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South Carolina (7-0) vs. South Florida (2-6)
WATCH: 4:00 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Despite South Florida's 2-6 mark to open the 2015-16 season, Saturday's match-up at Colonial Life Arena has the makings of a memorable afternoon.
The game will feature two Hispanic-American coaches, Frank Martin and Orlando Antigua. Antigua, a longtime John Calipari assistant at Memphis and Kentucky, is in his second year at the helm in Tampa. The game is believed to be the first two Hispanic-American head coaches to lead their team against one another.
Saturday shows the increased diversity this sport needs, but it also represents the good work an Hispanic-American coach as put into a program. A win on Saturday would put the Gamecocks at 8-0 on the year, matching the school's best start since 2003 - the last year USC made the NCAA Tournament.
South Carolina enters Saturday as the only undefeated team in the Southeastern Conference. Last time out, the Gamecocks were able to play all 15 players in a 76-53 home win over Western Carolina. Martin's team started out rough, turning the ball over eight times in the game's first 6:30. The defense buckled down and shots from the outside began to fall as South Carolina pulled away. They held WCU to just 28.4 percent shooting from the floor as the Gamecocks made 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point land. Carolina currently ranks fourth in the SEC, and 42nd nationally, in three-point shooting (.397). Outside shooting has been a major concern during Martin's tenure, but the results are very promising early on in year four.
This is the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs and will be the Bulls first trip to Columbia since the 2004-05 season. Most recently, USF suffered a 67-58 loss at Delaware on Thursday night.
Seemingly every Gamecock opponent so far this season has been powered by a strong backcourt - the Bulls are no different. South Florida has two players averaging double-figure scoring this season and both make up their backcourt. Freshman guard Jahmal McMurray leads the team with 12.4 points per game, but sophomore guard Roddy Peters' impact isn't far behind with his 11.1 points per game and his team-high 4.4 assists per outing. The two guards will lead Antigua's dribble-drive attack against the Gamecocks on Saturday.
South Carolina received votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches Polls this week. If the Gamecocks win Saturday, don't be surprised if a little number next to their name appears in the next couple of weeks - and oh yeah, start thinking about dancin'.