GarNET and Black Madness Set for Oct. 21

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball will unofficially kick off their 2025-26 season with GarNET and Black Madness at Colonial Life Arena on Tue., Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m. The free fan event presented in partnership with Gamecock Entertainment will include fan games, team competitions and a performance from rap artist Waka Flocka Flame.

Fans can claim a free ticket to the event at: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gamecocks/buy/midnightmadness. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with team introductions and all-star style competitions – 3-point contest, dunk contests and skills challenges – beginning at 7 p.m., and Waka Flocka Flame will follow to close out the event.

Parking will be available beginning at 5 p.m. in Lots A and B directly in front of Colonial Life Arena at no charge. Inside, concessions will be available at Market Place 1 and 2, Dippers and Garnet Grill. Students can purchase a Cockpit Meal Deal, and $2 water/soda will be available for all fans. Alcohol will be available for purchase as well.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, South Carolina men’s basketball, led by 2024 SEC Coach of the Year Lamont Paris, features 11 new players with six transfers, headlined by the return of All-SEC guard Meechie Johnson. The squad features five freshmen led by highly touted guard Eli Ellis.

South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley welcomes back seven letterwinners from last season’s NCAA Runner-Up team that also claimed its fourth-straight SEC regular-season championship and its third-straight SEC Tournament title. The Gamecocks return two of their top three scorers and rebounders in Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts as well as veteran guards Raven and Tessa Johnson while adding last season’s NCAA scoring leader and an elite SEC post player via the transfer portal and two top-15 freshmen to the 11-woman roster.

Waka Flocka Flame is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. Currently the CEO of his own record label (Brick Squad Monopoly). Waka Flocka Flame is an early influencer of Trap music, inspiring many artists of today with his extensive mixtape catalog consisting of over 30 projects. He became a chart topping artist with the release of his singles O Let’s Do It, Hard in Da Paint, and No Hands (feat. Roscoe Dash & Wale), with the latter peaking at #13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Looking forward to 2025 Waka has collaborated with Travis Scott and Metro Boomin on multiple projects, and he continues to foster the growth of his music label, nurturing talents like Paid Pat, Loudiene, Jimmy Rocket, and a talented array of writers and producers.

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@Gamecock MBB and @GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on both teams throughout the season.