South Carolina men’s basketball announces full 2023 non-conference schedule

Sam Wolfe/Special To The State

The second slate of the Lamont Paris men’s basketball era is nearly complete.

The Gamecocks announced their full 2023-24 non-conference schedule Wednesday, a lineup featuring three programs that appeared in the NCAA tournament over the last three seasons: Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Clemson.

South Carolina opens the season against USC Upstate on Nov. 6 and faces its first true test in a Nov. 10 neutral-site game against Virginia Tech in Charlotte. Those teams haven’t played each other since 1997, a 74-73 Gamecocks win.

The Gamecocks will host Notre Dame for the inaugrual SEC/ACC Challenge, a matchup previously announced in June.

Paris and Co. will close out the nonconference schedule with a four-game homestand, including the fourth-ever meeting with Elon — a program the Gamecocks haven’t seen since 2012.

An exhibition match will be announced at a later date.

Paris will debut a new lineup after losing seven players during the offseason, including second-round NBA Draft pick and SEC All-Freshman Team forward GG Jackson and starting guard Chico Carter Jr.

Paris has added nine new players — five freshmen and four graduate transfers — to his roster for 2023-24 after an 11-21 (4-14 SEC) debut season.

South Carolina already knows its home/road assignments for SEC games, but the specific dates and times for those games won’t be released until a later date.

South Carolina 2023-24 basketball schedule

Home games in bold

Nov. 6 - USC Upstate

Nov. 10 - Virginia Tech (Hall of Fame Series in Charlotte)

Nov. 13 - VMI

Nov. 17 - DePaul (Arizona Tip-Off Tournament)

Nov. 19 - Grand Canyon or San Francisco (Arizona Tip-Off Tournament)

Nov. 28 - Notre Dame (SEC/ACC Challenge), 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 - George Washington

Dec. 6 - at Clemson

Dec. 9 - at East Carolina, 4 p.m.

Dec. 16 - Charleston Southern

Dec. 19 - Winthrop

Dec. 22 - Elon

Dec. 30 - Florida A&M

SEC home opponents (dates/times TBA): Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Vanderbilt

SEC road opponents (dates/times TBA): Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Texas A&M