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COLUMBIA,  S.C. -  In his second year USC, Gamecock coach Darrin Horn has made specific adjustments to the non-conference slate with  RPI  and  strength  of  schedule  rankings  in  mind.  The  Gamecocks  will  host  eight  non-conference  contests,  with  four  road games, including contests at archrival Clemson and Boston College, as wellas participating in the highly-competitive field at the second annual Charleston Classic.

"We  are  pleased  with  the  way  our  non-conference  schedule  finalized  for  our  second  year  at  South  Carolina,"  Horn  said.  "The structure of the schedule, along with the caliber of teams we are playing fit very well into our scheduling philosophy.  Last season we competed against eight non-conference teams with an RPI above 200, this year we project that number to be cut in half.  The schedule will  be  very  competitive,  with  games  against  Clemson  and  Boston  College  on  the  road  and  Baylor  at  home.   The non-conference schedule will help us prepare for the SEC portion of the season, which will be as competitive as it's ever been."

The upcoming non-conference schedule features contests against at least seven teams that won 18 or more games last season, with six of those teams advancing to postseason play.  Three of those teams - Clemson, Boston College and Western Kentucky - competed in the NCAA Tournament last March.  South Carolina has the opportunity to play five BCS schools, compared to playing just two last season.

The Gamecocks kick off the regular season with back-to-back home contests against Alabama A&M (Nov. 13) and Georgia Southern (Nov. 16) at Colonial Life Arena, before traveling to the low-country to take part in the Second Annual Charleston Classic (Nov. 19-22).  The Gamecocks join La Salle, South Florida, Tulane, Miami (Fla.), UNC-Wilmington, Davidson and Penn State at the four-day event.  South Carolina, Davidson, Miami and Penn State each made an appearance in the Postseason NIT last March.  The Gamecocks begin tournament play against La Salle, a squad that finished the 2008-09 campaign with an 18-13 record, including a 9-7 slate in Atlantic 10 Conference action.

Game  times  and  television  details  for  the  non-conference  schedule  will  be  released  at  a  later  date.    The  Southeastern  Conference schedule, along with television details, will also be released at a later date.

2009-10 Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 13 - Alabama A&M
Nov. 16 - Georgia Southern
Nov. 19-22 - at Charleston Classic (Charleston, S.C.)
Nov. 27 - Jacksonville
Dec. 2 - Western Kentucky
Dec. 6 - at Clemson (Clemson, S.C.)
Dec. 16 - Richmond
Dec. 19 - at Wofford (Spartanburg, S.C.)
Dec. 21 - Furman
Dec. 30 - at Boston College (Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
Jan. 2 - Baylor
Jan. 5 - Longwood