Gamecock Gameday: No. 22/20 South Carolina Hosts Clemson Wednesday

Dec. 20, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nationally-ranked South Carolina will host Clemson at Colonial Life Arena in the 167th meeting all-time between the two schools on the hardwood. The Gamecocks look to extend their win streak to three in the series in Wednesday’s nationally broadcast matchup on ESPNU.

PALMETTO SERIES

The winner of Wednesday’s game will earn that school another point in the Certified SC Grown Palmetto Series between South Carolina and Clemson. The 2016-17 series is currently tied at 5-5 after the Gamecock women’s basketball team posted an 83-61 win over the Tigers in Columbia last Thursday. In the inaugural Palmetto Series (2015-16), the Gamecocks took the title, 10-5.

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.
– The Gamecocks are ranked No. 22 in this week’s AP poll and 20th in the USA Today Coaches Poll after splitting a pair of games last week, suffering a neutral site loss to Seton Hall before posting an 11-point win on the road at USF. The Gamecocks have risen to as high as 15th in the AP poll this season, which was the highest rank for Carolina since the Gamecocks were ranked 14th in the final poll of the 1997-98 campaign.
– The Gamecocks rebounded from their first loss of the season with an 11-point road win at USF last Saturday. Trailing by six at halftime, the duo of senior guard Duane Notice and sophomore guard PJ Dozier recorded 28 of Carolina’s 46 second-half points to help the Gamecocks earn the road win. Carolina committed a season low seven turnovers in the contest, forcing 17 by the Bulls, and collecting nine steals and posting 16 points off of turnovers.
– Sophomore guard PJ Dozier has recorded four-straight games with at least 20 points entering Wednesday’s game vs. Clemson, posting a career high 23 in the win at USF.
– Rookie guard Rakym Felder had one of his top performances of the season at USF, scoring a season high 11 points, hitting three 3s, dishing five assists and playing a season high 26 minutes.
– South Carolina enters Wednesday’s matchup ranked in the top five in the country in both scoring defense (fourth, 57.7) and field goal percentage defense (third, 34.6%) (NCAA stats games through Dec. 18).
– South Carolina suffered its first loss of the season on Dec. 12 in a 67-64 decision to Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden in the Under Armour Reunion. Carolina held the Pirates to just 34.5% from the floor, but Seton Hall was solid at the free throw line, hitting 26-of-36 attempts on the night, while also holding a 49-35 upperhand on the boards in the win.
– South Carolina ranks third nationally in field goal percentage defense (games through Dec. 18), allowing opponents to hit just 34.6% from the floor this season.
– South Carolina ranks 19th in the NCAA RPI (games through Dec. 18), which is third in the SEC behind Florida (4th), and Kentucky (9th).

SCOUTING CLEMSON

– The Tigers are led by head coach Brad Brownell in his seventh season.
– Clemson is 8-2 on the year entering Wednesday’s matchup and has won six-straight, including a 67-54 road win at Alabama on Sunday.
– The Tigers also defeated SEC opponent Georgia in the season opener, 74-64.
– Five average double-figure points, led by fifth-year senior Jaron Blossomgame’s 17.6. Gabe DeVoe (11.2), Avry Holmes (11.2), Donte Grantham (10.8) and Shelton Mitchell (10.7) also contribute double figures.
– Blossomgame’s 17.6 points per game rank seventh in the ACC.
– Sidy Djitte’s 10.0 rebounds per game rank fifth in the ACC.
– Clemson ranks fourth in the country in fewest fouls per game, averaging just 13.9 per contest.
– Clemson finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 17-14 overall record, including a 10-8 mark in league games.

CLEMSON SERIES

Carolina leads the all-time series with Clemson 90-76 after posting a 65-59 win over the Tigers last season. Carolina has won two straight, and four of the last six games between the two schools. Prior to that stretch, Clemson won six in a row.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FIVE GAMES

– Sophomore guard PJ Dozier is averaging 19.8 points per game, hitting 50.6% (41-81) from the field and 40.9% (9-22) from 3-point range.
– Rookie forward Maik Kotsar is averaging 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, hitting a team best during the stretch 63.9% from the floor.
– Sophomore forward Chris Silva is averaging 2.2 blocks per game.
– Carolina has dished 70 assists compared to just 30 by its opponents during the stretch.
– Carolina has committed just 57 turnovers compared to 92 by its opponents.

BY THE NUMBERS

168 – South Carolina is 168-79 all-time at Colonial Life Arena, including a 7-0 mark this season.
108 – Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell currently ranks tied for fourth all-time with 108 career games started in the Garnet and Black. He has started every game of his Carolina career. He is three starts away from tying Alex English for third all-time with 111 career starts.
46.2% – Sophomore guard PJ Dozier is currently averaging 46.2% from the floor this season. He hit just 38.1 % from the floor during his rookie season.
16 – Dozier’s 16 made 3s this season are six more than his total of 10 from his rookie campaign.
13 – South Carolina’s 13 steals vs. FIU on Dec. 4 marked a season high in the category, surpassing the previous high of 12 vs. Syracuse.
23 – The 23 turnovers by FIU marked a season high for Gamecock opponents.
2.4 – PJ Dozier’s 2.4 steals per game leads the Gamecocks and ranks first in the SEC and 18th nationally. Dozier has five games this season with at least three steals, and collected a season high four steals vs. FIU.

UP NEXT

South Carolina will take a break for the Christmas holiday before welcoming Lander to Colonial Life Arena for a 7 p.m. ET matchup on Dec. 27. The meeting marks the second all-time between the two schools and the first since the 1988 campaign. The matchup will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network with Tom Werme (pxp) and Kyle Macy (analyst) on the call.