South Carolina men's basketball makes their debut in the AP Poll at No. 20.
The Gamecocks did not receive any votes in the preseason poll, but after starting 6-0 the only SEC team ahead of them in the rankings is No. 1 Kentucky.
Frank Martin's team vaults into the poll after being unranked in Week 3, making the leap with consecutive wins over ranked teams for the first time in eight seasons. The Gamecocks defeated No. 25 Michigan on Nov. 23 and No. 18 Syracuse on Nov. 26. The Wolverines drop from the rankings this week and the Orange slide back two slots behinds the Gamecocks.
Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell was also named SEC Player of the Week.
South Carolina entered last season also unranked before crashing the AP Top 25 in Week 7 with a 10-0 start. The Gamecocks achieved their highest ranking on Week 10 when they climbed to No. 19. Quality wins over Michigan and Syracuse plus their overtime victory against Monmouth on Nov. 15 likely accelerated their path to earning a ranking in the minds of the voters.
The Gamecocks will host Vermont on Dec. 1 at Colonial Life Arena.