Yahoo Sports What to know about tonight’s South Carolina vs. Wooster MBB exhibition game
South Carolina men’s basketball is set to play a game for the first time in 223 days.
The Gamecocks will host the College of Wooster Fighting Scots, Lamont Paris’ alma mater, in Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday night in a preseason exhibition.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the matchup:
Who starts?
The biggest question mark headed into the season has been the starting lineup and, in particular, the guard rotation. Wednesday will provide a peek into Paris’ preferred rotation heading into the season.
Senior Jacobi Wright and junior Zach Davis, who started the final 17 games of the season, are likely to start.
Paris will then have to figure out who takes the third spot on the wing. It could be Norfolk State transfer Jamarii Thomas, who won MEAC Player of the Year last season. USC needs a playmaker on the court, and the most experienced in that role is Thomas. He averaged four assists a game for the Spartans last year.
Four-star freshman Cam Scott could also challenge for that third spot, but he’s more likely to come off the bench as a sixth man to start his college career. The same was true for Colin Murray-Boyles, who did not start until the team’s third game in SEC play in his freshman year.
Murray-Boyles and Alabama transfer Nick Pringle are expected starters in the front court. Murray-Boyles started the final 19 games in 2023-24 after jumping out to a strong start, earning a spot on the All-SEC Freshman team. Pringle started 16 games for the Tide, who made a trip to the Final Four last year.
How the new guys play
Paris’ team has a fresh look this season with key additions like Scott, Pringle, Thomas and Missouri transfer Jordan Butler, all expected to play roles for USC in its bid to return to the NCAA Tournament.
Paris filled the gaps from what was successful last year. Need a guard who can score and pass? He got that with Thomas. Need a big man to patrol the paint? Got that with Pringle. Need a sharpshooting big man? Got that with Butler.
What’s more, he’ll be asking Pringle to play a bigger role offensively than he’s used to. While he averaged just under seven points a game with Alabama last year, Paris wants him to play a role in generating offense. The exhibition will be a good look into what that looks like between him and Murray-Boyles this season.
A trip down memory lane
Paris played four years for the Fighting Scots from 1992-96 and was team captain his final two seasons.
Paris was also a two-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference selection, helping the Fighting Scots make three trips to the NCAA Tournament (Division III) and win a pair of NCAC Championships.
South Carolina exhibition details
Who: South Carolina vs. College of Wooster
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC
Stream: Live internet radio broadcast (not televised)
