CLEMSON — Clemson and South Carolina could play each in tiddlywinks and the Palmetto State would stop to watch.
It is no secret—and I am being nice here—Clemson fans dislike South Carolina fans and South Carolina fans dislike Clemson. And though football is the sport that gets most of the attention in this rivalry, it does not hurt to have a men’s basketball game have so much on the line when the 24th-ranked Tigers take on the Gamecocks Wednesday at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Clemson is 7-0 for the first time since 2008, while the Gamecocks are 7-0 for the first time since 2016. This is the first time in the history of the rivalry, which began in 1912, that both teams come into the game undefeated this deep into a season.
“Football season has taken a little bit of a breather and, hopefully, folks have tuned into both teams because we both have some quality wins,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said.
The Tigers, of course, beat South Carolina on the gridiron back on Nov. 25, and like Brownell said this game has a little more pizzazz than normal because of the teams’ hot start, but also because of who they have beaten.
Clemson went on the road last week and knocked off a ranked Alabama team in the ACC/SEC Challenge and then opened ACC competition with a road win at Pitt this past Saturday. The Tigers also got wins over a good UAB team and a Boise State team that has made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two years.
As for the Gamecocks, they have wins home wins over Viginia Tech and Notre Dame, as well as a win over DePaul in the Arizona Tipoff.
“They have been playing well. They won a tournament out in Arizona,” Brownell said. “We won our tournament in Ashville. So, if you have been following the teams, you have seen good basketball and both teams playing well.
“I am optimistic that we will have a great crowd and that there will be a lot of folks watching on TV, as well, supporting both teams.”
Besides their hot starts, fans of the rivalry are paying a little more attention to the basketball rivalry because Clemson and South Carolina moved the game back from where it had been played for the last decade or so.
In recent years, the game has been played either on the same weekend or the weekend after the football game. With Clemson Football playing in the ACC Championship Game in most of those years, as well, the Clemson-Carolina basketball game has been an afterthought.
Not this year.
“Because football is still not in full go when it is in the first week of the season, everybody has one and a half eyes on football and half an eye on basketball,” Brownell said. “Now, at least, you can take your eyes off football a little bit and watch this game.
“It is going to be a great game. Both groups of players are playing unbelievably well, and they are fun teams to watch. So, I think just kind of getting (this game) a little later in the season helps with that and it also let’s both teams settle their teams.”
The Tigers and Gamecocks tip off at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The game will be televised on the ACCN. Clemson has won four of the last six meetings and Brownell is 6-6 overall against the Gamecocks.
To honor Clemson’s special senior class Dear Old Clemson is sellingfootballs signed by 7 of Clemson’s Avengers for only $100. These limited edition footballs are signed by Thomas, Orhorhoro, Davis, Mascoll, Henry, Murphy and Williams. Get one while supplies last.
