Feb. 9, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina returns to Colonial Life Arena on Sunday to host Tennessee in the first part of a double-header of Gamecock hoops at 1 p.m. ET. The No. 15/12 Gamecock women’s team will host Texas A&M at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET. The games will serve as the Academy Sports Pink Games for both teams. The men’s contest will be televised on FSN with Dave Baker (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) on the call. Carolina will aim to snap an 11-game losing streak to the Vols in Sunday’s contest. Fans can also listen on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network via GamecocksOnline.com and on 107.5 The Game in Columbia with Andy Demetra (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (analyst).

OPENING TIP
Date: Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013
Tipoff: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Series: Tennessee leads 37-23
Last Meeting: Tennessee win, 73-64 on Feb. 25, 2012, in Columbia, S.C.
Television: FSN
Talent: Dave Baker (pxp), Daymeon Fishback (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network
Sirius: 128; XM: 199
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Tickets | @GamecockMBB | | ESPN3 | Game Notes

Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 105th season of basketball.
– The Gamecocks are led by first-year head coach Frank Martin. His associate head coach is Brad Underwood and his assistant coaches are Matt Figger and Lamont Evans. Andy Assaley is the director of basketball operations.
– The Gamecocks are in their 22nd season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2013. Carolina owns a 131-214 (.379) all-time record in SEC play.
– The Gamecocks look to break a three-game losing streak on Sunday when Tennessee visits Colonial Life Arena.
– South Carolina most recently suffered a 77-55 setback at Kentucky on Tuesday. The Wildcats shot 61.4 percent (27-44) in the contest, including a 5-of-8 (62.5%) mark from 3-point range. Freshman forward Michael Carrera scored 18 points, the only Gamecock to reach double figures, in the contest, marking the third-straight game that he has paced Carolina in the category.
– Over the course of the last three games, Carrera paces the Gamecocks with 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He has led the team in scoring in each of those three contests, while hitting 53.1 percent from the field.
– South Carolina shot a season high 57.7 percent (30-52) from the field, including a near season best of hitting 7-of-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc, in a convicing 75-54 victory over Arkansas at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 26. The win marked Carolina’s first in league play at home this season. The 21-point margin of victory marked the largest in conference play since an 18-point win over Kentucky on Feb. 25, 2009. It was the first margin of at least 20 points in SEC play since an 83-61 win over Mississippi State on Feb. 11, 2006. Both of those wins occurred at Colonial Life Arena.
– After trailing 15-3, South Carolina ended the first half vs. Arkansas on a 40-11 run over the final 14:49 of the first half.
– Carolina’s 75 points vs. Arkansas were the most in a regulation SEC game since posting a 79-73 win vs. Ole Miss on Feb. 22, 2011.

Scouting Tennessee
Tennessee enters Sunday’s contest with an 11-10 overall record, including a 3-6 mark in league games. The Vols have lost two straight games – at Arkansas, vs. Georgia – prior to Sunday’s contest. Tennessee has SEC wins vs. Mississippi State, Alabama and Vanderbilt thus far in 2013. Junior guard Jordan McRae paces the team with 14.0 points per contest, while sophomore forward Jarnell Stokes lead the team, and ranks third in the SEC (overall games) with 8.5 rebounds per game. In strictly league games, Stokes is tied with Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel with 9.8 rebounds per contest to lead the conference in the category. Stokes has posted four-straight double-doubles entering Sunday’s contest in Columbia. Junior point guard Trae Golden has missed the last two and a half games for the Vols with a hamstring injury. He averages 3.9 assists per game (overall games) this season. The Vols are led by head coach Cuonzo Martin in his second season.

Up Next For The Gamecocks
The Gamecocks host LSU on Thursday in a matchup set to air on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET. South Carolina earned an overtime win vs. the Tigers in the first meeting between the two schools in January. Freshman forward Michael Carrera led the Gamecocks with a season high 23 points in that contest.

Tennessee Series
Tennessee holds a 37-23 upperhand in the all-time series with South Carolina and has won 11-straight in the series entering Sunday’s contest. The last Gamecock win vs. UT came in an 81-64 decision on Feb. 17, 2007 in Columbia.