Following a couple more updates this week, South Carolina basketball has fallen a bit in the NET rankings. After pushing their way into the 80s last week, the Gamecocks now sit at No. 96 in the NET.

The NET, for those unfamiliar, is the most important ranking metric used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. It factors in Team Value Index (essentially a team’s on-court results, location of games, and strength of schedule) and adjusted net efficient ratings (how well a team plays in those games, adjusted for the quality of opponent and location of games).

Lamont Paris’ team is now 6-3 and on a three-game winning streak, having earned a victory at home (over East Carolina), one on the road (against Boston College in the SEC/ACC Challenge), and one at a neutral site (versus Virginia Tech in the Fort Myers Tip-Off). Even still, USC’s NET ranking isn’t very high due to a 75th-ranked strength of schedule. That number will get a natural boost soon as Carolina faces the rival Clemson Tigers (a Quad 1 opportunity at home) next week and conference play begins after the New Year.

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A 96 next to the Gamecocks’ name in the NET doesn’t inspire a lot of NCAA Tournament confidence. However, the SEC is very strong, and a good in-conference record will go a long way for the team’s resume. A 10-3 or 9-4 out-of-conference record paired with a winning mark in the SEC could be enough to go dancing.

South Carolina hasn’t played its best basketball yet. If the Gamecocks can round into form soon, they will join the rest of the SEC in having realistic tourney expectations heading into league play. All 16 teams in the conference are ranked inside the NET top 100.

Before the Gamecocks meet up with Clemson or start SEC play, they will face the USC-Upstate Spartans on Saturday. Tip-off is at 2:00 p.m., and the game will stream on SEC Network+.