July 24, 2014

8K In 8 Days Central | Click HERE For Season Ticket Deposits | It’s Great To Be A Gamecock – 8K In 8 Days

COLUMBIA, S.C. – GamecocksOnline.com will break down each of the Gamecocks’ non-conference opponents this week, following the release of the non-conference schedule on July 22. Thursday we look at potential opponents from the Charleston Classic (CharlestonClassic.com).

Akron
Head Coach: Keith Dambrot (231-107 (.683), 10 seasons at Akron/339-177 (.657), 16 seasons overall)
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 21-13, 12-6 MAC, 2nd East/4th Overall
2013-14 Postseason: MAC Tournament Semifinal, 64-60 (OT) loss to Western Michigan; CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Opening Round, lost 97-91 at IPFW.
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Season Notables: UA posted 21 or more wins for a ninth-straight season, joining the likes of Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse … Akron made its seventh-straight postseason appearance, playing in the 2014 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament … The Zips are one of just 25 programs to play in a postseason tournament in each of the last seven seasons … Demetrius “Tree” Treadwell was named First-Team All-MAC and First-Team All-District … Quincy Diggs earned Second-Team All-MAC while Jake Kretzer was named MAC Sixth Man of the Year.
Top Returners: Demetrius Treadwell (Sr. – F – 6-7 – 235 – Euclid, Ohio – Euclid HS), 15.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.9 apg … Jake Kretzer (Jr. – W – 6-7 – 215 – Waverly, Ohio – Waverly HS), 7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg … Reggie McAdams (Jr. – W – 6-7 – 210 – Elida, Ohio – Elida HS), 6.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.4 apg.

Charlotte
Head Coach: Alan Major (61-63 (.491), four seasons at Charlotte/Overall Record the same)
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 17-14/7-9 Conference USA, T-8th
2013-14 Postseason: Conference USA Tournament Quarterfinals, 86-65 loss to Louisiana Tech
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Season Notables: The 49ers won the Puerto Rico Tip-Off title with wins over Kansas State, Northeastern and Michigan … Shawn Lester was named to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off All-Tournament team … Pierria Henry earned third-team All-Conference USA honors … Henry was also named to the Conference USA All-Defensive team … Henry ranked 23rd in the nation with 5.8 assists per game … Willie Clayton ranked ninth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 3.81 offensive boards per game … Shawn Lester recorded a school-record 20 double-figure scoring games off the bench.
Top Returners: Pierria Henry (Sr. – G – 6-4 – 189 – Charleston, W.Va – South Charleston HS), 12.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg … Shawn Lester (Jr. – G – 6-4 – 189 – Mooresville, N.C. – Mooresville HS), 11.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg … Willie Clayton (Jr. – F – 6-9 – 237 – Thomasville, Ga. – Thomasville HS), 10.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg … Terrence Williams (Sr. – G – 6-4 – 203 – Charlotte, N.C. – West Mecklenburg HS), 10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg … Mike Thorne (R-Jr. – C – 6-11 – 257 – Fayetteville, N.C. – Trinity Christian), 9.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg.

Cornell
Head Coach: Bill Courtney (37-78 (.322), four seasons at Cornell/Overall Record the same)
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 2-26/1-13 Ivy, 8th
2013-14 Postseason: N/A
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Season Notables: After unexpectedly losing three starters prior to the 2013-14 season due to injury and attrition, including a pair of All-Ivy League selections, Cornell went 2-26 … The Big Red returned 2012-13 first-team All-Ivy League selection Shonn Miller and three of the team’s top five scorers from a year ago … Miller missed the season due to a shoulder injury … Devin Cherry was one of just two players in the Ivy League to average at least 14 points, four rebounds and three assists in conference play.
Top Returners: Shonn Miller (Sr. – F – 6-7 – 210 – Euclid, Ohio – St. Ignatius HS), 11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.9 bpg … Devin Cherry (Sr. – G – 6-3 – 185 – Meridian, Miss. – Meridian HS), 12.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.5 apg … Robert Hatter (So. – G – 6-2 – 165 – Houston, Texas – Westside HS), 9.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.1 apg.

Drexel
Head Coach: James Flint (314-245 (.561) 18 seasons/228-173 (.568) 13 seasons
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 16-14/8-8 CAA, 4th
2013-14 Postseason: CAA Tournament Quarterfinal loss to Northeastern, 90-81
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Season Notable: Four Drexel players averaged double figures a year ago with Chris Fouch leading the way with 18.3 points per game … Fouch finished his career at Drexel with over 1,700 career points … The Dragons were plagued by injuries last season but finished the CAA campaign with a .500 record, marking the sixth-straight season that the Dragons posted at least a .500 record in league play.
Top Returners: Major Canady (So. – G – 6-4 – 200 – Wilson, N.C. – The Kiski School (Pa.)), 2.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg … Rodney Williams (So. – F – 6-7 – 220 – Richmond, Va. – St. Christopher’s), 5.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg

Miami (Fla.)
Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (66-36 (.647) 3 seasons at Miami/536-370 (.592), 30 seasons overall)
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 17-16/7-11 ACC, 10th
2013-14 Postseason: 67-58 loss to NC State in ACC Tournament
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Season Notable: Senior Rion Brown was selected to the All-ACC Third Team by both the ACSMA and the league’s head coaches … Miami’s offensive output in ACC games came primarily from the guard position, as four guards combined for 39.4 points per game, with five forwards combining for 21.0 points per game … The Hurricanes finished the season ranked 11th in the country in scoring defense (59.5) and 21st in turnovers per game (10.2).
Top Returners: Manu Lecomte (So. – G – 6-9 – 175 – Brussels, Belgium – Athene des Pagodes), 7.7 ppg, 2.3 apg … Davon Reed (So. – G – 6-6 – 195 – Ewing, N.J. – Princeton Day School), 6.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg … Tonye Jekiri (Jr. – C – 7-0 – 235 – Hialeah, Fla. – Champagnat Catholic School), 4.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg.

Penn State
Head Coach: Patrick Chambers (38-59 (.392), 3 seasons at Penn State/80-87 (.479), 5 seasons overall)
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 16-18/6-12 B1G, T-10th
2013-14 Postseason: CBI Quarterfinals, 54-52 loss at Siena
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Season Notables: Junior guard D.J. Newbill finished second in the Big Ten in scoring (17.8 ppg) and earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors … Senior guard Tim Frazier wrapped up his PSU career as the all-time leader in career assists and became just the second player in Big Ten history to tally at least 1,500 career points, 600 assists and 500 rebounds … Penn State swept Top 25 Ohio State in two season meetings and defeated Indiana on the road … The Nittany Lions had 12 games decided by five or fewer points … PSU topped the league in two-point field-goal percentage defense (45.1) and held eight league opponents below 40 percent shooting.
Top Returners: D.J. Newbill (Sr. – 6-4 – 205 – Philadelphia, Pa. – Strawberry Mansion HS), 17.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg … Brandon Taylor (Jr. – 6-7 – 235 – Tabernacle, N.J. – Trenton Catholic), 9.2 ppg, 1.4 3FGpg, 4.9 rpg … Ross Travis (Sr. – 6-6 – 225 – Chaska, Minn. – Chaska HS), 8.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg.

Southern California
Head Coach: Andy Enfield (11-21 (.344) in 1 season at USC/52-49 (.515) in 3 seasons overall)
2013-14 Record/Conference Finish: 11-21/2-16 Pac-12, 12th
2013-14 Postseason: N/A
Final 2013-14 AP Ranking: N/A
2013-14 Notables: Junior guard Byron Wesley was sixth in the conference in scoring at 17.8 ppg … Freshman forward Nikola Jovanovic led all Pac-12 freshman in field goal percentage (.516), was eighth in scoring (8.0) and fourth in rebounding (4.4) … Freshman guard Julian Jacobs was second in steals (34) and assists (116) among Pac-12 freshman and was fourth in blocks (14) … His 116 assists were tied for the third-most by a USC freshman.
Top Returners: Nikola Jovanovic (So. – F – 6-10 – 220 – Belgrade, Serbia – Arlington Country Day School) 8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg … Julian Jacobs (So. – G – 6-3 – 180 – Las Vegas, Nev. – Desert Pines) 6.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.6 apg … Eligible sophomore transfers: Katin Reinhardt (R-So. – G – 6-5 – 210 – Dana Point, Calif. – Mater Dei/UNLV) 10.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.5 apg in 2012-13 … Darion Clark (R-So. – F – 6-7 – 235 – Conyers, Ga. – Oak Hill Academy/Charlotte) 6.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg in 2012-13.

Season ticket prices for the upcoming season remain unchanged from the 2013-14 campaign, with full season packages starting at $90. Like last season, fans can purchase lower level season tickets for $260 (Gamecock Club membership required for sections 104-106, 113-115) and University faculty and staff can buy tickets for $210. The Coke Family Section is available for $600 (four tickets). Upper level tickets are available for $200 (no Gamecock Club membership required) and faculty and staff can purchase tickets in the upper bowl for $160. End zone seating in the upper level is priced at four seats for $360.

Gamecock fans who have already renewed their season tickets for the 2014-15 campaign and those fans who purchase new or renew their season tickets during the “8K In 8 Days” campaign, are eligible to win a prize each day of the initiative. Prizes include a game-worn jersey, an autographed basketball, a $100 gift card to Garnet and Black Traditions, and the grand prize, a VIP trip with the team for an away game to an exciting destination.

To place a deposit for season tickets, fans are encouraged to visit GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets, or all 1-800-4SC-FANS. Fans should stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com for updates on the “8K In 8 Days” campaign.