3 realistic coaches to replace Juwan Howard for Michigan Basketball
By Nick Popio
2. Lamont Paris South Carolina
Paris has turned the Gamecocks program completely around. He has them on the verge of the NCAA tournament and is near the cusp of league in the SEC. Paris has Big Ten ties as well, as he coached at Wisconsin from 2010-2017 as an assistant under Bo Ryan and Greg Gard.
South Carolina hasn't experienced a season like they are now since they made a surprising final-four run in 2017. Paris has been to March Madness just once before this season.
Paris has almost as many wins in the 2023-24 season as South Carolina had losses in the 2022-23 campaign. Most would say that they see the South Carolina job as a stepping stone job which leads to destination jobs like Michigan basketball.
Paris also coached as an assistant in Akron under Keith Dambrot, who coached LeBron James in high school. Paris is now 19-3 heading in to Tuesday night's winnable game with Ole Miss.