5 takeaways from South Carolina’s 13th consecutive loss at LSU

South Carolina’s hopes for a win took another hit on Tuesday night as they fell 81-67 to LSU in Baton Rouge. This matchup felt like the one where the Gamecocks could turn things around, especially against an LSU team that’s been struggling. Yet, despite the chance to break their 12-game losing streak, South Carolina’s woes continued, marking their 13th consecutive defeat. Their last win came on December 30, 2024.

Here’s what stood out during the game:

LSU’s Unstoppable Shooting
From the very start, LSU could not seem to miss. In the first half, they shot a blistering 57.1% from the field (16-for-28) and hit 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. This allowed LSU to build a commanding lead that they maintained throughout most of the game. Even though the Tigers shot only 44.1% in the second half, they still nailed seven more three-pointers, bringing their total to 13 for the game. This was particularly surprising considering LSU’s struggles with three-point shooting this season, making it clear that it was simply their night.

Another Struggle for Nick Pringle
It’s been a rough season for Nick Pringle, who had another tough outing. The senior forward finished with only six points and six turnovers, and several of his attempts to drive to the basket in the first half were met by a wall of LSU defenders. Despite his size, Pringle didn’t seem to have the physical advantage over other SEC big men. While he’s had a few strong performances this year, Tuesday was a reminder of his struggles on the court.

Baffling Turnovers
Coach Lamont Paris voiced his frustration after the game, explaining some of the Gamecocks’ mistakes as “inexplicable” and pointing out that these are the kinds of errors you don’t usually see in a regular game. There were three turnovers in particular that stood out:

• Morris Ugusuk had a steal and was in transition when he made a risky pass to Pringle, leading to a turnover.
• Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk lost possession of the ball without any pressure, leading to a turnover and an empty possession.
• With just eight seconds left in the half, Ugusuk attempted a lob to Collin Murray-Boyles, but the pass went wild and didn’t count, turning into another turnover.

Despite a recent improvement in ball security, the Gamecocks ended the game with 18 turnovers, a critical factor in LSU’s victory.

Jamarii Thomas Shows Promise, But Needs Consistency
Jamarii Thomas had an impressive second half, finishing with 23 points (9-of-16 shooting, 3-of-6 from three). However, as has been the case all season, he struggled to find a rhythm early on, with most of his scoring coming after halftime. If Thomas could find consistency and perform like he did in the second half for an entire game, he could be a key player for South Carolina moving forward.

Is It Bad Luck, or Just Fate?
South Carolina’s season has been marred by a combination of bad luck and mistakes. They’ve lost six SEC games by five points or fewer, but in every close game, there’s been a missed opportunity that kept them from winning. With only five games remaining in the regular season, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that South Carolina will turn things around, though there’s always the possibility of a miracle run in the SEC Tournament.

The bigger question now is whether they can win at least one game to avoid being the third SEC team to finish 0-18. Colonial Life Arena will host three of their remaining five games, which could provide a glimmer of hope. However, with away games at Missouri and Tennessee, the road ahead remains challenging. According to KenPom, South Carolina has just a 14.4% chance of avoiding a winless season in SEC play. To make history for the right reasons, they’ll need to find a way to win at home against teams like Texas, Arkansas, and Georgia. The clock is ticking, and the Gamecocks are running out of chances to turn things around.