Gamecock Gameday: Carolina Travels To Face No. 18/16 Syracuse In Brooklyn

Nov. 24, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina is set to face its second ranked opponent this week when it travels to Brooklyn, N.Y., to face No. 18/16 Syracuse at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational. The meeting will be the fifth all-time between the two schools and the third on a neutral site.

BROOKLYN HOOPS HOLIDAY INVITE

South Carolina played three home contests in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational, posting wins vs. Holy Cross, Monmouth and SC State. Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell led the Gamecocks in scoring in each of those contests, posting 20 vs. Holy Cross, 23 in the overtime victory over Monmouth, and 22 in the victory against SC State.

GAME STORYLINES

– South Carolina is in its 109th season of varsity basketball in 2016-17.
– On the sidelines, Frank Martin is joined by associate head coach Matt Figger, assistant coaches Perry Clark and Bruce Shingler, and director of operations Andy Assaley.
– Paced by Sindarius Thornwell’s fourth 20-point game of the season, and a stifling defensive pressure throughout the game, South Carolina held No. 25/24 Michigan to just 19.2 percent (10-52) from the field en route to a 61-46 victory over the Wolverines at Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday. The Wolverines finished with just two assists after averaging 14.3 in their first four games.
– The Gamecocks held Michigan to just 19.2 percent from the field on Wednesday. It marked the fourth-straight opponent the Gamecocks have held under 40% from the field (Holy Cross: 37.8%; Monmouth: 30.8%; SC State: 30.8%; Michigan: 19.2%).
– The Gamecocks posted a 90-52 victory over visiting SC State on Nov. 18. Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell led Carolina for the fourth-straight game with a game best 22 points. Freshman forward Maik Kotsar was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and tallied 15 points, and sophomore big Chris Silva added 11. Carolina shot 50.8% (33-65) from the field, marking its third game shooting 50% or better this season.
– The Gamecocks claimed a hard-fought overtime victory over visiting Monmouth on Nov. 15, fueled by a buzzer beater jumper from sophomore guard PJ Dozier in overtime for the 70-69 win. South Carolina held Monmouth to just 23.3 percent (7-30) from the field in the opening half with stifling defense, but the Gamecock offense was unable to find its rhythm as well, hitting a slightly better 26.7 percent (8-30) in the set. The game had several scoring runs, with the team’s trading the lead late in the second half which resulted in the extra time. Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell led Carolina for the third-straight game, scoring 23 points, with nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.

SCOUTING SYRACUSE

– The Orange is led by head coach Jim Boeheim in his 41st season. He has led the program to six Final Four appearances and the 2003 National Championship.
– Syracuse has wins this season over Colgate, Holy Cross, Monmouth and South Carolina State.
– Three average double-figures entering Saturday’s matchup, led by graduate transfer guard Andrew White III’s 17.3 per game. Tyler Roberson (12.3) and John Gillon (11.8) also provide at least 10 points per game.
– Six different Syracuse players reached double-figure points in the most recent win over SC State, including a game high 15 from White III.
– On the year, Syracuse is averaging 52.4 percent from the field, and 44.6 percent from 3-point range. Orange opponents have hit just 29.2 percent from the field.

SYRACUSE SERIES

Syracuse holds a 3-1 upperhand in the all-time series with South Carolina, but the series is tied 1-1 in neutral site matchups. Carolina’s lone win in the series came on March 26, 2002, in the Postseason NIT at Madison Square Garden.

UP NEXT

South Carolina returns home to host a pair of non-conference matchups next week when Vermont (Dec. 1) and FIU (Dec. 4) travel to Colonial Life Arena. Tip time versus Vermont is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+, while the FIU contest will begin at 2 p.m. ET, also on SEC Network+.