Gamecocks release men’s non-conference schedule

Frank Martin’s fourth non-conference schedule has several maybes – it may not look that daunting at first glance, but South Carolina could face several strong teams.

The Gamecocks released their non-conference slate on Tuesday and there’s only one NCAA tournament team from last year on it – St. John’s. But USC will play two other postseason teams (Norfolk State (CIT) and Oral Roberts (CBI)) and could play two others (Hofstra (CBI), Tulsa (NIT)) in addition to a strong Florida State squad and an Indiana State team that returns its top three scorers.

Overall, it’s a schedule conducive to getting USC to the postseason. The Gamecocks just missed last year with a 17-16 finish and with a talented five-man class supplementing Martin’s first recruited class of seniors, they want to take the next step.

USC has eight home games and five on neutral courts, one of those at Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Clemson, Dec. 18, as the Tigers’ Littlejohn Coliseum is being renovated this season). St. John’s made the NCAA tournament last season but is in its first year under coach Chris Mullin, and star Chris Obekpa transferred to UNLV. Memphis has been a respected program but missed the postseason last year, and lost top scorer Austin Nichols.

The Gamecocks will face DePaul in the first round of the Paradise Jam and either Florida State or Hofstra in the second. The Seminoles feature freshman All-ACC selection Xavier Rathan-Mayes and signed three state players of the year, while the Pride won 20 games last year and have two players averaging 33 points per game between them.

USC will also face former Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua, in his second year at South Florida. The Gamecocks have three games against first-time opponents (Norfolk State, Drexel, Francis Marion) and could have three more (Ohio, Tulsa, Indiana State).

USC hosts Division II FMU on Dec. 30, which gives Irmo’s Detrek Browning a chance to play his hometown school. It’s the second non-Division I in-state opponent USC has played under Martin, after Coker visited last year.

The season-opener against Norfolk State is the same day as USC’s football game hosting Florida (Nov. 14). Kickoff and tipoff times will be released later.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 12:58 PM.