After asking the question and allowing media members a few moments to think for themselves, Frank Martin gave away the answer with his index fingers.
The subject, toward the end of Monday’s press conference at Colonial Life Arena, turned to the potential of next season’s South Carolina basketball team. The 2017-18 Gamecocks were on the brink of losing their sixth straight game, a defeat at Tennessee that dropped them to .500 for the first time this year. Barring a magical run, USC (13-13, 4-9 SEC) won’t be in the NCAA Tournament next month.
But what about next year?