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THfH&JAM FmrK game schedule 1 l±U^5STjrLLVlU YJUVJ1Y WOMEN’S TENNIS at ITA Southeast Regional, Today a m u ^~^s.A MEN'S TENNIS at ITA Southeast Regional, Thursday f I A X \ I 1 ri ] L 1 EQUESTRIAN vs. Georgia, 2 p.m. Saturday Page8 Ky —1— Vy J— —L rS' y Monday, Oct. 17,2005 Iverson, Duncan headline stars as NBA takes over Columbia Laura-Joyce Gough /THE GAMECOCK RlexRiley THE GAMECOCK The scoreboard above center court read 100, a first in Colonial Center history as the Philadelphia 76ers (1-1 preseason) beat the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs (0-2 preseason) 100-88 in NBA preseason action. The Wednesday night game marked the Colonial Center’s NBA debut. Even in the loss, Spurs star Tim Duncan displayed little emotion in the locker room, playing Texas Hold ‘Em on a hand-held PlayStation. “It was great here. I thought the crowd was great the whole night,” Duncan said. “I hope they enjoyed the game. I know it’s preseason, and (the starters) don’t play as much as we usually do, but other than that, I thought the guys played hard and it was competitive both ways.” Duncan, who finished the night with 12 points and eight rebounds, had a homecoming of sorts as he and his former college coach, Dave Odom, were reunited. Odom, USC’s men’s basketball coach, led Duncan and Wake Forest to a Final Four during his time as coach of the Demon Deacons. “It’s been great, more than just to play in front of him but to just catch up with him,” Duncan said. “To go sit down with him and his wife and have some dinner and enjoy talking about some times.” “He has great respect and warm feelings for coach Odom and his staff he had for four years,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They taught him well. When he came to us, he was a pretty darn complete player.” Duncan, a two-time league MVP, was outshined by one of the most dominant point guards in the league, as Allen Iverson of Philadelphia received one of the loudest ovations in Colonial Center history. “It was a great feeling. My first time being here, and people embracing me the way it was, it’s something I’ll remember the rest of my life,” Iverson said. “I’m definitely looking forward to coming back here now.” Of all the starters, Iverson remained on the court the longest, tallying 26 minutes. That chunk of time allowed him to lead all scorers, finishing with 27 points on 10 of-18 shooting. He also had seven assists and four rebounds. “I played all right. I’m a little rusty. I didn’t play at all this summer; I didn’t play but once or twice because of the inflammation in my elbow,” Iverson said. “I’m just trying to get my wind back, just trying to some rhythm and get my legs up under me.” The 76ers led from the opening tip on an Andre Iguodala shot, but the Spurs managed to keep the game nen«g Superstars in the Colonial Center Two-time MVP Tim Duncan played for USC coach Dave Odom at Wake Forest Forward Andre Iguadala was the first-round selection of the 76ers in the 2004 NBA draft Parker is averaging 14 points per game in his three-year career and has won two NBA titles Pintos by Juan Bbu & Katie KirkLmd / The Gamecock Guard Allen Iverson was named NBA MVP in 2000-2001 and is a five-time all-star Katie Kirkland/TIIE GAM ECOCK Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson led all scorers Wednesday with 26 points in the 76ers’ win. Odom wants more than just NIT title Katie Kirkland/THE GAMBCOGJ USC’s men’s basketball coach Dave Odom met with the media Thursday to preview the team's upcoming season. Basketball coach says time right for NCAA Tournament success Alex Riley ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR An NIT title. Another 20 win season. A stunning upset of No. 3 Kentucky. Even with all those accomplishments, USC basketball coach Dave Odom doesn’t want his team and Gamecock fans to look at what’s, happened in the past. Instead, Odom wants to ask what can be done in the future. “It’s easy to focus on the past. Were one of two Carolinas in this country to end up winning our last game,” Odom said at Thursday’s USC basketball Media Day. “North Carolina obviously won the national championship, make no mistake about that. We won a national championship. I’m pleased with that.” While Odom is proud of the accomplishment, he wants more for the Gamecocks than success in the NIT. “Nobody wants their legacy to be ‘Boy, he was a great NIT coach,’ or ‘They had a great NIT team,”’ Odom said. “You take what you get, when you can get it. And we won the NIT I T *_ Iddl ^dl. A U1 not going to apologize for that.” The win at Madison Square Garden is what Odom has called a beginning, not an end, to the Gamecocks’ success. “The thing that happens is the tendency to focus on the past,” Odom said. “You focus on ‘We won the NIT championship.’ Well, we did. What are you going to do with it? That’s the key. Are you going to sit there and say that’s the only national championship they’ve won in basketball? How niauj wiiivj are we going to say that? It’s time to move on now.” Odom and his team are ready to move on, as the Gamecocks are looking to build on last year’s success. A solid recruiting class has given USC depth ofF the bench and much needed size in the post. But the biggest question surrounding the team is who ODOfn • 9 H19BH “Nobody wants their legacy to be ‘Boy, he was a great NIT coach.” DAVE ODOM USC mens basketball coach