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Associated Press

Clemson's Trevor Booker (35) brings the ball up after stealing it from North Florida's Kyle Groothuis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, in Clemson, S.C. Booker had 16 points as Clemson won 76-36. The No. 20 Tigers visit rival South Carolina tonight.

COLUMBIA — Darrin Horn's happy to take part in a rivalry. South Carolina's first-year coach recognizes, though, it may not be the best time for his first game against Clemson.

The Tigers (12-0) enter the Colonial Life Arena undefeated. They moved up two spots to 20th in the latest rankings Monday. And they're riding a four-game series win streak that Clemson seniors K.C. Rivers and Raymond Sykes are eager to defend.

"We know that (South) Carolina-Clemson is big because of the rivalry," Horn said. "But at the same time, this is a situation where Clemson comes in top 25 in the country (and) it comes at a time where we know we are going to get tested."

The Gamecocks (9-1) are off to their best start in five years, although it has been a mark built largely against mid-major, in-state opponents. Three victories have come against Big South Conference teams, two more against members of the Southern Conference.

"There's no question, it's the best team we've faced all year," Horn said.

Clemson has opened up with a double-digit win streak for the fourth straight season. The Tigers capped their early run on Dec. 21 when they opened the Atlantic Coast Conference season with a convincing, 91-72 victory at Miami, which opened the season nationally ranked.

Coach Oliver Purnell had them practice the day after that Miami win, then gave them a few days off for the holidays. When they returned last Friday, the Tigers found it took less effort regain their wind. Rivers, the team's leading scorer at 14.7 points a game, says the desire to keep playing well didn't need any jolt — especially when it was South Carolina up next.

He and fellow senior Sykes joked that they hadn't lost to the Gamecocks and hoped to finish 4-0 in the rivalry this week. "We were kind of laughing about it," Rivers said. "But we're expecting a nice, intense game."

Much of that intensity will be applied by the teams' backcourts.

South Carolina is fueled by its duo of Devan Downey at the point and Zam Fredrick as the two guard. The pair have combined for more than 34 points a game this season, while Downey tops the Southeastern Conference in steals.

Clemson counters with a less experienced combo in sophomores Demontez Stitt and Terrence Oglesby. Stitt has improved his point guard play, Purnell said, while Oglesby is the team's long-distance threat.

Where Clemson might have an edge is in the middle where Trevor Booker and Sykes have controlled things. Booker is averaging close to a double-double (14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds) and Sykes has made nearly 62 percent of his field goals.

South Carolina, with its short-handed roster, relies largely on 6-foot-7 sophomore Mike Holmes down low. Horn said Sam Muldrow, struggling through injuries and academic issues so far this season, won't play against Clemson.

Don't expect the same frenzied atmosphere for this game as existed for the football contest a month ago. The game couldn't be scheduled until now when both campuses are off and many fans are already on their way to Florida to watch their respective squads play in New Year's Day bowl games — Clemson against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl and South Carolina against Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

Purnell, Clemson's sixth-year coach, doesn't expect a drop-off in intensity among players from both sides.

"It should have the same feeling as when Clemson plays South Carolina in any sport," Purnell said. "There's a little bit of added importance to the game. The schools are rivals."