PITTSBURGH — The South Carolina Men's Basketball Team lost in embarrassing fashion on Thursday after a strong regular season.
Thursday was a rough one for fans of the Gamecocks, including Ethan Early. He traveled up to Pittsburgh from Charleston to watch the Gamecocks lose their first game of the 2024 March Madness tournament.
"A little disappointed, but overall, if you asked a year ago if we would be doing this and I'd be here, and the team would be here, absolutely not," Early said. "[South Carolina] started out okay, it was tough watching a former player who was a starter for three years do that well against us."
His heartbreak was felt by hundreds of other fans that showed up in Pittsburgh to spectate.
Keith Hall says after such a strong regular season, being bounced in the first round was not on the schedule.
"This is a complete let down, and I think they were embarrassed, completely embarrassed," Hall said. "They couldn't buy a basket. They absolutely couldn't buy a basket. The big boys could not bang it out and get a basket at all. No three point shooting, it wasn't there, they were flat, just flat."
Analisa Meyers says she traveled from Maryland and was hurt by the loss, but was happy to even play in the tournament.
"I think they did a really nice job, I think they fought really hard. I think the SEC Tournament might have taken a gut blow to them, but I think overall, with Lamont Paris's second season, overall, it was a great season, and it's something they should all be proud of," Meyers said.
And don't worry Gamecock fans. As Meyers reminded us, there is still a number one ranked team that plans to hoop this month.
"I'm repping a women's team shirt, so I'm definitely looking forward to the women's team," Meyers said.
And bouncing off that good news, the women's basketball team is scheduled to start their March Madness run -- and hopeful return to the Final Four -- Friday afternoon against Presbyterian College.