Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The University of South Florida men’s basketball team kicked off their season with a heartfelt tribute to head coach Amir-Abdur Rahim and a commanding victory over the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB).
Before the game, USF held an emotional ceremony to honor the late Amir Abdur-Rahim. The Bulls held a moment of silence and left an empty seat on the bench in his memory, a tribute that will remain for the rest of the season. During the ceremony, the team unveiled their 2024 American Athletic Conference Regular Season Champions banner at the Yuengling Center, joined on the court by Abdur-Rahim’s wife and children. In an earlier press conference, the university announced that the student section would be renamed after Coach Amir to commemorate his lasting legacy.
Forward, De’Ante Green got the Bulls off to a fast start with an early jumper, quickly followed by guard Brandon Stroud’s fast-break dunk and a key three-pointer. Although UAPB tried to close the gap with layups from Green, USF’s solid rebounding and efficient shooting helped them maintain control.
“That’s just our belief in each other. We had 16 assists… we work too hard in the gym for shots not to fall,” said Green in the postgame press conference.
In the second half, USF continued to hold the lead, with critical contributions from Kasen Jennings and Stroud. While UAPB struggled with missed shots and turnovers, USF capitalized on their opportunities.
Bulls interim head coach Ben Fletcher praised the home crowd’s energy, saying, “SoFlo Rodeo showed up tonight. Those guys have done an awesome job of elevating our atmosphere.”
However, Fletcher acknowledged the challenge posed by some lineup disruptions.
Following a play, Zach Reinhart , a guard for the Golden Lions, shoved Green down the sidelines, starting a bench-clearing altercation. Reinhart pushed Green once more as he attempted to stand up, intensifying the altercation and resulting in the ejection of three players.
Reinhart was escorted out after a major foul, while Bulls guard’s Jimmie Williams and CJ Brown were ejected for leaving the bench.
“When the guys got ejected… it made it tricky with lineups, but our players adapted well,” Fletcher said.
Despite a few lapses in the second half, USF kept their composure, with guard Kobe Knox, hitting a key three-pointer.
USF’s balanced attack and cohesive teamwork, securing the double-digit win, setting an encouraging tone for the season ahead.
The next game is at home today against West Georgia at 7 p.m. at the Yuengling Center.
