South Carolina men’s basketball, with nine games outside the conference, begins on Wednesday, November 25, with an exhibition competition at the Coker at the Colonial Life Arena. The home game start time is 6:30 pm ET and will be broadcast on SEC Network +.
Gamecocks will then go to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic. They will play at 4 pm on ESPNEWS against Liberty on 28 November and at 1 pm or 3:30 pm on ESPN2 against TCU or Tulsa on 29 November.
Some other start times for other non-conference matches have been updated at GamecocksOnline.com.
South Carolina non-conference agenda
Wednesday, November 25: Coker (screening) – 6:30 pm on SEC + Network
Saturday, November 28: Liberty (Kansas City) – 4pm on ESPNEWS
Sun, November 29: TCU / Tulsa (Kansas City) – 1pm or 3:30 pm on ESPN2
Saturday, December 5: at No. 17 Houston – TBA
Thursday, December 10: Wofford – 7 pm on the SEC Network
Monday, December 14: in George Washington – TBA
Saturday, December 19: Clemson – TBA
Wednesday, December 23: State of SC – 19h on SEC Network
Saturday, January 2: Florida A&M – 3:30 pm on the SEC Network
* homemade games in bold
The Gamecocks will be in their ninth season under coach Frank Martin. Twelve active players from the 18-13 team from 2019-20 are back and the newcomers include senior guard Seventh Woods and striker Ja’Von Benson. Guard Ford Cooper Jr., transferred from the state of Missouri, is not eligible to play due to NCAA division one transfer rules.
On Thursday, the basketball coaches of the Southeast conference voted for eight players from the first All-SEC preseason team and nine players from the second All-SEC team. Two South Carolina Gamecocks entered the list as junior guard AJ Lawsonwas voted for the first team and second year guard of the redshirt Jermaine Couisnard was voted for the second team.
At the Colonial Life Arena this season, fans will see a new sign detailing changes in concessions, the flow of pedestrians in the lobby, the capacity of bathrooms and other information signs throughout the facility. Capacity will be reduced to approximately 3,500 seats available per game, with ticket pods in groups of two, four and six seats approximately six feet apart between pods. Facial coverage will be required for staff and fans at all times and in all areas of the arena, and customers will also be required to follow SEC and University fan safety guidelines.
Fans will also see a different setting on the court that is part of the health and safety precautions in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team benches will be moved to the opposite side of the court this season, to allow social distance for team staff, and also at the scorer’s table for positions that are critical to the games, such as the official scorer, the score operator , radio and statistical teams, and several others. Also of note, the first five rows of seats around the new court layout will not be available to spectators this season.