South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris addressed the media after the Gamecocks’ convincing 20-point win over Presbyterian, reflecting on his team’s progress, defensive effort, and how his young players are already making their mark early in the season.
‘Mission accomplished’ on defense
Opening his postgame remarks, Paris said his team met a key goal for the night.
“I thought it was mission accomplished on one thing that we had really emphasized in this game — to do a better job guarding the ball,” Paris said. “We wanted to see what that looked like, and for about two-thirds of the game, we did a pretty good job.”
Paris joked that his usual pregame routine involves a bit of flair, but this time, simplicity was the focus.
“Normally you go into the pregame speech and juggle a couple things, tell a joke — today, the board was blank,” he said. “We were focused on staying in front of the ball consistently.”
While the Gamecocks let the game “get loose” in the final minutes, Paris praised the overall effort and maturity.
“We gave up 14 points in the last three and a half minutes, but I’m not going to let that taint the fact that the guys did a good job,” he said.
Adjusting shot selection: Attacking the rim pays off
Paris explained that while he loves the three-pointer, balance was key in this matchup.
“I think it’s known that I like threes — I just do,” he said. “But I told the guys to let the game and the defense dictate what our shot selection looks like.”
After missing several early three-pointers, South Carolina shifted gears to attack the basket.
“I said, ‘Let’s keep shooting the wide-open ones, but if there’s a lane to the rim, take it,’” Paris explained. “We needed to get to the free throw line, get ourselves going, and then open it up a bit.”
The strategy worked — the Gamecocks ended up shooting 8-of-25 from beyond the arc while generating more interior offense and trips to the free-throw line.
Freshmen showing promise
Paris praised freshman Hayden Assemian, who earned his first start and impressed with his relentless energy.
“Hayden’s been one of our most consistent guys,” Paris said. “He’s elite with his effort — you can’t teach that. He’s either that person already, or you’re not.”
He also highlighted the contributions of other newcomers like Grant Polk and Eli Ellis, who continue to make an early impact.
“It’s a really good class,” Paris said. “I’m excited about those guys and their ability to impact us right away.”
Free throws and attacking closeouts
A major area of growth for the Gamecocks was their ability to get to the line — something Paris attributed to improved ball movement and aggressive closeout attacks.
“We’ve really been working on attacking closeouts,” he said. “When teams press up to take away the three, that creates alleys for us to get to the rim.”
Paris emphasized the importance of simple fundamentals.
“Pump fakes are a real weapon,” he noted. “When we did it, we got good results. Free throws are the highest points-per-possession play in basketball, so we need to keep getting there.”
Defensive progress against a tricky opponent
Paris credited Presbyterian’s offensive schemes but said South Carolina mostly held firm.
“They run a really good floppy action,” he explained. “We had a few miscommunications, but overall, we did a decent job making their shots more difficult.”
Paris praised Presbyterian’s coaching and discipline.
“They’re so well coached. They’ve already picked up tough road wins,” he said. “I told their staff before the game that I really respect their approach.”
Building confidence early in the season
Paris said this kind of win — one where the Gamecocks controlled both ends — can go a long way in building confidence.
“Positive reinforcement is everything,” he said. “It’s key that we get into those moments and have film of successful situations to build on.”
He noted that Presbyterian’s defensive style gave his team more opportunities to drive and play inside, something they couldn’t do in the previous game.
“This game allowed us to attack and play off two feet,” Paris said. “Hopefully our players are becoming more well-versed in the fruits of pump faking — it’s one of the most powerful weapons in basketball.”
On efficiency, health, and lineup choices
When asked about efficiency metrics and margins of victory, Paris downplayed their importance for now.
“Not a whole lot to me,” he said. “We’re focused on accomplishing what we need to develop. The minutes for young guys are more valuable right now.”
He also gave updates on Christ Essandoko and Nordin Kapic, confirming neither injury was long-term.
“Christ is day-to-day, not a long-term issue,” Paris said. “Nordin’s got a deep thigh bruise, but with a little break, he should be good to go next time.”
Jordan Butler’s development
Paris was pleased with Jordan Butler’s growth, saying his effort and conditioning have improved dramatically.
“He’s made consistent progress since the summer,” Paris said. “Today was one of his most active days I’ve ever seen. Now the challenge is to do that all the time.”
Offensive flow: letting the game decide
Finally, Paris reiterated that his offense relies heavily on ball movement and decision-making — not rigid play-calling.
“I don’t really script who gets shots,” he said. “Seventy-five percent of the game, I want the defense to dictate that.”
His main message to the team remains simple:
“Move, screen, make decisions, and attack,” Paris said. “That’s my recipe for offense.”
South Carolina’s performance showed that Paris’ system — built on defensive focus, relentless effort, and unselfish offense — is beginning to take shape. With young players stepping up and the team finding its rhythm, the Gamecocks are quietly building momentum early in the season.
