Completing a three-game stretch of in-state play, USC, 7-2, will begin a three-game stretch against out-of-state competitors when it heads north to Philadelphia for an 8 pm contest with Temple, 5-3, on Thurs., Dec. 22. It is the first trip out of the state’s borders for Carolina since playing three games at the Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 24-26.

The game will be broadcast live on CSS-TV with Matt Stewart and John Griffin working as the talent. USC is 4-2 on TV this year, including 1-0 on CSS and 2-1 on ESPN2. The game will also be carried on the Gamecock Radio Network with Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (color analyst). The game can also be heard via the internet at www.uscsports.com.

After playing at Temple on Thursday night, USC will be off until the evening of Dec. 26 when it will practice and then host Pittsburgh at 7 pm on Wed., Dec. 28.

USC is 2-1 on the road this year and including neutral site games, the Gamecocks are 3-2. USC likes its home: Carolina is riding a five-game winning streak at home (last loss: Florida, 65-66 Feb. 27, 2005). In the Colonial Center, USC is shooting 50.3% and its opponents are shooting 39.6%. USC has 5.8 bpg to its opponents 1.7 bpg.

With the top guns

USC is No. 10 in three-point field goal % nationally per the NCAA stats released Dec. 19. Other USC categories ranked in the top 21 include No. 17 in field goal % and No. 21 in blocked shots per game.

Individually, Renaldo Balkman is No. 3 in field goal percentage and No. 41 in blocked shots per game nationally

Early Christmas

The Carolina basketball teams hosted the Columbia Boys and Girls Club last weekend for its annual Christmas party. They shot baskets, signed autographs and even better, presented each child with a present bought especially for them.

Santa Claus also made a visit to the USC Practice Facility. Each player was paired up with a child. The program included a few children reading essays they wrote about Christmas.

The teams both went Christmas shopping for the kids last week, with the Columbia Tip-Off Club teaming up to provide the funds.

BJ McKie

The University of South Carolina will retire the jersey of former three-time All-SEC standout BJ McKie prior to the South Carolina-Pittsburgh game on Wednes., Dec. 28. Good seats are available!

The ceremony, which will feature a special video tribute and a few words from BJ McKie, an Irmo, S.C. native, will begin at 6:50 pm that evening. The game is set to start at 7:06 pm and will be broadcast on CSS. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats that night by 6:45 pm.

A 2000 USC graduate, a few of McKie’s career highlights include:

• No. 1 in career points scored (2,119)

•No 1 in free throws made

• Played in 123 career games (No. 3 all-time)

• 1998 All-American and 3-time All-SEC Honoree

• 1996 SEC Freshman of the Year and on the SEC All-Freshman team

• 1999 SEC Post-Graduate Community Service Award Winner

• Member of the 1997 SEC Championship team – 15-1 in the SEC

• 2-time NCAA Tournament participant (lost in the 1st round in 1997 and ’98)

USC plays A-10

Carolina is 50-32 against the Atlantic 10 Conference. USC was 2-0 against the A-10 last year, needing 60 points to defeat both (60-43 vs. Temple) and (60-57 vs. St. Joe’s in the NIT final). USC has winning records against seven A-10 teams, with the series even against two and losing records against two.

Temple is the only A-10 school on the Gamecock schedule.

TU plays SEC

Temple is playing a rubber game in its third and last SEC scheduled game this year. The Owls defeated then #19 Alabama, 68-58, on Dec. 10 at the Liacouras Center. But fell at Auburn, 73-42, Dec. 18. The margin of defeat tied for the second largest in the Chaney Era, and the most since a 96-65 loss at #11 Xavier on March 8, 2003.

Series-us, Some things

After winning the first five games against Temple in the all-time series, which looks to USC for an 8-5 advantage overall, USC then dropped a game in Columbia. The home team has won the last five games between the two teams, with a Temple win thrown in for good measure in Charlotte in 1994. The series, which began in 1969, has featured three straight years of play recently with the hiring of Carolina head coach Dave Odom. USC is in the second part of its second straight home and home with the Owls.

Odom is 6-2 vs. the Owls, including a 4-1 record while the head coach at Wake Forest.

The Owls head coach John Chaney won his 500th game at Temple earlier this year (a 69-37 win over Army) and lost his 300th career game at Auburn on Sunday (73-42). He is tied for 13th on the NCAA Division I all-time win list with former UNLV and Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Lead us

Three of the five Gamecock starters are averaging double figure points. Individually Carolina is led by Tarence Kinsey, who is averaging a team-leading 16.6 ppg and 4.4 rpg. The junior trio continues to play well: Renaldo Balkman leads the team with 7.7 rpg and is second with 13.0 ppg, Tre’ Kelley is third with 12.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 3.4 apg; and Brandon Wallace is second on the team with 2.0 bpg and is averaging 7.3 ppg (fourth) and 6.1 rpg (second).

Until the Wofford game, when USC started Keving Palacios in place of Renaldo Balkman (late for practice Friday), USC had started the same line-up all eight games this season: guards Kelley and Trice, and forwards Balkman, Kinsey and Wallace.

Them

It is rare that a John Chaney-coached team does not compete, but that is exactly what happened Sunday afternoon (Dec. 18) in a 73-42 loss to host Auburn – scoring just 23 points in the first half and 19 in the second half.

The Tigers (5-2) drained 11 three-pointers and outscored the Owls (5-3) 24-7 over the final eight minutes of the first half to take a 45-23 halftime lead. Auburn increased that to a high of 35 points twice before handing the Owls a 31-point setback. It marked just the fourth time in Chaney’s 24 years at the helm that one of his teams lost by 30 or more points, and it was the worst defeat since falling at #11 Xavier, 96-65, on March 8, 2003.

Temple definitely was not making baskets in this contest. The Owls struggled all day against second-year head coach Jeff Lebo’s defensive schemes. The Tigers started in a 1-3-1 trapping zone and switched to a 2-3 at times while also employing some man-to-man. All were effective as the Cherry and White connected on just 15-of-57 field goal attempts (26.3%) and hit just seven of 28 three-pointers (25%). Even when the Owls were not guarded, they struggled as evidenced by their dismal five-of-15 free throw shooting.

Senior guard Mardy Collins led Temple with nine points, all coming in the second half as Tiger defenders limited the Owl All-America candidate to just three first half shots. The trio of Antywane Robinson (3-11), Dustin Salisbery (2-10) and Mark Tyndale (3-11) combined on eight-of-32 (25%) shooting.

1 down, almost another one

Carolina broke the school record with 20 blocked shots against Alaska-Anchorage on Nov. 24. The Gamecocks were one off tying the school record when they hit 14 3 pointers against Wofford on Dec. 14 (15 vs. Cincinnati on Feb. 15, 1997). It wasn’t a Colonial Center record either, but it did tie USC’s 14 bombs against Alabama on Feb. 4, 2004.

20 x 50 or less

With Wofford being the last victim (43 vs. USC), under Odom, South Carolina has held 20 opponents to 50 points or less. USC is 19-1 in the games where they have held opponents to 50 or less. The only loss came against Auburn in 2003.

In 2004-05, USC held Wofford to just 44 on New Year’s Eve and Temple to 46 on Nov. 27. USC held eight squads to 50 points or less in 2003-04.

The 20 with 50 or less under Odom are: Wofford 43, Wofford 49, Providence 48, SC State 50, Charleston Southern 41, Vanderbilt 43, Auburn 50, Ball State 47, Temple 47, The Citadel 50, Mississippi 49, Navy 40, Campbell 48, The Citadel 38, Charleston Southern 36, SC State 50, Yale 48, Georgia 47, Temple 46 and Wofford 44.

Going all the way back to the Frank McGuire era, which started in 1964, USC has held 72 opponents to 50 points or less. The most times in a season that USC has held opponents to 20 or less is eight times (2003-04). The second most is 7 times in the 2001-02 season.

Coaches since the 1964-65 season

A few days ago and then a few more ago …

USC beat Wofford by 30 points, 73-43, on Sat., Dec. 17. They hit 14 3-pointers in the win, one of the school record set against Cincinnati on Feb. 15, 1997. USC was paced by Brandon Wallace’s second double-double this season when he collected 13 points (tying career high for PTs and setting a career high for 3 PT made) and 11 boards. Stephen McDowell scored a career-high 12 points with Tarence Kinsey (11) and Tre’ Kelley (10) rounding out the double-figure scorers. USC shot 48.3% to Wofford’s 33.3%.

USC defeated Winthrop 68-54 on Wed., Dec. 14. The win saw four Gamecocks in double figures, including Rocky Trice who scored a career-high 18 points. Playing well, Tre’ Kelley has a season-high eight assists, Renaldo Balkman had a career-high five blocks and Trice grabbed a career-high four steals.

50 cent

USC has shot 50.0% or better four times this season. In 2004-05 the Gamecocks did it 11 times. In 2003-05 USC shot 50% or better only six times.

USC hit 53.8% in the second half against Wofford, keeping its streak alive. USC hit at least 50% in both halves vs. Winthrop including 56 % (1st) and 54.5% (2nd). Carolina has hit 50% or better from the floor in at least one half in every game this season but one. USC hit 40.6% in the first half and 44.8% in the second against Alaska Anchorage.

Toss it here

The Gamecocks have collected 143 assists and the five starters have collected 123 (86% ). The five Gamecock starters all have 15 or more assists this season (Kelley, Wallace, Kinsey, Trice, Balkman). Tre’ Kelley leads the team with 31. But No. 2 and No 3 are junior forwards Renaldo Balkman (29) and Brandon Wallace (27). Kinsey and Trice both have 18.

Can’t stop talkin’ about him

Continuing to impress fans young and old this season, junior Renaldo Balkman, had what Coach Odom described ‘a disappointing season’ his last year. Second on the Gamecock squad with 13.0 ppg (Kinsey leads with 16.6 ppg), Balkman continues to pace the team in about every other category: rebounds (7.7 rpg), blocks (2.2 bpg) and steals (1.9 spg). And he’s done it averaging 28.3 mpg to Kinsey’s 31.4 mpg and Kelley’s 31.7 mpg.

He has two double-doubles this season – the first of his career (vs. Monmouth: 14 PT, 12 REB and at Clemson: a season-high 15 PT, 12 REB). He is yet to match his career-high in either stat: 17 points vs. South Florida (12/14/04) and 16 rebounds at Vanderbilt (3/2/05).

Stepping up

A few more notes on Balkman. After nine games his freshman year he was averaging 7.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg. After eight games his sophomore year he had dipped to 6.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg. After nine games this season he is averaging 13.0 ppg and 7.7 rpg.

He had 21 blocks in all of last year. This season he has already knocked down 20 blocks.

Stephen steps up

USC’s bench stepped up against Wofford, scoring almost half of its points (35 for bench, 38 for starters). It was the second best output of the year since the bench scored 38 points in the 87-62 win at Western Carolina to start the season. Career highs off the bench included Stephen McDowell’s 12 and Bryce Sheldon’s nine points – with each hitting four and three 3-pointers, respectively – also career highs.

The Gamecock bench didn’t score a single bench until the 10:39 mark of the second half in the 68-54 win over Winthrop. It was the lowest output – six points (4 for Tisby, 2 for Dwayne Day) – for the bench all season. On the other side of the court, 27 of WU’s points came from the starters with the other half (27 points) coming from the reserves.

Last on the state schedule: SC State Jan. 3

South Carolina played three straight games against in-state rivals and collected a 2-1 record in the stretch. Coach Odom is 57-10 overall against all teams in the state of South Carolina — with its only losses coming to in-state rival Clemson. That total includes one game against the Gamecocks as well. The most wins come against Clemson as Odom is 22-10 against the Tigers and is 33-0 against the rest of South Carolina. His first in-state test of the season was not a prosperous one as the Gamecocks fell at Clemson 82-63 on Dec. 3. After Wofford (73-43 win), the South Carolina State (Jan. 3) is the lone in-state school on the schedule this season.

Here’s a Streak

South Carolina has a current streak of 143 consecutive games with a three-point basket. Not bad, but the streak had reached 216 straight games with USC having a trey in every game since Jan. 7, 1995 vs. Kentucky. The streak ended as Carolina went 0-19 from long range in the regular season finale vs. Mississippi State in 2001.

5 Early Signees

USC Head Basketball Coach Dave Odom announced the signing of five players in early December. The 2006 class includes:

Gamecocks’ Early Signing Roster (Nov., 2005) :

“I am very pleased with each of our five signees,” said USC Head Coach Dave Odom. “As a group they address what I believe the needs of next year’s team will be. They promise to be an excellent class and I look forward to working each one throughout their four years here at Carolina.”

Face (book) time Carolina will appear on television at least 22 times this season during the regular season, including at least seven games on national television (6 ESPN/ESPN2, 1 CBS) and one tape delay (SUN Sports). The 22 appearances will be the most regular-season television appearances ever for the Gamecocks. USC is already 4-2 on TV this season.

Can’t stop talkin’ about him

Continuing to impress fans young and old this season, junior Renaldo Balkman, had what Coach Odom described ‘a disappointing season’ his last year. Second on the Gamecock squad with 13.9 ppg (Kinsey leads with 17.4 ppg), Balkman currently, leads the team in just about every category: rebounds (8.4 rpg), assists (tied with Kelley for team lead: 3.1 apg), blocks (2.0 bpg) and steals (1.9 spg). And he’s done it averaging 28.7 mpg to Kinsey’s 31.7 mpg and Kelley’s 31.9 mpg.

He already has two double-doubles this season – the first of his career (vs. Monmouth: 14 PT, 12 REB and at Clemson: a season-high 15 PT, 12 REB). He is yet to match his career-high in either stat: 17 points vs. South Florida (12/14/04) and 16 rebounds at Vanderbilt (3/2/05).

Home shooters

This season Carolina is 4-0 at home. They are putting up some very good numbers on the offensive side of the ball in the Colonial Center. USC is shooting 50.2 % from the floor (111-221) and hitting more than 44% of its three-pointers (37-84). They have hit 81.5% of their free throws at home (44-54).