South Carolina Basketball Season Preview 2024-25: Biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more 

South Carolina steps into the new college basketball season with much promise following an excellent showing last year. The Gamecocks (26-8, 13-5 SEC) came one win away from winning the 2023-24 regular season title and their winning record gave them an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.

This season, South Carolina lost three of their top four scorers but despite the situation, they're still tabbed as one of the favorites in the tough Southeastern Conference, as some of its young standouts remained with the team.

Aside from the returnees, the Lamont Paris-coached squad added three players from the transfer portal, two from high school recruitment and four walk-ons to beef up the team on a mission to finally take the regular season title and progress further in the NCAA Tournament.

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South Carolina Men's Basketball 2024-25 Season Preview: Biggest games, key players to watch and more

#1. South Carolina's biggest games in the 2024-25 season

South Carolina will play a loaded 2024-25 schedule, meeting Florida, Georgia and Mississippi State twice. Last season, the Gamecocks played them five times and went 4-1, with Georgia beating them by five points at home.

The Gamecocks defeated Mississippi State twice by an average margin of five points and Florida once by six points. They exacted revenge over Georgia in a rematch, winning by 10.

Aside from the home games with Florida, Georgia and Mississippi State, South Carolina will play at Colonial Life Arena against Alabama and Auburn and visit Kentucky and Tennessee. The Gamecocks and the four teams went toe-to-toe in the SEC regular season, with the Volunteers winning topping the conference with a one-game edge over the four squads.

South Carolina also has two non-conference games arranged so far. They will play Indiana at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Nov. 16. This is the fourth matchup between the two schools, with the Hoosiers leading the series 2-1.

The following month, they will lock horns with Boston College on Dec. 3 as part of the SEC-ACC Challenge. Notably, the Gamecocks are 1-2 against the Eagles.

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#2. Key South Carolina players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season

South Carolina lost three top scorers for the 2024-25 season. Last season's No. 1 scorer Meechie Johnson returned to Ohio State while seniors B.J. Mack and Ta'lon Cooper ran out of eligibility.

Eight players, meanwhile, announced they're staying in South Carolina, including their third-leading scorer Collin Murray-Bowles and efficient guard Myles Stute. Murray-Boyles had a slow start but got his act together in the second half of the season on his way to averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on 59.7% shooting last year.

Stute, a transfer from Vanderbilt, conquered shoulder and knee issues to help the Garnet and Black emerge as one of the top teams in the SEC. He averaged 8.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg, including a 38.5% shooting clip from 3.

Holdovers Jacobi Wright and Zachary Davis are also bound for a breakout year for the Gamecocks as they played well off the bench last season.

Collin Murray-Boyles and Zachary Davis are expected to lead South Carolina in the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season (Image Source: IMAGN)

Transfer players Nick Pringle, Jordan Butler and Jamarii Thomas will boost South Carolina's lineup, with the trio combining for 26.0 ppg for their previous teams last season.

Incoming freshman Cam Scott is a highly-rated prospect from the high school ranks. He ranks No. 40 nationwide and No. 9 in the shooting guard position, averaging 22.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.3 spg and 2.5 apg during his senior year at Lexington High School.

Finnish player Okku Federiko played in the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B, averaging 11.1 ppg and 7.3 rpg during the tournament.

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#3. South Carolina predictions for the 2024-25 season

South Carolina will remain favorites to win the SEC regular season title and likely gain a high seeding in the NCAA Tournament despite the departures of their three top scorers. Lamont Paris' program for team development is among the best nationwide, as half of its players returned for another year and their transfer and high school recruitment pickups are solid.

A 28-win regular season would be big for the Gamecocks' campaign as it would mean a higher ranking in the NCAA Tournament. An Elite Eight appearance would be an achievement for the rising South Carolina program in the 2024-25 season.