GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

January 10

 The final NCAA stats are out and the USF defense was among the nation's best once again.  The Bulls ranked No. 10 nationally in total defense (287.6 yards per game) and run defense (95.2). The Bulls are also ranked No. 24 in scoring defense (20.0). The USF offense finished the 2008 campaign ranked No. 32 in total offense (405.0).

USF has ranked in the top 30 in total defense six of the last seven season, all under the watch of defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Wally Burnham. It is the highest final ranking USF has ever achieved in total defense and second in run defense to the 2002 squad that finished seventh.

USF was the highest rated BIG EAST team in run defense and second to UConn in total defense.

Below are the final rankings for USF in total defense since 2002:

2002 ? 17
2003 - 17
2004  - 77
2005 ? 17
2006 ? 25
2007 ? 28
2008 - 10

- The Bulls Spring Game has been moved up to Saturday, April 11 from the previously announced date of April 18.  As always, the date remains tentative.  Pro Day is scheduled for March 13.

- The USF practice field is receiving new sod in preparation for the AFC Champions, who will practice on campus during Super Bowl week.

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

January 9

Daily Links
? Greg Auman reports in his blog that linebacker Tyrone McKenzie will now play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.He writes,"Former USF linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, who withdrew his name from playing in the East-West Shrine Game in Houston, will now play in another key showcase for potential draft picks, the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala."

? Greg Auman's Blog

? Brett McMurphy's Blog.

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

January 8

Daily Links
? Brett McMurphy recaps the men's last night 71-57 loss to Louisville last night at the Sun Dome. He writes,"It turned out the toughest aspect of Louisville's Big East opener at the University of South Florida was simply getting to Tampa.

Once the 23rd-ranked Cardinals finally arrived, they had virtually no problems, rolling to a 71-57 victory against the Bulls on Wednesday night."

? Greg Auman takes a look at last night's tough loss tho BIG EAST foe No. 21/T23 Louisville. Auman writes,"When Rick Pitino and No. 23 Louisville came into the Sun Dome on Wednesday, it concluded a ridiculous six-day parade of coaching legends in which USF played host to Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma and Pitino, who combine for 1,986 college basketball wins.

That's more than double what the USF men's and women's programs have in their entire history, and it gives Pitino the kind of wisdom to succinctly explain his Cardinals' easy 71-57 win against the Bulls."

? Alex Cobb of the The Oracle previews saturdays game as Jose Fernandez and the women's team looks to get back on track against St. John's saturday night. He writes,"It isn't a must-win for the South Florida women's basketball team, but losing Saturday night's game, when the Bulls (13-3, 0-2) host St. John's University at 7, would make three straight losses against Big East opponents.

Coming off an 83-37 loss to Connecticut on Tuesday night, Coach Jose Fernandez said he's trying to get his team to focus on the Red Storm.

“You can't talk about Connecticut for the next three days because you've got St. John's coming in ? and then Louisville, and then Pittsburgh, too,” he said. “We've got to put it behind us and win the
next one.”'

? McMurphy's write up of the Bulls match-up next fall with Florida St. McMurphy writes," University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt has said the only way the Bulls can be considered among the state's elite programs is to beat one of the "Big Three."

The Bulls got two more chances Wednesday when USF and Florida State announced a home-and-home series, starting Sept. 26 in Tallahassee.

The Seminoles, who haven't played in Tampa since 1979, visit USF on Sept. 29, 2012. USF's schedule for this fall already was completed, but the Bulls moved their game at Indiana to 2015 to make room for the Seminoles, who needed a 12th game.

? Auman does a quick Q&A with former Piston great Joe Dumars, who is the father of USF signee Jordan Dumars.

? Kelli Polson of The Oracle previews men's tennis's USF Invitational that start's friday morning. Polson writes,"Imagine being apart of an experienced team, leaving it for a semester and then returning to an almost entirely new set of teammates.

That's exactly what happened to USF senior Mahmoud Hamed of the men's tennis team."

? Brett McMurphy's Blog

? Greg Auman's Blog

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

January 7

Daily Links
? Brett McMurphy has a few big head lines in his blog. He starts off by saying that two-time All-America George Selvie will return for his senior year. He writes," University of South Florida junior defensive end George Selvie didn't hear what he expected from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, so he will return to USF for his senior season.

Information provided by the draft committee indicated Selvie “would not be selected” in the first three rounds, USF coach Jim Leavitt told Selvie."

? McMurphy recaps women's hoops loss to No.1 UConn last night at the Sun Dome. He writes," In a matchup of the nation's two highest-scoring women's teams, USF was no match for No. 1-ranked UConn. The Huskies KO'd the Bulls 83-37 on Tuesday night before the second-largest Sun Dome crowd (4,290) in USF history." 

? Greg Auman recaps last night loss to UConn he writes,"With back-to-back road games and school on winter break, Geno Auriemma decided to let his No. 1 Connecticut women's basketball team stay a few extra days in sunny Florida after Tuesday's game with USF."

"They get to appreciate that when you work hard, there are some rewards that come with it," said Auriemma, who took his team to Timpano Italian Chophouse on Monday night.

? Auman previews tonights men's hoops contest with No. 23 Louisville. He writes," The Bulls (5-8, 0-1) truly are playing a ranked team nearly every time out. After nearly upsetting then-No. 13 Syracuse on Friday, they have No. 24 Louisville in the Sun Dome tonight. Before joining the Big East in 2005, the Bulls played back-to-back games against ranked opponents just four times in their first 34 seasons. This is the fourth time in four years, and it's only getting started.

USF has played five ranked teams each of the past two seasons ? the only time the Bulls had played more was in 1991-92, when they played seven in reaching the NCAA Tournament."

? McMurphy also reports in his blog that there is a chance for a trip to Tallahasse for a match-up with Seminoles next fall and that senior wideout Taurus Johnson will play in the East-West Shrine game.

? Greg Auman's Blog

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

January 6

Daily Links
? Brett McMurphy takes a look at the Bulls match-up with No.1 UConn tonight at the Sun Dome. McMurphy writes,"The Huskies are led by sophomore forward Maya Moore (18.1 points, 8.6 rebounds), junior center Tina Charles (17.4 points, 8.8 rebounds) and senior guard Renee Montgomery (16.9 points).

"There's no drop off when he goes to the bench," Fernandez said. "You're talking about a program that every one of their kids is a top 10, top 20 [rated recruit] in the country. Every one of their kids is [a high school] All-American."

? Greg Auman takes a look at how the Bulls match-up with the No. 1 UConn and the challenges that the Huskies present. He writes,"On paper, the teams could seem as close as the numbers 1 and 2.

The USF women's basketball team leads the nation in scoring with a dizzying 89.9 points per game. Its opponent tonight in the Sun Dome ranks second at 88.8. The teams also rank first and second nationally in scoring margin, each winning 13 games by an average of more than 32 points."

? Greg Auman's Blog

? Brett McMurphy's Blog.

? Joe Perez of the Norwhich Bulletin previews tonights matcup. He writes,"The pursuit of a 17th conference crown begins tonight as No. 1-ranked UConn (13-0) heads to South Florida (13-2, 0-1) and the same city where it saw its national title hopes die at last year's Final Four"

? Dan Nilsen of The Flint Journal releases the signing of Ohio State transfer Anthony Crater to the Bulls. The Flint native will have two and a half years of eligibilty left for the Bulls. Nilsen writes,"Anthony Crater has quickly found a new home in college basketball. The former Southwestern Academy standout signed a grant-in-aid with the University of South Florida on Monday and will begin classes this week, according to the school's Web site." 

? The Greenwhich Times breaks down tonight's matchup

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

January 5

Daily Links
? Greg Auman recaps the men's loss to Syracuse, he writes,"After disappointing in nonconference games, after trailing No. 13 Syracuse by 16 at the half, USF showed surprising resilience Friday night, clawing back within three points of the Orange with a shot to tie in the final minute.

Dominique Jones' 3-pointer missed with 33 seconds left, and Syracuse put the game away with a pair of free throws, escaping the Sun Dome with a 59-54 victory on ESPN in an exciting Big East opener for the Bulls."

? Brett McMurphy takes a look back the Bulls comeback bid that came up short against Syracuse Friday night.

? Auman also recaps the women's loss at Marquette on Saturday night.

? Greg Auman's Blog

? Brett McMurphy's Blog.

? Allan Dell of the Sarasota Herald Tribune writes that the Bulls "Hung Tough" but the Orange held off the USF's late charge. He writes,"The first thing the University of South Florida head basketball coach Stan Heath said after his team had stayed with Syracuse until the final seconds was that he was not into moral victories.