 44 points against Alabama were still not enough to clinch a win, South Carolina is not nearly as good with its one dimensional, Thornwell-centric offense that has been on display as of late. But you cannot blame Thornwell for the team's recent struggles, as he has kept his team afloat in each game.
Yet, somehow, despite these struggles and a 3-6 record in their last 9 games, the Gamecocks are going dancing for the first time since 2004.
Fortunately, early wins over teams such as Vermont, Monmouth, Syracuse, Michigan and Florida were able to justify a tournament bid for the now lifeless Gamecocks.
Now the question is: Will the lifeless Gamecocks rally and return to the team of old that got them into the tournament in the first place?