Of course the question had to be asked.

"Do you see a national championship team from what you saw in fall practice?"

"I don't know about all that, but I never felt like in the other two years, it was that case either," South Carolina coach Ray Tanner said on Tuesday. "College baseball is very, very good. The SEC is the best. There are so many teams that could be national champions at the end.

"I know how difficult it is. You have to be very special as a team to have a chance, and that's all we're trying to do."

Tanner's Gamecocks have had that in each of the past two seasons, the greatest stretch by any team in USC athletic history. Back-to-back national championships have made for a charmed existence at Carolina Stadium, and as Tanner wrapped up fall practice, he offered his thoughts on his current team.

Naturally, after a preseason spent of answering, "Can you repeat?," the progression has spawned queries of, "Can you three-peat?"

Tanner wasn't going to boast about even having a chance, although as logic suggests, of course his team will have a chance since it competes in Division I baseball. He only said that it's a long journey through the regular season, and an even longer one through the postseason.

But he does like the makeup of his group.

"I'm quite pleased with where we are from that standpoint," Tanner said. "You've got a chance to put a good team on the field if your veterans assume ownership. They did that for me this fall."

Tanner was referring to the contributions from experienced players like Michael Roth, Matt Price, Evan Marzilli, Christian Walker … any of the players that have been there throughout two championship seasons and know what to impart to the freshmen. That kind of leadership and ability cannot be taught, only experienced. The Gamecocks have that, and a recruiting class that was ranked by one national publication as the country's best.

It won't be easy, replacing seasoned all-stars like Brady Thomas, Robert Beary, Scott Wingo, Peter Mooney and Adrian Morales, but Tanner likes the squad that he has. The Gamecocks will go through more individual work as the fall turns to winter and turns to spring, but he sees some answers at the questions left by the departing stars.

"LB Dantzler ended up leading our team in hitting," Tanner said, referring to the junior-college transfer who is the leading candidate to replace Morales at third base. "Joey Pankake, at this point, has won the shortstop job. He finished, I believe, third in hitting in the fall. Probably right now, Chase Vergason kind of separated himself a little bit (at second base). Grayson Greiner and Dante Rosenberg (at catcher) probably had the best falls of any two players since I've been coaching."

The starting pitching staff returns intact, but the bullpen is losing some. With Price making the move to weekend starter and the graduation of 50-appearance man John Taylor, USC needs some arms, but has plenty of options. Highly rated freshmen Joel Seddon and Evan Beal, plus Jordan Montgomery, the returning Ethan Carter and side-armer Hunter Privette, from the same JUCO that produced Taylor, are on staff to handle the relief roles, with Sunday starter Forrest Koumas likely moving to Price's former closer role.

Tanner does have to cut 11 members off the fall roster to get to the NCAA-mandated limit of 35, and that may be difficult. The Gamecocks are at the point where even their walk-ons have expressed a desire to try for a non-guaranteed spot, despite perhaps being starters at other schools.

But even when that happens, the remaining players will be more than capable of keeping the tradition moving forward.

"I feel like it was a productive fall," Tanner said. "It's not going to be an easy task to get to 35. We don't have to be in such a big hurry."

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

The Gamecocks will begin their winter conditioning program and carry it through until preseason practice begins in January. Involved with that is individual skill work. They will begin practice approximately a month before the Feb. 17 regular-season opener (hosting VMI).

Also during that time, Tanner will finalize his 35-man roster. He already has his 27 scholarship players down, since those had to be turned in before school began, but has to decide with of the remaining 11 players in fall camp will fit into the eight walk-on spots.

Tanner said after the Garnet & Black World Series concluded that sometimes the decision was made easy for him. He sits down with each player and explains what their role is probably going to be - some are content to sit on the bench as a Gamecock and wait for their turn and some might want to transfer while they can, to a place where they can play. The final cut-downs may go right up until Opening Day.

INJURIES

The following players had medical problems in the fall.

Patrick Harrington - Sat out all of last year with a shoulder problem and had labrum surgery to correct it. He didn't throw much all fall, but did get into the scrimmages as a hitter. Has to have a procedure done soon to alleviate a knot in his back, which may set him back further. If healthy, can figure into time at catcher, left field or DH.

Drake Thomason -- Coming off a year spent recovering from Tommy John surgery, Thomason was 100 percent healthy in the fall and throwing well. All he needs is to keep working to build his velocity back up to where it was when he was hurt. That takes time, but Thomason should pitch some this season.

Christian Walker -- The fractured bone in his hand suffered during the College World Series is completely healed, although Walker was forced to vacate his roster spot on Team USA over the summer due to it. Walker took it easy in the fall, knowing his spot was secure, and is also 100 percent healthy.

Nolan Belcher -- Belcher was also recovering from Tommy John all of last season, and hasn't yet resumed throwing. He broke his foot over the offseason as well and did not participate in fall practice. If he can get healed and show that he can pitch a few innings during preseason practice, he could figure in as a left-handed reliever. Tanner said he hopes to have Belcher 100 percent in January.

Seth Constable -- After breaking both bones in one leg during his senior year of high school, Constable had to have a post-operative procedure done on the leg early in fall camp and missed the rest of the session. He is in line to redshirt this season.

Dante Rosenberg -- An ailing back kept him out of all but two games last year, but he has recovered and Tanner credited his play several times in the fall. He will be a fine backup or platoon-mate to Grayson Greiner, and hopefully the back holds up.

Forrest Koumas -- Severely pulled a hamstring late in fall practice and was shut down from then on. The pull was so serious that Koumas was on crutches. Everything points to him being healthy in the spring, but hamstrings are tricky.

Tyler Webb -- A tender elbow had him sit out the fall. He should be OK for the spring, but obviously has to work his way back into shape and the rotation. Still, Webb should be given a chance if he is healthy - he has been a starter in the early season in each of his two years. Tanner also said he hopes to have Webb 100 percent by January.

Rob DeCosmo -- He had shoulder surgery after his senior year of high school and had to have it re-performed. Doubtful to pitch this season.

Sean Sullivan -- Bidding for a walk-on spot, Sullivan battled some injuries but still played well in the fall. Tanner spoke on Tuesday as if Sullivan would be a part of the roster.

SCHEDULE

While most of the schedule has been pieced together on The Dugout forum on GamecockCentral.com, it is incomplete. USC's official schedule, a school spokesman said, should be released soon.

STARTING LINEUP

(Note: Based on Tanner's comments throughout the fall, personal observations and educated guesses)

C - GRAYSON GREINER (Dante Rosenberg)

1B - CHRISTIAN WALKER (Kyle Martin/Brison Celek)

2B - CHASE VERGASON (Tanner Lovick/TJ Costen/Connor Bright/Mikal Hill)

SS - JOEY PANKAKE (TJ Costen/Mikal Hill/Connor Bright)

3B - LB DANTZLER (Erik Payne/Connor Bright)

LF - TANNER ENGLISH (Jake Williams/Adam Matthews)

CF - EVAN MARZILLI (Tanner English)

RF - ADAM MATTHEWS (Tanner English)

DH - JAKE WILLIAMS (Brison Celek/Kyle Martin/Sean Sullivan)

STARTING PITCHERS

Friday - MICHAEL ROTH

Saturday - MATT PRICE

Sunday - COLBY HOLMES

Midweek - TYLER WEBB/ETHAN CARTER/ADAM WESTMORELAND/JOEL SEDDON/EVAN BEAL/PATRICK SULLIVAN

BULLPEN

Right-handed relief - HUNTER PRIVETTE/PATRICK SULLIVAN/ETHAN CARTER/DRAKE THOMASON/ JOEL SEDDON/ EVAN BEAL

Left-handed relief -JORDAN MONTGOMERY/ADAM WESTMORELAND/LOGAN MUNSON/TYLER WEBB

Closer - FORREST KOUMAS (Ethan Carter/Joey Pankake)

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