WBB Non-Conference: North Carolina

Who: North Carolina Tar Heels

When: December 20th, 3 p.m.

Where: Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC

• The Tar Heels finished the season 28-7 last year with a 10-4 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. North Carolina reached the semifinals of the ACC Tournament before losing to No. 4 Maryland.
• North Carolina won their opening round game in the NCAA Tournament, but lost 85-70 to Purdue in the second round.
• The Tar Heels are the preseason favorite to win their league and began the season ranked at No. 5 in the national polls.
• Senior forward Jessica Breland was named to the preseason All-ACC team and freshman Tierra Ruffin-Pratt was selected as the Preseason Rookie of the Year.
• North Carolina returns three starters from last year’s team, including Breland (14.1 ppg), junior guard Cetera DeGraffenreid (11.9 ppg) and junior guard Italee Lucas (13.9 ppg).

Season tickets for South Carolina women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. A reserved season ticket is priced at $50. You can also purchase a pack of four general admission season tickets for just $100.

MBB Non-Conference: Boston College

Who: Boston College Eagles

When: December 30, 9 p.m.

Where: Conte Forum, Chesnut Hill, MA

• Boston College finished last season with a 22-12 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but dropped a 72-55 decision to Southern Cal.
• Boston College returns its entire starting lineup from last season minus All-ACC guard Tyrese Rice (16.9 ppg).  The four returners are a veteran group – combining for 136 career starts.
• 6-5 junior Rakim Sanders (12.9 ppg) and 6-6 junior Corey Raji (9.9 ppg) are poised to become standouts in the competitive ACC. Junior guard Biko Paris takes over the point guard duties from Rice.
• Boston College was picked to finish ninth in the league this season.

South Carolina men’s basketball season tickets starting at just $125 are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office.  Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. To purchase single game tickets to South Carolina’s non-conference matchups, contact the Ticket Office.

MBB Non-Conference: Furman

Who: Furman Paladins

When: December 21st, 7 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

• Furman finished the season with a 6-24 record and a 4-16 mark in the Southern Conference.
• The Paladins struggled with injuries last season with a lineup that missed 68 games due to health problems.
• 6-2 junior Jordan Miller is Furman’s leading returning scorer (13.8 ppg). Team captain Darryl Evans returns after missing last season with a torn ACL. 6-6 junior Amu Saaka, a transfer from South Florida, is expected to make a major impact as well for the Paladins.

South Carolina men’s basketball season tickets starting at just $125 are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office.  Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. To purchase single game tickets to South Carolina’s non-conference matchups, contact the Ticket Office.

WBB Non-Conference: Wake Forest

Who: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

When: December 17th, 7 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

• The Demon Deacons finished last season with a 19-12 overall record and a 5-9 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference action. Wake Forest earned a bid to the NIT, but lost to Georgetown in their 1st round game.
• Wake was picked to finish 10th in the competitive ACC this season. The team returns three starters from last year’s squad.
• What’s a Demon Deacon? – Wake Forest was founded by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention (hence, the deacon part of the name). In the mid-1920s, a sportswriter called them the Demon Deacons after their “devilish” play and fighting spirit.

Season tickets for South Carolina women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. A reserved season ticket is priced at $50. You can also purchase a pack of four general admission season tickets for just $100.

MBB Non-Conference: Wofford

Who: Wofford Terriers

When: December 19th, 7 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

• From the Southern Conference, Wofford finished last season with a 16-13 overall record and a 12-8 record in conference action.
• The Terriers return all five starters from last season, including Noah Dahlman (17.8 ppg, 6,4 rpg) and guard Junior Salters (15.0 ppg, 3.7 rbg). Both players were named to the preseason all-conference team.
• Dahlman led the league in field goal percentage last year (.601) and was an all-conference selection.
• Wofford was picked to finish second in the South Division of the league behind College of Charleston.

South Carolina men’s basketball season tickets starting at just $125 are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office.  Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. To purchase single game tickets to South Carolina’s non-conference matchups, contact the Ticket Office.

WBB Non-Conference: N.C. State

Who: N.C. State Wolfpack

When: December 13th, 2 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

• The Wolfpack finished last year with a 13-17 record and a 5-9 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference action. The losing record was just the fifth losing campaign since the program began in 1974.
• First year head coach Kellie Harper is at the helm after N.C. State’s legendary coach Kay Yow passed away last spring.
• The Wolfpack return 11 of 12 players from last season, including four seniors. Leading scorer Shayla Fields (17.4 ppg) is gone, but Sharnise Beal (11.5 ppg) and Nikitta Gartrell (10.9 ppg) lead returning players in scoring.
• Sophomore Bonae Holston was the ACC’s Sixth Player of the Year last season.
• The N.C. State program has had 22, 20-win season and has reached the NCAA Tournament 20 times.

Season tickets for South Carolina women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. A reserved season ticket is priced at $50. You can also purchase a pack of four general admission season tickets for just $100.

MBB Non-Conference: Richmond

Who: Richmond Spiders

When: December 16th, 7 p.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

• Hailing from the A-10 Conference, the Spiders finished last season with a 20-16 overall mark and a 9-7 record in conference action. Richmond reached the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational Tournament, losing 81-69 to UTEP.
• Richmond returns four starters from last year’s squad, including junior point guard Kevin Anderson. Anderson averaged 16.6 ppg and earned second-team all-conference honors. He was the league’s Rookie of the Year in his freshman campaign.
• Redshirt junior Dan Geriot returns after missing all of last season with a knee injury. He averaged 14.3 ppg and 5.5 rbg in his sophomore season.
• Richmond is picked to finish in third in the A-10, their highest preseason ranking since joining the conference. Lindy’s College Basketball Preview ranks Anderson as the 17th best point guard in the nation and has Geriot as the 23rd best center.

South Carolina men’s basketball season tickets starting at just $125 are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office.  Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. To purchase single game tickets to South Carolina’s non-conference matchups, contact the Ticket Office.

WBB Non-Conference: High Point

Who: High Point Panthers

When: December 2nd, 11 a.m.

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

• The Panthers finished last season with a 15-16 overall record and a 10-6 mark in the Big South Conference.
• High Point was picked to win the Big South Conference this season. Junior Jurica Hargraves was selected as the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year and joined junior Mackenzie Maier on the preseason all-conference team.
• The Panthers return all five starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s squad. Hargraves, a first-team all-conference selection last year, averaged 13.5 points per game.

Season tickets for South Carolina women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. A reserved season ticket is priced at $50. You can also purchase a pack of four general admission season tickets for just $100.

MBB Non-Conference: Clemson

Who: Clemson Tigers

When: December 6th, 1 p.m.

Where: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC

• Clemson finished the ’08-’09 season with a 23-9 record and a 9-7 mark in ACC play. The Tigers reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Michigan 62-59.
• Clemson handed Duke its worst loss in 13 years last year at Littlejohn, defeating the Blue Devils 74-47. However, the Tigers lost eight of their last twelve after the game.
• The Tigers lost three starters from last year’s squad, but return ACC Player of the Year candidate Trevor Booker. A senior forward, Booker averaged 15.3 ppg last season. He also was a member of Team USA this summer at the World University Games and helped the Americans to a bronze medal finish. Basketball Times named Booker a preseason first-team All-American.
• Clemson is picked to finish third in the ACC this year. The Tigers are ranked in several preseason polls ranging from No. 13 on CBSSports.com to No. 24 by Athlon Magazine.

South Carolina men’s basketball season tickets starting at just $125 are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office.  Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. To purchase single game tickets to South Carolina’s non-conference matchups, contact the Ticket Office.

WBB Non-Conference: San Diego State

Who: San Diego State Aztecs

When: November 28th, 1 p.m.

Where: U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

• The Aztecs finished last season with a 24-9 record overall and a 13-3 mark in conference action in the Mountain West Conference. San Diego State reached the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Stanford 77-49 after a 76-70 win over DePaul.
• The Aztecs were picked to win the MWC this season were listed as No. 22 in Lindy’s College and Sporting News’ preseason polls. ESPN.com listed San Diego State as a “team to watch” this year.
• San Diego State returns four starters and 10 letterwinners from last year’s squad. Among the returners is last year’s leading scorer and senior guard Jene Morris. Morris averaged 16.1 ppg, 2.9 rbg and 3.3 steals per game.
• Morris was named to the preseason watch lists for both national player of the year awards the Wade Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award. She was also an honorable mention All-American last season.
• San Diego State assistant coach Fred Chmiel was a member of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley’s staff at Temple from 2006-2008.

Season tickets for South Carolina women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now at the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS. A reserved season ticket is priced at $50. You can also purchase a pack of four general admission season tickets for just $100.