Opening Statement

The South Carolina men’s basketball team faced a tough loss in their conference opener, falling 83-71 to No. 11 Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon. After the game, head coach Lamont Paris shared his thoughts on what went wrong and what needs to change moving forward.

Paris emphasized the importance of aggression, particularly in how the team attacked the rim. He noted that while the Gamecocks did attempt some aggressive plays, they lacked the intensity and decisiveness that Vanderbilt displayed. “Aggressive doesn’t just mean willingness to shoot the ball,” he said. “I’m talking about aggressive moves, aggressive attacks.”

He also pointed out that Vanderbilt was more physical and used contact effectively, which led to free throws and a stronger finish. “They were prepared for it and expected it, and then were rewarded by that,” Paris said. “We have a skilled group, but we didn’t do a great job of being aggressive.”

Defensive Challenges

One of the main issues the team faced was defending against Vanderbilt’s inside play. Paris acknowledged that the defense struggled to contain the opposition in the paint, especially in the first half. He attributed this to softer ball screen coverage and the fact that Vanderbilt had players who were shooting well.

“We do an aggressive ball screen coverage, too, but when we do that, we get in rotations a lot,” he said. “And with Tyler Nickel shooting well, we wanted to stay out of rotations.”

Paris also mentioned that sometimes a player gets a feel for how the defense is set up and becomes more effective at getting into the paint. “That’s why there’s a variety of different ball screen coverages,” he added.

The Three-Point Run

South Carolina had a brief stretch in the first half where they made four straight three-pointers, cutting the lead to four points. However, they weren’t able to build on that momentum heading into the second half. Paris explained that while the run was positive, the team settled for some questionable shots later in the game.

“We made four straight threes, so that in itself changes what’s going on,” he said. “But we also took some questionable shots at times. We settled, not that they were terrible shots, but based on how any particular player has been shooting, it just probably wasn’t a high-quality shot.”

SEC Play and Aggression

Paris downplayed the significance of the SEC opener, noting that it’s just another game in the schedule. However, he emphasized the need for the team to remain focused and aggressive throughout the season.

“I’m not surprised by it. It was on the schedule,” he said. “It’s another game, and we’ve got to get ready. Until it’s made to be something other than that, guys go out there and maybe like, ‘Oh, SEC, I got to do this now.’”

He also discussed the importance of attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. “We always want to get to the free-throw line,” he said. “They fouled a lot, and we were discouraged by that.”

Myles Stute’s Performance

Myles Stute has been a key contributor for South Carolina, scoring double digits in the last three games. Paris praised his improved performance and noted that his ability to shoot from beyond the arc has been a major factor in the team’s success.

“He’s played better, you know? He’s played better,” Paris said. “He’s been playing better offensively, and he’s a key part of our team.”

Shooting Efficiency

South Carolina has one of the best two-point shooting offenses in the country but struggles from beyond the arc. Paris acknowledged the need to balance both aspects of the game.

“Our two-point field goals are a byproduct of the fact that we do shoot threes,” he said. “The floor opens, and that makes life easier for some of our attackers.”

However, he also admitted that the team needs to be more aggressive in attacking the basket and finishing plays.

Pressing in the Final Minutes

In the final minutes of the game, South Carolina waited until around a minute and a half left to start pressing. Paris explained that the team didn’t feel the need to press early because they had plenty of time to make stops.

“We didn’t want to press them. We didn’t have to,” he said. “We needed to get stops. We had plenty of time. We just needed to get some stops.”

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