COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) -– South Carolina was selected to finish in second place in the Eastern Division in the 2012 SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released on Monday, Feb. 13. Carolina has finished in the upper half of the SEC Eastern Division 15 of 20 seasons since joining the league including 12 of 15 years under head coach Ray Tanner. The 2012 season begins on Friday, February 17 as the Gamecocks host a three-game series with VMI at Carolina Stadium.
Florida is the choice to win the 2012 SEC championship with Arkansas the choice to win the West. In addition to picking a preseason champion, the head coaches voted a predicted order of finish in the SEC Eastern and Western Divisions. Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

2012 SEC COACHES PRESEASON POLL RESULTS

Eastern Division
Team Points
1. Florida 66
2. South Carolina 56
3. Georgia 42
4. Vanderbilt 40
5. Kentucky 25
6. Tennessee 18

Western Division
Team Points
1. Arkansas 64
2. LSU 58
3. Alabama 38
4. Ole Miss 34
5. Mississippi State 33
6. Auburn




SOUTH CAROLINA’S SEC HISTORY
YEAR RECORD DIV. FINISH
1992 13-11 2nd
1993 15-10-1 2nd
1994 11-15 4th
1995 12-14 3rd
1996 13-17 5th
UNDER COACH RAY TANNER
1997 13-17 4th
1998 19-10 2nd
1999 15-15 1st
2000 25-5 1st
2001 17-13 3rd
2002 21-8 1st
2003 19-11 1st
2004 17-13 2nd
2005 16-14 2nd
2006 15-15 4th
2007 17-13 2nd
2008 15-15 5th
2009 17-13 2nd
2010 21-9 2nd
2011 22-8 T1st

SEC EAST TITLES (5)
1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011

SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS (3)
2000, 2002, 2011

SEC TOURNAMENT TITLE (1)
2004