The 2021-22 USC men’s basketball schedule is starting to take shape and earlier today the Gamecocks announced another piece to their non-conference puzzle. South Carolina revealed that it will face Princeton in the Asheville Championship on November 12th when the tournament begins at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, NC. The four-team field also features a matchup between Minnesota and Western Kentucky. The event will air on the ESPN family of networks on November 12th and 14th.
“I’m extremely excited for our team to be a part of the inaugural Asheville Championship,” Gamecock head coach Frank Martin stated in the school’s release announcing USC’s inclusion in the tournament. “The event’s proximity to our state and campus will allow our great fans the opportunity to come and support us.”
Carolina’s meeting versus Princeton will mark the seventh all-time between the two schools, and the first since the 2008-09 campaign when the Gamecocks claimed an 84-58 road win in the series. Following its matchup with the Tigers, Carolina will square off against either Minnesota or Western Kentucky on November 14th. USC has faced the Golden Gophers just twice in its history with Carolina capturing wins in both meetings during the late 1970’s. South Carolina owns a 6-1 all-time record versus Western Kentucky, last facing the Hilltoppers during the 2010-11 campaign.
Last week, the Gamecocks learned their SEC opponents for the upcoming season. That slate includes contests against permanent opponents, Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee, along with Auburn and Vanderbilt in home-and-home series. In addition to the home-and-home contests, Carolina will also entertain Florida, Kentucky, LSU and Missouri at Colonial Life Arena in 2022.
