Bulls set to tip off basketball season – Archive
Written by Crow's Nest Staff, Oct 19, 2010, 0 Comments
Rob Bibelhauser
Staff Writer
As the NCAA hoops season quickly approaches, the USF Bulls basketball team looks to pick up right where it left off.
Last year’s 20-13 record, which was one of the best in school history, ended in disappointment as the Bulls’ early exit from the conference tournament meant narrowly missing a bid of acceptance to the NCAA Tournament.
They did make the National Invitation Tournament for the first time in eight years. However, their stay in this tournament lasted just one game after a heartbreaking home loss to North Carolina State University by one point.
Head coach Stan Heath’s challenge this year will be proving that his team can compete in the Big East—arguably the nation’s top basketball conference—without the explosiveness of Dominique Jones. The point guard, who was drafted in the first round with the 25th overall selection in the NBA Draft, now
plays for the Dallas Mavericks.
Jones was a top producer for USF in points per game, minutes played, steals and assists. He led the Big East in scoring average last season, and losing him
leaves a huge hole in the team that will be almost impossible to fill.
The Bulls have, however, locked down roster spots for two new players in the upcoming season. Forward Victor Rudd recently transferred from Arizona State University. Rudd, although an eligible athlete, is required by NCAA transfer rules to sit out this season. But he could be a major factor on the team next season when he is eligible.
Texas-based big man Andre Jackson has committed to USF but will likely have to sit out a year as well. At 6 feet 10 inches tall and 275 pounds, Jackson could be a big playmaker for the Bulls. He averaged 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last year while a freshman at Lee College in Texas.
“He’s not a finished product but he’s not a project anymore,” Lee assistant coach Marcus King said, according to tampabay.com. “He’s one of the few people in college basketball that’s a true 5, a big low-post presence.”
The Bulls have been weak at center for years and may never have had a player with the physical abilities that Jackson has.
Another loss to the team was the departure of graduating senior guard Chris Howard, who many considered to be a coach on the court for USF. That means the team’s current veterans will have to be poised to step up and make plays on their own without Howard’s presence.
Seniors like center Jarrid Famous and guard Mike Mercer come to mind. They will look to rekindle some of last year’s chemistry while many fans look to 6-foot-10-inch center Augustus Gilchrist to finally emerge as a conference star. Gilchrist, who was hampered by an ankle sprain and missed much of last season, should be back to full strength after an off-season of recovery.
With some exciting commitments on the horizon and the exodus of superstars, the Bulls will have a different look and feel on the hardwood this season. But the Big East remains the toughest conference in college basketball, and the team will have to battle if they plan on matching last year’s success.
USF tips off its first game on Friday, Nov. 12 at home against Southern Mississippi. A few intriguing non-conference match-ups will follow with contests against Brigham Young University, Kent State and Auburn. Big East games begin in late December with a total of 18 conference games on the slate for the Bulls.
Tickets for home basketball games are free for all USF students. Present your student ID at the Sun Dome for free admission to the games.
