Nov. 3, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Gamecock men’s basketball team joined forces with the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center on Monday, holding an open practice for University of South Carolina students at the facility. The squad participated in various offensive and defensive drills, followed by a full court scrimmage in front of the crowd. All this in preparation for the first official men’s basketball event of the season on Friday, as South Carolina hosts Kentucky Wesleyan in an exhibition contest at Colonial Life Arena at 7 p.m.

Below are a few comments from South Carolina head coach Darrin Horn on the event.

On the day’s practice at the Strom Thurmond facility…
“I think more than anything what we really wanted to do is reach out to the students and let them know how important to us they are. Our team is a part of the student body and when we get into Colonial Life Arena we need the students to be there in full force because that’s what drives the energy in every building across the country in college basketball. There is no doubt in my mind that we have the kind of student body here than can be one of the best fan groups for students in the country.”

On the student support for the men’s basketball team…
“It’s great to have the students out tonight. We just want to thank them for coming out because they are so important for what we do. In our mind, they are a part of our team, an extension of who we are and what we do. We look forward to continuing to build not only our student crowd but our relationship with them and their understanding that they are as important as anything to us.”