South Carolina’s season was an unqualified success. The Gamecocks won 22 games, 12 in the SEC (the second-most in school history), had a player voted the best in the league and are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 years.
Friday’s game doesn’t change that success.
It just seems like it determines so much more.
If the Gamecocks lose to Marquette, it’s the continuation of a sour end to a really good year. USC will have dropped six of eight to finish the season and, while successful, will have that tag of “the one that got away.