Nov. 29, 2017

South Carolina vs. Temple

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina travels to New York City on Thursday to face Temple in the Second Annual Under Armour Reunion event at Madison Square Garden. The contest will mark Carolina’s first in the historic venue since posting a 77-70 win over Florida in the Elite Eight last March to advance to the Final Four.

STARTING FIVE

> South Carolina hits the road for the second time this week, setting its sights on The Big Apple for the Second Annual Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden. The Gamecocks also played in the event last season, suffering a 67-64 loss to Seton Hall.
> Thursday’s game marks the sixth away from home for the Gamecocks in the first seven games of the season.
> Junior forward Chris Silva looks to build on his 26-point, 10-rebound performance in the win at FIU. His 26 points, and 10 made field goals were both career highs, while his 10 rebounds marked his third double-figure rebound performance of the season.
> Sophomore forward Maik Kotsar had one of the best games of his career in the win at FIU, he matched his career high with 16 points, while pulling down six rebounds and dishing a career high six assists.
> The last time South Carolina played at Madison Square Garden, the Gamecocks captured their school record 26th win of the season with a 77-70 win over Florida in the 2017 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, punching Carolina’s ticket to its first Final Four.

HEADLINES

> South Carolina is in its 110th season of varsity basketball in 2017-18.
> South Carolina advanced to its first Final Four in 2016-17, which included posting its first NCAA Tournament win since the 1973 campaign when it tallied a 93-73 win over Marquette in the First Round.
> The Gamecocks finished the 2016-17 campaign with a 26-11 overall record. The 26 wins were a program record.
> Among active Division I head coaches, South Carolina’s Frank Martin holds the sixth-highest NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.667) behind only Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Kentucky’s John Calipari, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Kansas’ Bill Self.
> Over the course of the last three seasons (2015-16-present), the Gamecocks are 24-15 (.615) combined in games played away from home (away/neutral).
> South Carolina compiled 51 wins over the course of the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
> Entering the 2017-18 campaign, Frank Martin has led his team to at least 20 wins in seven of 10 seasons.
> Following two games away from home this week, the Gamecocks will return home to play six of their next eight games in the friendly confines of Colonial Life Arena.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

> The South Carolina starting five had a strong outing in Monday’s matchup win at FIU, scoring 74 of Carolina’s 78 points, let by Silva’s game high and career best, 26 points.
> At least four have scored in double figures in all five Gamecock wins this season.
> South Carolina is holding opponents to just 60.7 points per game, which leads the SEC (games through Nov. 27) and ranks 26th nationally.
> Silva’s 14.0 points per game lead three Carolina players averaging double-figure points, as grad transfer guard Frank Booker and sophomore forward Maik Kotsar each average 11.0 per game.
> Booker has been on an absolute tear from beyond the arc through the first six games, connecting on 17-of-42 attempts (40.5%) from 3-point range, including a season high 4-of-8 attempts at FIU. His 2.8 made 3s per game is tied for sixth in the SEC.
> Junior guard Hassani Gravett dished seven assists in Monday’s win over FIU. He is averaging 5.3 per game, which is second in the SEC and is 53rd nationally. He has at least five assists in each of the last four games.

SCOUTING THE OWLS

> Temple is led by head coach Fran Dunphy – one of 25 active coaches with at least 500 wins – in his 12th season with the Owls. Prior to his time at Temple, Dunphy was the head coach at Penn.
> The Owls began the season 3-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign, before suffering a loss at La Salle on Sunday.
> Temple posted three wins, victories over Old Dominion, Auburn and Clemson, to claim the 2017 Charleston Classic title on Nov. 19.
> Temple ranks among the nation’s best, hitting 81.2% of its attempts from the foul line – seventh nationally (games through Nov. 27).
> Junior guard Shizz Alston Jr., leads three averaging double figures with 18.3 points per game. Quinton Rose (17.5) and Obi Enechionyia (15.5) also average double digits entering Thursday’s matchup with South Carolina.
> Temple’s 3-point field goal defense is also very good, the Owls are holding opponents to just 27.8% (27-97) from beyond the arc this season, 31st nationally.

BIG APPLE GAMECOCKS

> South Carolina has a storied history with the city of New York, as Gamecock greats Frank McGuire, Mike Dunleavy, John Roche, Tom Owens, and several others call the Big Apple home. Assistant coach Chuck Martin grew up in the Bronx, graduate transfer Wes Myers is a native of Brooklyn, and the list goes on. The Gamecocks have also had success at MSG. Carolina has played games at the Mecca of Basketball throughout its history, playing for example in the Holiday Festival Tournament at MSG in the late 1960’s, capturing two NIT championships at The Garden in 2005 and again in 2006, and of course last season’s two NCAA Tournament wins over Baylor and Florida during the magical run to the Final Four.

UP NEXT

> South Carolina finally returns home to Columbia to host three-straight non-conference matchups at Colonial Life Arena, beginning with Saturday’s matchup vs. UMass. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. ET, and the contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+.