COLUMBIA, S.C. – In conjunction with the 100 Years of Gamecock Basketball celebration, the South Carolina Athletics Department has made a number of exciting changes at the Colonial Center throughout the 2007-08 season. On Sat., Feb. 9 at 3:30 pm on the main plaza concourse, – prior to the Vanderbilt game at 5 pm – the newest addition will be unveiled. A trophy case featuring life size photos of the men’s and women’s basketball letterwinners with retired jerseys and a state-of-the art system for replay of basketball highlights will be permanently displayed in the Colonial Center.

“The feedback we have received from fans and former basketball letterwinners was that we needed to add more tradition and historical elements to the Colonial Center,” said USC Athletics Director Eric Hyman. “There is no doubt that when fans enter the Colonial Center they will quickly see the great tradition of our basketball programs.”

Prior to the start of the season, the Athletics Department also added street banners outside the arena featuring Gamecock Basketball Greats, large banners inside the front lobby showcasing 1957 National Scoring Champion Grady Wallace, 1981 National Scoring Champion Zam Fredrick, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and former Gamecock Shannon Johnson and South Carolina’s all-time leading women’s scorer Sheila Foster.

In addition, above the cases for South Carolina’s retired jerseys, a new Hall of Fame mural has been installed featuring all of the Gamecocks honored as members of the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Once fans enter the seating area, they will see the retired jerseys as well as postseason and championship banners for the men’s and women’s teams hanging from the rafters.