USC women’s basketball to play preseason scrimmage vs. ACC foe. Here’s what we know

South Carolina women’s basketball will get a low-key SEC-ACC clash before its regular season officially gets underway.

The Gamecocks will play North Carolina in a scrimmage in Chapel Hill, according to a contract obtained by The State through an open records request. The scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 at Carmichael Arena, with no time declared on the contract.

The scrimmage isn’t expected to be open to the public, and it’s unknown whether either school will promote it or discuss it beyond the existence of the contract. College basketball teams for years have faced off against at least one other opponent — usually someone within the region — in what’s allowed by the NCAA but usually kept a secret by the teams.

The contract was created in May and signed by USC in July. North Carolina will provide trainers and doctors, and will fund the officials, according to the contract.

There’s no money being exchanged between the schools for the scrimmage, according to the contract, though there is a $5,000 cancellation clause if a decision to cancel the event isn’t mutual.

USC defeated the Tar Heels in the Sweet Sixteen last season 69-61. UNC was the only team to lose by fewer than 10 points in the Gamecocks’ national championship run. North Carolina finished the 2021-22 regular season as the No. 17 team in the country.

South Carolina hosts Benedict in an exhibition Oct. 31 that will be open to the public. The Gamecocks then tip off the regular season at Colonial Life Arena Nov. 7 against East Tennessee State.

USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2022-23 SCHEDULE

• Oct. 31: home vs. Benedict (exhibition), 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Nov. 7: home vs. ETSU, 8:30 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Nov. 11: at Maryland, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

• Nov. 17: at Clemson, 7 p.m. (TV/stream is TBD)

• Nov. 20: at Stanford, TBD (TV/stream is TBD)

• Nov. 22: at Cal Poly, 8 p.m. (TV/stream is TBD)

• Nov. 27: home vs. Hampton, noon (SEC Network Plus)

• Nov. 29: home vs. UCLA, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Dec. 3: home vs. Memphis, 3 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Dec. 11: home vs. Liberty, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Dec. 15: at South Dakota State, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

• Dec. 18: home vs. Charleston Southern, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Dec 21: home vs. Coastal Carolina, noon (SEC Network Plus)

• Dec. 29: home vs. Texas A&M, 7 p.m. (SEC Network or ESPN2)

• Jan. 2: at Georgia, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Jan. 5: home vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Jan. 8: at Mississippi State, 1 p.m. (SEC Network or ESPN2)

• Jan. 12: at Kentucky, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Jan. 15: home vs. Missouri, 1 p.m. (SEC Network or ESPN2)

• Jan. 19: at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Jan. 22: home vs. Arkansas, 3 p.m. (SEC Network or ESPN2)

• Jan. 29: at Alabama, 1 p.m. (SEC Network or ESPN2)

• Feb. 2: home vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Feb. 5: at UConn, noon (Fox)

• Feb. 9: at Auburn, 8 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Feb. 12: home vs. LSU, 2 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Feb. 16: home vs. Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Feb. 19: at Ole Miss, 4 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Feb. 23: at Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

• Feb. 26: home vs. Georgia, noon (SEC Network or ESPN2)