Former Wisconsin assistant Lamont Paris and the South Carolina Gamecocks were upset by the 11th-seeded Oregon Ducks in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 64 Thursday night.
The Ducks coasted to an 87-73 win thanks to guard Jermaine Couisnard’s 40 points, six assists and four rebounds.
South Carolina was sent home early after a resurgent season under Paris and a renewed optimism for the future. The program had entered March Madness after an incredible 26-7 regular season record and a 13-5 mark in SEC play. The team finished second in the conference after many had picked it to finish last.
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The program’s breakout season occurred in only the former Wisconsin assistant’s second year on the job. His first year was an 11-21 rebuild, quickly leading to one of the program’s more successful seasons in recent memory.
Paris was an assistant on Bo Ryan and Greg Gard’s Wisconsin coaching staffs from 2010-2017 — present for the best run in program history from 2013-2017. He left in 2017 for the head coach’s job at Chattanooga, where he finished 87-72 over five seasons — improving from 10-23 and 10th in the Southern Conference his first season to 27-8 and conference champions in his final year.
South Carolina bows out in the first round, but still one hell of a season for Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks.
Picked to finish last in the SEC.
26-7 and 13-5 in the SEC.
Key question is whether Paris can work his magic again in the portal again.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 21, 2024
South Carolina recently signed Paris to a lucrative contract extension, ensuring he’d stick around to see the improvement continue.
This year’s tournament result was a disappointment. But the season can be considered a resounding success for the Gamecocks.
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