Nov. 15, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina travels to archrival Clemson on Sunday in the annual meeting between the two schools, continuing a stretch of three out of four games away from Columbia. The Gamecocks lead the overall series, however, the Tigers have won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two schools. South Carolina continues non-conference action after a thrilling game at No. 23/25 Baylor last Tuesday as part of ESPN’s College Hoops Marathon. The Gamecocks lost by just two points to the nationally-ranked Bears, and freshman guard Sindarius Thornwell posted the first 20-point game of his career. The game vs. Clemson will be available via ESPN3 and Watch ESPN.

OPENING TIP
Date: Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013
Tipoff: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Arena: Littlejohn Coliseum (10,000)
Series: South Carolina leads, 88-75
Last Meeting: Clemson win, 64-55, on Dec. 2, 2012, in Columbia, S.C.
Broadcast: ESPN3
Talent: Mike Gleason (pxp), Paul Biancardi (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network/107.5 The Game in Columbia
Sirius: N/A; XM: N/A
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Tickets: ClemsonTigers.com
Game Notes | | Watch ESPN | @GamecockMBB on Twitter

Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 106th season of basketball.
– The Gamecocks are led by Frank Martin in his second year. Matt Figger is the associate head coach, and Perry Clark and Lamont Evans are assistant coaches. Andy Assaley is in his second year as the director of operations for the Gamecocks.
– South Carolina comes off a two-point road loss at No. 23/25 Baylor last Tuesday in non-conference action, falling 66-64 to the Bears. Sophomore forward Michael Carrera was fouled on a shot attempt at the buzzer, but the officials determined the infraction occurred after time expired. Freshman guard Sindarius Thornwell posted the first 20-point game of his young career in the Garnet and Black, and classmate, forward Demetrius Henry posted nine points, six rebounds and two blocks in the contest. Baylor now holds a 3-2 upperhand in the all-time series between the two schools.
– The Gamecocks committed just eight turnovers in the contest at Baylor, the fewest for Carolina since committing seven at Kentucky on Feb. 5, 2013.
– The Gamecocks used an 18-point effort from junior guard Ty Johnson to defeat visiting Longwood by 38 points, 82-44, on Nov. 9 in the season opener at Colonial Life Arena. Thornwell and senior guard Brenton Williams both added 14 points, sophomore forward Michael Carrera added 12 and sophomore forward Mindaguas Kacinas pulled down a career high 14 rebounds in the win. It marked the 13th-straight season-opening victory for the Gamecocks.
– Johnson received word prior to the Nov. 9 season opener that he had been granted a waiver from the NCAA allowing him to compete effective immediately. Johnson has been eligible to practice since he transferred to South Carolina from Villanova in January 2013.
– South Carolina won just two away contests combined during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. The Gamecocks look for their first non-conference road win at Clemson on Sunday since a 58-55 win, also at Littlejohn Coliseum, on Dec. 4, 2011.
– Carolina averaged 58.9 points per game in away games last season. Carrera and Williams both averaged 9.7 points in away contests a year ago.
– South Carolina shot 62.5% (15-24) during the second half of the Nov. 9 contest vs. Longwood, the best one-half percentage for the Gamecocks since hitting 71.9% (23-32) during the first half vs. Jacksonville on Dec. 7, 2012.
– South Carolina returns seven letterwinners to its squad this season, including senior guard Brenton Williams, the team’s top returning scorer from a year ago when he averaged 11.0 points per game. Also returning to the bench this season for the Garnet and Black are senior guard Bruce Ellington, who will join the team at the conclusion of the football season, sophomore forwards Michael Carrera, a 2013 SEC All-Freshman Team selection, Laimonas Chatkevicius and Mindaugas Kacinas. Sophomore guard Austin Constables and forward Brian Steele also return for Carolina.
– The Gamecocks will hold a young roster this season, welcoming seven freshmen to Columbia in forwards Demetrius Henry, Desmond Ringer, Reggie Theus Jr., and guards Duane Notice, Justin McKie, Jaylen Shaw and Sindarius Thornwell. Transfer guard Ty Johnson joined the program last January via Villanova.
– Justin McKie, son of Gamecock great BJ McKie, was named South Carolina Mr. Basketball, and also the Gatorade South Carolina Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year last spring after leading his Irmo squad to the state championship behind a 20-point, 10-rebound performance at Colonial Life Arena.
– South Carolina returns 52.1 percent of its scoring from last season and 47.3 percent of its 3-point field goals.
– Entering the season, senior guard Brenton Williams ranked fourth all-time in the Gamecock record book in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting 39.5 percent of his attempts. He paced the Gamecocks last season hitting just shy of 40 percent from beyond the arc.
– South Carolina’s non-conference schedule features 14 games, including seven home contests. Highlighting the non-conference schedule is a holiday tournament at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in late December, and a mid-day contest at Baylor as part of the ESPN College Hoops Marathon in early November. South Carolina also travels to Oklahoma State in early December for the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Scouting Clemson
The Tigers enter Sunday’s contest with a 2-0 record after defeating Stetson by 20 points in the season opener on Nov. 8, and most recently posting a 58-37 victory over visiting Delaware State on Wednesday … Clemson is led by head coach Brad Brownell in his fourth season… Junior forward K.J. McDaniels paces the squad with 15.5 points per game, while junior guard Damarcus Harrison is the only other Tiger averaging double-figures with 12.5 per outing… McDaniels also paces the squad with 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game… McDaniels is Clemson’s leading returning scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker; he led the ACC with 2.0 blocks per game last season… Clemson was 8-7 in homes games last season and is a perfect 2-0 in games played at Littlejohn Coliseum in 2013-14 … Following Sunday’s game vs. the Gamecocks, Clemson will travel to the Charleston Classic next weekend, facing Temple in its first contest at the event.

Series vs. Clemson
South Carolina owns an 88-75 upperhand in the all-time series against Clemson, but the Tigers lead the series in Clemson, 44-32. The Gamecocks have won two of the last three meetings (2010, 2011), but the Tigers had won the previous six games between the two schools dating back to the 2004 season. Sunday’s game marks the first-ever November meeting between the Gamecocks and Tigers.

By The Numbers
8 – Junior guard Tyrone Johnson struggled from the floor at Baylor, but was strong for his teammates, dishing a career high eight assists in the contest. It marked the most assists by a Gamecock since Eric Smith dished seven last season vs. SC State on Jan. 5, a span of 20 games.
19 – South Carolina has posted 19 points off of turnovers in both of its contests this season, vs. Longwood and at Baylor. That mark is well above its 14.3 points per game in the category last season.
75.0% – Though very early in the season, South Carolina ranks second in the SEC in free throw percentage at 75.0% (45-60).
29.9% – Gamecock opponents have hit just 29.9% (32-107) of their attempts from the floor this season, which leads the SEC.
5 – Johnson ranks tied for fourth in the SEC with 5.0 assists per game.

Up Next
South Carolina returns to Colonial Life Arena on Nov. 24 to host Florida International in non-conference play. The contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET start time and will be televised on Fox Sports Carolinas and SportSouth.