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Stadium:
Colonial Center
The Colonial Center is a multi-purpose arena in Columbia, South Carolina, primarily home to the University of South Carolina men's and women's basketball teams. Opened in 2002 as a replacement for the Carolina Coliseum, the 18,000 seat arena is also host various events like conferences, concerts, and graduation ceremonies throughout the year. It is the largest arena in the state of South Carolina and the tenth largest college arena. The naming rights are held by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company of Columbia, a subsidiary of Chattanooga, Tennessee-based insurance company Unum.

Team History:
The University of South Carolina was a member of the Southern Conference for men's basketball and football from 1922 until it became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953. The Gamecocks, however, left the ACC in 1971 after many disputes over the ACC's recruiting regulations and the political dominance of the conference's four North Carolina schools. USC then competed as an independent until 1983 when it joined the Metro Conference for all sports except football and men's soccer. In 1991, the Gamecocks joined the Southeastern Conference when it increased its membership to 12 schools and split into two divisions, adding the University of Arkansas to its Western Division and the University of South Carolina to its Eastern Division. Men's soccer continued to compete as an independent since the SEC does not sponsor men's soccer, but joined the Metro Conference for the 1993 and 1994 seasons and has competed in Conference USA since 2005.

Season Preview:
South Carolina coach Dave Odom said 2007 Mr. Basketball for the state Mike Holmes will be admitted to school and eligible to play for the Gamecocks next season. Holmes could be the third Mr. Basketball from the state on the court for the Gamecocks next winter. South Carolina transfers Devan Downey from Cincinnati and Zam "Buck'' Fredrick III from Georgia Tech also won the award in high school and will be eligible to play when the season starts. "This has been a long process, but a fair one. I'm really proud of Michael and the way he handled himself through the process. Many other signees might have become discouraged, but Michael never wavered,'' Odom said in a statement Tuesday. Holmes led Lee County High to back-to-back state titles, averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds a game in his senior season. Holmes said he chose South Carolina because he wanted to stay close to home. He also has good memories of playing on the Gamecocks' home floor at the Colonial Center as Lee County made the state title game four years in a row.

Official Site:
uscsports.cstv.com