At this point in the year, with the unpredictability of playing a few days, or perhaps weeks in advance, it seems unlikely that a men’s basketball game between South Carolina and Clemson will be played in the 2020-21 season.
With Gamecocks (1-2) turned off twice in the last 21 days, with five games lost, head coach Frank Martin said that another postponed game is more priority than the rivalry game between the Gamecocks and the Tigers. They were due to meet in Columbia on December 19.
South Carolina should be in Lexington, Ky. Tuesday to begin its SEC schedule against Kentucky. Due to the South Carolina state program, the game was postponed last week.
“We have league games starting on January 6 (now),” said Martin on Tuesday. “Once it arrives, there are two games a week, every week. Now, there is a window open at the end of the season that we are saving to replace league games. Now, before I can worry about Clemson, Wofford, SC State and (George Washington), I have to find a way to start the Kentucky game. I do not believe that we have set a date yet, to keep that game at the end of the season, but that is the main priority. “
Unless South Carolina finds the room to reschedule Clemson or the other three non-conference games that were not played in December, Florida A&M’s hosting at 3:30 pm on Saturday will be the fourth and final game outside the regular season conference.
“I’m trying to play the game that is already scheduled and we can’t get on the court,” said Martin. “When I put the list and prioritize things, reprogramming Kentucky is number one. After doing this, we can try to discover the common windows. Clemson is in the same boat. They are at a conference. They are not going to schedule us two days before playing against Virginia to make three games in a week. That is not what we are going to do, unless there is a common window that opens as the season progresses. “
Even if the Gamecocks wanted to give up their hired game with Florida A&M, playing Clemson on January 2 would not be possible. The Tigers (6-1, 0-1 ACC) are in Miami that afternoon, their second conference game of the season. If Gamecocks and Tigers do not meet on the basketball court, it will be the first season that they have not met since the 1977-78 season.
South Carolina matches played
Saturday, November 28 – Liberty (Lost, 78-62)
Sun, November 29 – Tulsa (Won, 69-58)
Saturday, December 5 – Houston (Lost, 77-67)
Games canceled / postponed
Wednesday, November 25 – Coker (exhibition)
Thursday, December 10 – Wofford
Monday, December 14 – George Washington
Saturday, December 19 – Clemson
Wednesday, December 23 – State of SC
Tuesday, December 29 – in Kentucky
Scheduled games
Saturday, January 2 – Florida A&M – 3:30 pm
Wednesday, January 6 – Texas A&M – 9:00 pm
Saturday, January 9 – at Ole Miss – 18h
Tuesday, January 12 – Tennessee – 19h
Saturday, January 16 – at LSU – 8:30 pm
Tuesday, January 19th – in Missouri – 19h
Saturday, January 23 – Auburn – 12:00
Wednesday, January 27 – Georgia 19h
Saturday, January 30 – in Vanderbilt – 8:30 pm
Wednesday, February 3 – in Florida – 6:30 pm
Saturday, February 6 – State of Mississippi – 3:30 pm
Tuesday, February 9 – Alabama – 6:30 pm
Saturday, February 13 – Ole Miss – 18h
Tuesday, February 16 – in Tennessee – 8:30 pm
Saturday, February 20 – Missouri – 2pm or 4pm
Wednesday, February 24 – in the state of Mississippi – 19h
Saturday, February 27 – in Georgia – 1 pm
Tuesday, March 2 – Arkansas – 6:30 pm
March 10-14 – SEC Tournament (Nashville)
*Bold denotes home games *
On Monday, during the conference call with SEC coaches, Martin said the team would resume normal training on Wednesday. On Zoom with local reporters on Tuesday morning, he mentioned that if the Gamecocks had a game tonight, nine of the 15 players in the squad would be released to take the field. That number can grow in the run up to Saturday afternoon, when players come out of isolation (if the test is positive for COVID-19) or quarantine (contact tracking) and clear the acclimatization period before fully practicing.