Davidson Begins Play in the Charleston Classic Thursday Against South Florida

Davidson Wildcats (0-1) vs. South Florida Bulls (2-0)
Davidson Wildcats vs. La Salle Explorers or South Carolina Gamecocks
Charleston Classic

Dates: Nov. 19-20, 2009
Time: 7 p.m. Nov. 19; 7 or 9:30 p.m. Nov. 20
Site: Carolina First Arena (5,100 capacity) - Charleston, S.C.
Audio: John Kilgo calls the action on the Davidson Radio Network (1350 AM, 95.7 FM and online at www.DavidsonWildcats.com)
Video: None
Web sites: Davidson (DavidsonWildcats.com), South Florida (gousfbulls.com), La Salle (goexplorers.com), South Carolina (gamecocksonline.com)

Full game notes (PDF)

Layup Line
• The Wildcats travel to Charleston, S.C., to open a three-game stretch in the Charleston Classic at Carolina First Arena.
• Davidson's tournament begins Thursday against South Florida at 7 p.m.
• The 'Cats have played one game in Carolina First Arena, which opened last year, a 79-75 Davidson victory over College of Charleston before a capacity crowd.
• Tonight's contest starts a stretch in which the Wildcats play five games in 10 days.
• Davidson will meet either La Salle or South Carolina in its second game of the tournament Friday, Nov. 20, at either 7 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.
• The Wildcats are coming off a 73-62 season-opening loss at No. 11/10 Butler in Hinkle Fieldhouse last Saturday.
• Davidson returns 10 lettermen and two starters from last year's team, which posted a 27-8 record and split two games in the postseason NIT.
• The Wildcats lost 59 percent of their scoring and 44 percent of their rebounding from the 2008-09 squad.
• The personnel losses are nothing new for the Wildcats. Davidson lost seven seniors and four starters from its 2006 NCAA?Tournament team and managed to post a 29-5 record and advance to the NCAA?Tourney in 2007.
• South Florida is 2-0 and coming off a 66-49 home victory against Virginia Monday.
• The Bulls return eight lettermen and three starters from last year's squad that went 9-22 overall.

Series History vs. South Florida
• The 'Cats and Bulls have met just once on the hardwood, a 96-70 Davidson loss in 2000 in the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• The contest was the 2000-01 season opener for Davidson, which went on to post a 15-17 record.
• Jason Dickens led the 'Cats with 25 points off the bench on 10-of-12 shooting. Emeka Erege scored 13 points, and Martin Ides netted 10.
• The Wildcats committed 25 turnovers.
• Altron Jackson led the Bulls with 32 points, and B.B. Waldon posted 26 points and eight rebounds.

Series History vs. La Salle
• Davidson has never played La Salle in basketball.

Series History vs. South Carolina
• The Gamecocks lead the all-time series, which dates back to 1909, 39-26.
• The teams met in the first round of the 2009 Postseason NIT with Davidson taking a 70-63 victory in Colonial Life Arena behind 32 points from Stephen Curry.
• Andrew Lovedale added 17 points and nine rebounds for the 'Cats, and Will Archambault collected eight points and six rebounds.
• Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 18 points and four assists, while Mike Holmes added 12 points and eight rebounds.
• Davidson shot 47.1 percent for the game and 54.2 percent in the second half.
• The Wildcats held South Carolina to 37.5 percent shooting in the game, including 25 percent in the first 20 minutes.
• The win broke an eight-game losing skid against South Carolina, a streak that began in 1986.
• The two teams have never played on a neutral floor.

Charleston Memories
• Davidson has fond memories of tournaments in Charleston.
• The Wildcats won three straight Southern Conference tournament titles in Charleston. All three tournaments were played in the North Charleston Coliseum.
• The 'Cats also won the 2002 SoCon Tournament in the North Charleston Coliseum.
• Davidson is 14-3 in SoCon Tournament games in Charleston and has won 11 straight games in the city.

Leftovers from Butler
• Allison's 13 points were a career high.
• Davidson fell to 4-2 in its last six season openers
• It was the sixth time the 'Cats have opened a season against a ranked team during the tenure of coach Bob McKillop.
• Davidson fell to 67-30 in all-time season openers and 9-12 under McKillop.
• Davidson won all 20 games when it outrebounded its opponent in 2008-09. The 'Cats owned a 31-27 edge on the glass against the Bulldogs.

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