USF Will Be Tested Early and Often in 2017-18
TAMPA, JULY 10, 2017 – Six games against teams that advanced to the postseason a season ago and two holiday tournaments highlight the 2017-18 University of South Florida women's basketball non-conference schedule, which was announced in full on Monday.
Tip times and complete broadcast information, along with the American Athletic Conference schedule, will be announced in the coming weeks once television arrangements have been finalized. Season tickets for the 2017-18 campaign will go on sale July 17 and fans can purchase by visiting GoUSFBulls.com or calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
The Bulls, coming off their fifth consecutive 20-win season and fourth NCAA appearance in five years, open the season with four straight games at home, beginning with perennial power LSU on Friday, Nov. 10. The Tigers return to the Sun Dome for the first time since the 2015 NCAA Tournament, when the Bulls advanced to the second round with a thrilling 73-64 win. LSU returned to the NCAA Tournament last season, finishing with a 20-12 overall record and a 37 RPI.
Two days later, USF welcomes Houston Baptist before hosting Arkansas State on Nov. 17 and Butler Monday, Nov. 20. Houston Baptist and Arkansas State will enter the Sun Dome for the first time in program history, and the Bulls will put their perfect 3-0 record to the test against the Bulldogs.
USF hits the road for the first time when it travels to Fort Myers for the Gulf Coast Showcase. Headlining the tournament are 2017 national champion South Carolina and perennial power Notre Dame. The tournament's full field will be announced at a later date, but the Bulls are guaranteed three games Nov. 24-26.
The Bulls will remain on the road and travel to George Washington Dec. 2. The Colonials tallied their fourth straight 20-win season and made a trip to the WNIT. George Washington turned in a 54 RPI ranking.
From Washington, USF heads to Oklahoma Dec. 9. The Sooners were 23-10 in 2016-17 and made a trip to the NCAA second round as a top-25 team a season ago. Oklahoma finished the season ranked No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches Poll released after the conclusion of the season.
USF returns to Tampa for its only home game in the month of December on the 15
th, when it hosts Southern University. The Bulls are 16-2 at home in nonconference action in the last three seasons.
The Bulls will end 2017 with a three-game road swing, starting at Florida International Dec. 17. Head coach
Jose Fernandez enters this season with a 309-235 record in 17 seasons at USF and will return to his hometown of Miami Dec. 17.
Following the in-state match-up, the Bulls will fly to New Orleans for the inaugural New Orleans Shootout Dec. 20-21. USF will be tested against Baylor on Dec. 20 and Michigan State Dec. 21, both NCAA tournament staples.
The Bulls' non-conference slate does not end until Sunday, Feb. 11, when Ohio State makes its first visit to USF since Dec. 18, 1982. The Buckeyes made a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, ultimately falling, 99-76, to Notre Dame. The Buckeyes were 28-7 and finished No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
USF has notched its fifth consecutive 20-win season. The Bulls tallied its 20th win in their 24th contest of the season which tied the fastest any program has reached 20 wins. This is the eighth 20-win season in program history and head coach Jose Fernandez has been at the helm for all eight 20-win seasons. The 2014-15 team reached 20 wins in 24 games, and still currently holds the best record for most wins in a season (27).
USF has made 13 postseason tournament appearances and had five NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 17 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to eight 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.
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