South Carolina’s defense
The unit the Gamecocks typically hang their hats on stunk up the joint in 2014. South Carolina’s defense was the football equivalent of a chopping block. Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward’s squad finished near the bottom in many categories including:
Total defense – No. 92 (432.7 yards per game)
Rushing defense – No. 105 (212.2 yards per game)
Turnover margin — No. 73 (-2)
For his unit’s performance, many have called for the removal of Ward at the defensive coordinator position. Despite a couple SEC teams hiring high profile defensive coordinators, it seems as though Ward’s job is secure for now. But that’s only for the time being.
If the Gamecocks’ defense does not improve in a significant way in 2015, you can bet Ward will have his bags packed before the season is through.
For this, South Carolina’s defense lands on the list of things that aren't allowed to return in 2015.
NCAA ban on Columbia
Finally. The NCAA reformatted its postseason hosting process, allowing the Gamecocks’ women’s basketball team to play at home for their first and second round games.
More importantly, the NCAA did so without forcing the removal of the Confederate flag on the Statehouse grounds, the reason behind the NCAA enacting a boycott on Columbia in 2001.
This year, so long as it is awarded one of the top 16 seeds in the NCAA tournament, South Carolina will play two of its postseason games at home in the Colonial Life Arena ,where they have not lost since Feb. 10, 2013.
The Gamecocks were exiled to Seattle, Washington for the first two rounds of the 2014 NCAA tournament where they won 2,800 miles from home. South Carolina was ousted from the tournament by North Carolina in Stanford, California, 2,663 miles away from Colonial Life Arena.