USF at SMU
Nov. 13, 2009
Moody Coliseum
Dallas, Texas
Team Notes
- USF tied up the series, 2-2, with back-to-back wins the last two seasons. In 2008-09, USF grabbed a 60-46 win in last season's opener for both clubs.
- The University of South Florida opened the season with SMU for the second-straight season and the Bulls hit the road for the season opener for the first time in Coach Stan Heath's tenure at USF. The Bulls beat SMU, 60-46, in the opener last year, and lost to Cleveland State, 73-70, in the first round of the Glenn Wilkes Classic, held at USF.
- Head coach Stan Heath is entering his 23rd season of coaching, ninth as a head coach and third at USF. He has posted a 134-118 overall record and is 22-41 at USF. Heath has made three NCAA appearances (2002-Kent State, 2006 and 2007- Arkansas) in his eight-year career.
- Heath's teams had not won a road opener since Dec. 7, 2004 when his Arkansas team defeated Missouri by 10.
- USF was 1-6 in non conference games on the road last year.
- USF is now 30-9 in openers and 7-6 in road openers all time. The last time USF opened on the road was in the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska. USF won that game over Davidson, 96-70, to begin the 2000-01 season.
Individual Notes
-USF's first field goal of the season was an alley-oop dunk from a pair of seniors - Chris Howard to Mike Mercer.
-Mercer scored the first five points of the game and added two 3-pointers as well. Mercer had one trey last season in four games played.
- With seven assists in the game, senior guard Chris Howard took eighth place in USF career assists. He started the game in ninth, with 360, just four behind Penny Greene's 364. He now sits one behind Arthur Caldwell, who finished his career with 368.
- Sophomore Augustus Gilchrist set a new career high with 23 points, topping his previous best of 22 set at Pitt Jan. 14, 2009. He also sank six free throws, the most since posting a career-best six at Seton Hall Feb. 25, 2009.
- USF's starters for the game were seniors Chris Howard and Mike Mercer and junior Dominique Jones at guard, junior Jarrid Famous at forward and sophomore Augustus Gilchrist at center. All 67 of USF's points on the night came from the starting five.
- USF's three captains this season are senior Chris Howard, junior Dominique Jones and sophomore Augustus Gilchrist.
