When the initial NET rankings for the 2024 - 2025 season were released earlier this week, South Carolina basketball found itself in an unenviable position. The Gamecocks were ranked a lowly 135th and firmly at the bottom among SEC teams. But by the time Friday's NET rankings update came through, a remarkable transformation occurred. The Gamecocks jumped up by an astonishing 40 spots.

From 135 to 88: A Significant Leap

As of Friday evening, South Carolina had climbed all the way up to 88th in the NET rankings. This is not the lofty position that Lamont Paris desires for his team, but it is a substantial step forward from the 135th spot. In fact, they moved up a whopping 47 spots, which is a testament to their hard work and improvement.

Road Wins and Opponent Movements

A couple of factors have contributed to the Gamecocks' more respectable end-of-week ranking. Firstly, South Carolina achieved a significant victory on the road during the SEC/ACC Challenge against Boston College. Although the Eagles are not a powerhouse team, a well-executed and decisive win on the road always gives a team a boost. It shows their ability to perform well in challenging environments.Secondly, some of the Gamecocks' previous opponents have also seen improvements in their own NET rankings. For instance, their neutral site loss to Xavier is now classified as a Quad 2 loss, and the home loss to North Florida is no longer a Quad 4 defeat. These changes in opponent rankings have had a positive impact on South Carolina's overall standing.

Upcoming Opportunities for Improvement

Carolina is set to have more chances to enhance their position in the NET rankings. Alongside having opportunities to win games, their schedule strength will also improve. Additionally, after facing back-to-back Saturday contests against East Carolina and USC-Upstate, South Carolina will welcome their arch-rivals, the Clemson Tigers, to Colonial Life Arena for a Quad 1 opportunity. This will be a crucial test for the team and an opportunity to further solidify their standing.

Next on the Schedule: East Carolina Pirates

Coach Paris and his team are now gearing up to play the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday. This is a return trip to Columbia after last year's game in Greenville. The Gamecocks and Pirates are set to tip off at 2:00 p.m., and the game will be available for streaming on the SEC Network+. It will be an important matchup as the team looks to continue their upward trajectory in the NET rankings.