Oct. 8, 2007

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's and women's basketball teams will host their first Midnight Madness in the Division I era on Monday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 p.m. at the Hodge Center. The kickoff extravaganza will not only feature introductions of both the men's and women's teams as well as full-court scrimmages among the teams, but will also feature free pizza and refreshments, 500 free T-shirts, a live DJ, a slam dunk contest and a performance by hip-hop performance team Tantrum.

With the move to Division I and the most-highly anticipated recruiting classes in both the men's and women's programs histories, there will be a palpable air of anticipation in the Hodge Center on Monday night as both teams are introduced for the first time.

The Spartan men, under sixth-year head coach Eddie Payne, qualified for the NCAA Tournament in two of their last three years in Division II and will kick off their first Division I season with not just with a tough Atlantic Sun slate, but also a non-conference schedule that features perennial powers like Utah, Cincinnati and Wake Forest.

The Spartan women, under third-year head coach Tammy George, are just one year removed from a team that made the NCAA Tournament. Like the men, the women, in their first-year in Division I have a tough schedule that features trips to power conference schools like Kentucky, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.

The Upstate marketing and promotions department will also have giveaways featuring Playstation 3, IPods, Charlotte Bobcats tickets and bookstore vouchers.