May 13, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

South Carolina (15-13, 3-8 Southeastern Conference) split a pair of SEC Tournament matches in Nashville, Tenn., on April 22-23 and now turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th consecutive season and will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the 17th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round on May 15 at 1 p.m. In the other regional match, No. 15 North Carolina will face South Carolina State at 10 a.m. on May 15.

KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE
The 2004 NCAA Tournament draw was announced on national television May 5 and the Gamecocks were given their 11th consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament, continuing the longest streak in team history and one of the longest streaks of any sports team at Carolina.

SECOND TO NONE
For at least the third consecutive year, all 12 Southeastern Conference Teams have been selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Six of the 12 teams (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss) are hosting regional sites in the tournament.

FACING THE BEST
Of the 63 other teams competing in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, 16 of them have already had to square off against the Garnet and Black during the regular season. That means South Carolina has had to play over 25% of the current NCAA Tournament field already this season, with wins over teams like No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 22 Vanderbilt.

GAMECOCKS SPLIT AT SEC TOURNAMENT
South Carolina ended a four match losing streak on April 22 as they upset the 21st-ranked and seventh-seeded host Vanderbilt Commodores at the SEC Tournament, 4-3. The 10th-seeded Gamecocks avenged a regular season loss in the first round of the SEC Tournament for the second time in three years. The Gamecocks advanced to face the second-seeded Florida Gators, where they didn’t fare as well. The Gamecocks dropped their second round match against the Gators, 4-0. The Gators advanced to the semifinals, only to lose to eventual SEC Tournament Champion Georgia, 4-3.