2020-21 Non-Conference Schedule Released

[kingofnerf]

Following the exhibition matchup, the Gamecocks travel to the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City to face Northwestern (Sat., Nov. 28) and either TCU or Tulsa (Sun., Nov. 29) the following day.  The Gamecocks next travel to preseason American Athletic Conference favorite Houston (Sat., Dec. 5), before returning to Colonial Life Arena to host Wofford (Thurs., Dec. 10).
 
A road matchup at George Washington (Mon., Dec. 14) follows, before the Gamecocks host Clemson (Sat., Dec. 19) in Columbia in the annual meeting between the two schools.  Carolina will host SC State (Wed., Dec. 23) to conclude play before the holiday break, and will return to action with its SEC opener at Kentucky on Tue., Dec. 29.  The non-conference schedule concludes with a matchup versus Florida A&M on Jan. 2 in Columbia. 

https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2020/11/11/mens-basketball-gamecock-mens-hoops-releases-2020-21-non-conference-schedule.aspx

 

[markymark550]

Northwestern withdrew from the HOF Classic. No replacement team has been named yet. Being so close to the start of the season, they might not be able to find a replacement. 

 

[markymark550]

Liberty has been selected as the replacement.

 

[Gary]

Liberty and  South Carolina are my two favorite teams.   Kinda hate to see them play each other.   Liberty had a very good team last year, 30-4.  They lost some guys to graduation.  But they are well coached.    They will want to play slower than USC.  Should be an interesting game.  

 

[markymark550]

Liberty and  South Carolina are my two favorite teams.   Kinda hate to see them play each other.   Liberty had a very good team last year, 30-4.  They lost some guys to graduation.  But they are well coached.    They will want to play slower than USC.  Should be an interesting game.  

Lol. Liberty is one of my most disliked teams. That stems from growing up in Rock Hill and going to Winthrop games.

Ritchie McKay will have them ready to play. We should win, but I think it will be much closer than people expect.

 

[doublea1971]

Liberty has been selected as the replacement.

Liberty isn't the same 30-4 team, NCAA bubble team, that they were last year (pre-COVID, of course) - lost 3 of their most prolific scorers to graduation.  That being said, they return guard Darius McGhee, an almost 10 PPG scorer, and Elijah Cuffee on the wing (7.0PPG, 2.6 RPG).  6'7" forward Kyle Rode also had a decent Freshman year as a reserve at 4.2/2.6.

Liberty likely won't be a world beater this year, but they aren't a team to take lightly either.  Extremely well coached, and an incoming Freshman in Drake Dobbs, who led a nationally ranked high school squad to a 28-0 record last year.  Will be an interesting contest.  One that the 'Cocks SHOULD win... However, it may be a decent test for them, as Liberty is undersized, but fast.