Frank Martin, part-South Carolina basketball coach, always the everyman, was checking out at a Columbia-area Publix on Sunday when he was approached by a fan.
“Hey,” the fan told him, “good luck next year.”
USC lost for a third straight time Saturday at Missouri, dropping the Gamecocks (14-15 overall) below .500 and into a five-way-tie for fourth place in the SEC standings. They had seven scholarship players available against the Tigers and they’ll be just as shorthanded Tuesday at Texas A&M (13-15, 6-10).
“Next year?” Martin asked the fan. “Why? We done or something?