Dec. 3, 2004

South Carolina, 4-0, hosts in-state rival Clemson University Saturday, Dec. 4 in a 7:30 pm game at The Colonial Center. The game will be televised on Fox SportsSouth with Bob Rathbun (play by play) and Barry Booker (analyst) making the call.

The two teams have a long history with this being the 155th meeting dating back to 1913. USC won the first meeting, 39-18, on Feb. 6, 1913 in Columbia and won the last meeting, 76-61, Dec. 6, 2003 at Clemson. USC has won four straight, including the last three under USC Head Coach Dave Odom, with all four being double-digit wins.

This game will be the second Carolina-Clemson men’s basketball game played in the Colonial Center. The Gamecocks and the Tigers played February 12, 2003 in front of 17,072 fans. A school record then, it is the sixth largest crowd ever at the Colonial Center for a USC men’s basketball game. It is the largest crowd for a South Carolina non-conference game. USC is 7-0 in the Colonial Center against non-conference opponents when the attendance is 10,000 or more.

The Gamecocks are 4-0 on the early season and have played all four games against non-conference opponents. One common feat is that all four games have been decided by 10 points or more. Last season, through their first four games, USC had three of their first four games decided by 10 points or more. (not Gardner-Webb 83-74) 10 of their 13 wins last season against non-conference opponents were decided by 10 points or more (not Gardner-Webb, Richmond, NC State).

Toys for Tots; Spurrier

Members of Team Gamecocks (USC student-athletes) along with representatives from the United States Marine Corps are encouraging fans to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the entrances of the Colonial Center prior to the Clemson game. All donations will be distributed through the Toys For Tots and the CHAMPS/Life Skills Programs.

USC Head Football coach Steve Spurrier will be introduced to the crowd at halftime of the Clemson basketball game. Spurrier will speak to the crowd after the introduction.

State Champions I, II, III, ?

Under Coach Odom, USC is 14-0 against other schools from the state of South Carolina. This season USC plays in-state rivals Winthrop (62-52, 11/24/04), Clemson, S.C. State and Wofford.

Not in our house

The Gamecocks are 20-0 at the Colonial Center and 29-1 under Coach Odom four years of non-conference play at home. USC has won 26 non-conference games in a row at home. The last lost for USC at home against a non-conference opponent was on December 6, 2001 against Georgetown when the Hoyas’ won 70-68.

Mike Was; How about `Los and Chap?

Carlos Powell and John Chappell are looking to join the likes of Mike Boynton, Jr. on Saturday. Undefeated in four years against Clemson, last year’s senior captain Mike Boynton, Jr., had a hand in each of the wins, playing an average of more than 16 minutes a game in the four wins over the Tigers.

USC’s 76-61 win last year was Carolina’s fourth straight over the Tigers. All four wins have been double-digit victories. The past four years USC has defeated Clemson by an average of more than 16 points – with the Gamecocks scoring 77.3 ppg and Clemson scoring 61.0 ppg.

Boynton lead the first senior class since 1968-71 to a four-year sweep of arch-rival Clemson. That senior class swept Clemson twice a year for four years and also defeated the Tigers for a third time in 1970 at the ACC Tournament.

In his first two seasons, Carlos Powell wasn’t much of a factor against Clemson, tallying seven points, two rebounds and shooting 2-8 from the floor against Clemson in 19 total minutes. Last season he made his presence known as Powell played 38 minutes grabbing six boards, and tallying a career high 23 points on a career high of nine field goals made in 18 attempts. Powell vs. Clemson.

Powell vs. Tigers: Points Rebounds FGM-FGA Min. Played

2001-02 2 1 1-1 5

2002-03 5 1 1-7 14

2003-04 23 6 9-18 38

Carolina Starters

The Gamecocks have opened up all four games this season with the same lineup. (Carlos Powell, Tarence Kinsey, Brandon Wallace, Tre’ Kelley, and Josh Gonner). All five this season have scored in double figures at least once this year and at least two of the five have scored in double figures in every game this season. The five are averaging 54.1 ppg of the Gamecocks’ 75.0 ppg this season (72%).

USC’s starters are giving the opposition a run for its money. In three games, the starters have scored at least as many points as the opponents total score.

USC starters total USC’s total point Opp. Total

Western Carolina 64 87 61

Winthrop 49 62 52

Temple 46 60 46

Appalachian State 57 91 57

Odom vs. the Tigers

Dave Odom has won the last nine games against Clemson. At Carolina, he is 3-0 with all three wins in double digits. Coach Odom is 22-8 against Clemson in his career. The 22 wins against Clemson are the most by Odom against any team that he has ever coached against.