The University of South Florida men's basketball team will make its first ever appearance in the BIG EAST Championship when the Bulls take on Seton Hall on Tuesday, March 10, at 9 p.m. in the first round of the tournament.
The 2009 BIG EAST Championship takese place March 10-14 at Madison Square Garden. The winner of the 16-team conference tournament earns the BIG EAST's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulls are the No. 14 seed and Seton Hall is the No. 11 seed. If USF defeats Seton Hall Tuesday it will play again at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, against No. 6 seed Syracuse. A win over Syracuse would pit the Bulls against No. 3 see UConn on Thursday, March 12, at 9 p.m.
Tuesday's game vs. Seton Hall can be watched for free on BigEast.org. The game can be heard on WHNZ 1250 and BullsVision.com, with a live blog available on GoUSFBulls.com. The remainder of the tournament will be televised on ESPN.
BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
SETTING THE SCENE
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tip-off: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden - New York, N.Y.
Webcast: Game can be seen for free on BigEast.org with Tom Gelehrter and Dalen Cuff calling the action.
Radio: 1250 AM with Jim Lighthall handling play-by-play and Todd Kalas as color analyst. WBUL, USF's student radio station, is also airing the game.
USF webcast: GoUSFBulls.com (audio)
USF's Last Time Out: Lost 45-42 at Rutgers on Saturday, March 7 in New Brunswick, N.J.
Seton Hall's Last Time Out: Defeated Cincinnati 67-63 in overtime at Cincinnati on Saturday, March 7.
Series History: Seton Hall leads 6-0
Last Meeting: USF lost 75-60 on Feb. 25, 2009 at Seton Hall.
Websites: GoUSFBulls.com, SHUPirates.com
LEADING THE BULLS
Sophomore guard Dominique Jones leads USF at 18.2 points per game, with senior guard Jesus Verdejo behind him at 12.5 an outing. Jones also leads the team in rebounds at 5.5 per game and steals with 40. Junior guard Chris Howard leads the team in assists at 4.2 an outing, while freshman forward Augustus Gilchrist leads the team with 23 blocks.
YEAR TWO OF THE HEATH ERA
This season marks head coach Stan Heath's second season at the helm. He is the eighth head coach in the 38-year history of the program.
ABOUT SETON HALL
Seton Hall is coached by Bobby Gonzalez who is in his third year with the Pirates and 10th overall. Seton Hall is 16-14 overall and 7-11 in BIG EAST action. Sophomore guard Jeremy Hazell leads the Pirates at 22.5 points a game. Robert Mitchell leads the Hall in rebounding at 7.9 a game and is second in scoring at 14.7 an outing.
THE SETON HALL SERIES
USF and Seton Hall have met six times previously, all Pirate wins and all coming in BIG EAST Conference play. Seton Hall downed the Bulls earlier this year, 75-60, on Feb. 25 at Seton Hall. The teams also met twice during the 2005-06 season, once during the 2006-07 season and twice during the 2007-08 season.
UP NEXT: AGAINST NO. 6 SEED SYRACUSE IF WIN
The Orange are coached by Jim Boeheim who is in his 33rd season at Syracuse. They return 10 letterwinners and four starters from last year's team. Syracuse ended the regular season 23-8 and 11-7 in BIG EAST play. The Orange play the winner of the Seton Hall-USF game as the No. 6 seed. Sophomore guard Jonny Flynn leads Syracuse in scoring at 17.3 points per game, with Paul Harris pulling down 7.8 rebounds a game. Five SU players average double figure points.
BULLS STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE RANKED 6TH TOUGHEST BY SAGARIN
We already know the BIG EAST is arguably the toughest conference in the country and USF's schedule is no different according to the Sagarin Ratings. Sagarin has USF's schedule rated the 6th toughest in the country through the March 7 games.
VERDEJO EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR SETON HALL
Jesus Verdejo has been bothered by Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendonitis the past few weeks and was diagnosed Feb. 27 with a bruised talus bone. He has missed three out of the last five games a but did see 22 minutes of action at Rutgers. He is expected to see action vs. Seton Hall and is day to day for the remainder of the year.
JONES NAMED HONORABLE MENTION BIG EAST FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON
Sophomore guard Dominique Jones has been named BIG EAST Honorable Mention for the second consecutive year when the league announced its all-conference teams on Sunday, March 8.
The conference's head coaches choose the all-conference teams. The coaches are not permitted to vote for their own players. This year, the league returned to five-player teams after having 10-player teams for the past three seasons.
Jones followed up an outstanding freshmen season with an impressive sophomore season that saw him average 18.2 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, notch 40 steals and go over the 1,000-point plateau. His scoring ranked sixth in the league. He jumped his scoring average to 19.0 points per game in conference games, which ranked fourth in the BIG EAST.
“With so many great players and teams in the BIG EAST, it is a well deserved honor for Dominique to be named as an honorable mention all-league pick,” said USF head coach Stan Heath. “He's been an integral piece to our team and been very productive on both ends of the court. His best basketball is still ahead of him and he will continue to work hard on improving.”
The Lake Wales, Fla., native is just the fourth honorable mention selection for USF in its four years in the league, to go along with Kentrell Gransberry's first-team and second-team honors. Jones was also the first All-Rookie Team pick for the Bulls last season.
SOPHOMORE JONES BECOMES JUST 16TH PLAYER IN USF HISTORY TO SCORE 1,000 CAREER POINTS AND SECOND FASTEST IN USF HISTORY
With his first point at Seton Hall on Feb. 25, a free throw, at the 17:10 mark of the first half, sophomore Dominique Jones became just the 16th player in USF history to score 1,000 career points. He is the second fastest Bull to reach 1,000 and one of only three USF players to do it in two seasons. Jones also became the quickest sophomore to reach 1,000. He reached 1,000 in his 58th career game. Only Tony Grier reached 1,000 career points in fewer games. Grier, who spent one season at Polk Community College before USF, surpassed 1,000 in his 51st career game during his junior season. USF's all-time leading scorer, Charlie Bradley, went over 1,000 in his 59th career game during his sophomore season.
JONES SITS IN 14TH ON ALL-TIME USF SCORING LIST
With 11 points vs. Rutgers, Dominique Jones sits in 14th-place on the all-time USF scoring list with 1,078 points. He is just 27 points from Fred Lewis's 1,105 points.
VERDEJO CLIMBING SCORING LADDER TOO, HITS 800 CAREER POINTS
With five points at Rutgers, Jesus Verdejo now has 80 career points, becoming the 33rd player in USF history with 800 career points. He is just five points away from moving into 32nd all-time with Jorge Azcoitia at 805 points.
HOWARD IN 9TH ALL-TIME ON USF ASSIST LIST, CLOSING IN ON 8TH
Junior Chris Howard picked up five assists vs. the Scarlet Knights. He is currently in 9th place all-time on the USF career assist list with 358. Penny Greene sits in 8th with 364 assists.
VERDEJO TIED FOR 9TH ALL-TIME AT USF FOR 3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE, JONES JUST ONE BEHIND IN 11TH
Jesus Verdejo is moving up the all-time 3-point made list at USF. With one made at Rutgers, Verdejo now has 107 career 3-pointers, tied for 9th on the all-time list with James Holmes. Dominique Jones is just one behind with 106.
JONES ALSO FLYING UP CAREER LIST FOR FREE THROWS MADE
In addition to moving up the career points list, Dominique Jones is also moving up the career free throws made list and is currently 12th with 244 made. He is just 15 free throws made from moving into 10th all-time.
JONES IN TOP 10 FOR SINGLE-SEASON POINTS AND FREE THROWS MADE
Dominique Jones has scored 547 points this season, which ranks 8th on the USF single-season list, just 11 from 7th place. He has also made 121 free throws this season which ranks 9th, just three made from moving into 6th.
BULLS HAVE USED 15 DIFFERENT STARTING LINEUPS THIS SEASON, HALF OF THE GAMES THIS SEASON
USF has used 15 different lineups in its 30 games this season.
BULLS PICK UP 4TH BIG EAST WIN, MOST SINCE JOINING THE LEAGUE
USF picked up its fourth BIG EAST win of the season vs. Cincinnati, which sets a regular season record for most BIG EAST wins in one season by the Bulls. It is the fourth season USF has been in the BIG EAST.
JONES GOES TO TOWN ON CINCINNATI WITH 30 POINTS, EIGHT REBOUNDS AND FIVE ASSISTS
Cincinnati Coach Mick Cronin's quote in the Cincinnati Enquirer prior to USF's game vs. UC said it best. "He's capable of beating you by himself. We've got to make sure that doesn't happen. He could get 30 points and 10 assists." Cronin must be able to see the future because Jones tossed in 30 points and added eight rebounds and five assists in the Bulls' 70-59 win over the Bearcats.
JONES SCORES 30 OR MORE POINTS FOR FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON AND SEVENTH OF HIS CAREER
Jones' 30 points against Cincinnati was the 4th time this season and the seventh of his career he has scored at least 30 points.
JONES GOES FOR 20 OR MORE POINTS FOR 12TH TIME THIS SEASON AND 22ND OF HIS CAREER
Jones' 30 points against Cincinnati marked the 22nd time he has had at least 20 or more points in a game in his career. He did it 10 times in 2007-08 and 12 so far this year.
HOWARD HAS GREAT TWO GAME RUN VS. WVU AND CINCINNATI
Junior guard Chris Howard had 10 assists against the Bearcats March 3, marking his second straight game with 10 or more assists (11 vs. West Virginia on March 1). It is the fifth game of his career with 10 or more assists and third this season. He had 21 assists and just one turnover in those two games.
LEEMOW TIES CAREER HIGH WITH NINE POINTS AND THREE 3-POINTERS
Freshman guard Justin Leemow tied a career high with nine points against Cincinnati. He also hit three 3-point field goals which also tied a career high, set a career high with four assists and tied a career with three steals.
BULLS START NO SENIORS VS. WVU, JUST SECOND TIME ALL YEAR
For just the second time all season USF started no seniors vs. West Virginia. The other game came on Feb. 21 at UConn. The Bulls started two juniors, a sophomore and two freshmen in that game.
HOWARD TIES CAREER HIGH WITH 11 ASSISTS, POSTS THIRD DOUBLE-DOUBLE OF HIS CAREER
Junior guard Chris Howard was also in double digit points with 10 vs. WVU and also tied his career high with 11 assists. It was his third career double-double. He added five rebounds and had just one turnover. It is the fourth game of his career with 10 or more assists and second this season.
RIVAS POSTS HIS FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE OF HIS CAREER AT SETON HALL
Junior center and junior college transfer Alex Rivas notched his first career double-double at Seton Hall by posting career highs with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
USF 17-18 FROM THE LINE AT SETON HALL, TIED FOR 3RD BEST IN TEAM HISTORY
USF went 17-18 from the free throw at Seton Hall which tied for third best in single-game team history. The top single-game mark is 12-12, followed by an 18-19 game.
AJAYI PARTIALLY TEARS RIGHT ACL, OUT FOR REMAINDER OF THE YEAR
Stan Heath announced on Jan. 23 that senior Mobolaji Ajayi has a partially torn right Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and will miss the remainder of the season. The injury happened during practice on Jan. 24. He had appeared in all 18 games, starting 12. Ajayi was averaging 3.7 points per game and 4.7 rebounds in 17 minutes of action a game.
MERCER DISMISSED, CRATER REMAINS ON PROBATIONARY STATUS
Men's basketball coach Stan Heath announced on Jan. 26 that junior guard Mike Mercer has been dismissed from the team and that freshman guard Anthony Crater will remain on the team but on a probationary status for a violation of teams rules. Mercer, who had just become eligible on Dec. 14, was already out for the season because of a torn ACL suffered on Dec. 21.
USF KNOCKS OFF TOP-10 RANKED TEAM FOR FIRST TIME IN HISTORY
The win over No. 8 Marquette was USF's highest win against an Associated Press ranked opponent in its 38 year history. The previous high was an 81-76 win at No. 15 Tulane on Feb. 24, 1992.
USF FACED NO. 1 RANKED TEAM FOR JUST FOURTH TIME IN HISTORY AND SECOND TIME THIS SEASON
The UConn game was just the fourth time in USF history, and second this season, facing the No. 1 ranked team in the country. The Bulls faced No. 1 North Carolina and Michael Jordan on Dec. 12, 1981, No. 1 Cincinnati and Kenyon Martin on Jan. 29, 2000, and Pitt earlier this season on Jan. 14, 2009. All the games have been on the road with USF looking for its first win against the top-ranked team.
It was also just the sixth time overall, men's and women's, that the Bulls have taken on the No. 1 ranked team. The USF women took on No. 1 ranked UConn at home earlier this season and at No. 1 UConn last season.
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY PLAYING FOUR GAMES AGAINST TOP 10 TEAMS IN ONE YEAR AND TWO VS. NO. 1
USF's game at No. 1 Connecticut was the first time in USF history that the Bulls played four games against teams ranked in the top 10 in the same season and the first time facing two No. 1 ranked teams in the same year. The Bulls had already faced No. 1 Pitt, No. 7 Louisville and No. 8 Marquette this season.
The Feb. 6 game vs. Marquette was the first time in USF history that the men's basketball team had faced three different teams ranked in the top 10 nationally in the same season. The Bulls also faced three top 10 teams in 1996 but two of the games were against Cincinnati, with the other vs. Memphis.
JONES SCORES GAME-WINNER VS. GOLDEN EAGLES, SECOND OF CAREER
Jones' game-winning tally vs. Marquette was the second of his career. He also hit the game-winner at Rutgers last season on March 1, 2008, giving USF its first BIG EAST road win. Jesus Verdejo added a team-high 21 points in the win.
SECOND DOUBLE DOUBLE OF JONES' CAREER
The 26 points and 10 rebounds for Jones vs. DePaul on 1/20 is just the second double-double of his career. The other was a 30-point, 14 rebound performance last year at Richmond (12/5/07).
FIRST CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR GILCHRIST
Freshman forward Augustus Gilchrist tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double vs. DePaul. The 11 rebounds by Gilchrist is a career high, besting the eight he had vs. Vanderbilt (12/16/08).
JONES HAS FOUR GAME SCORING RUN END, LONGEST FOR USF IN 10 YEARS
Dominique Jones had his personal best scoring run of scoring 22 or more points in four straight games snapped Jan. 24 vs. Nova when he scored 11. He had totalled 26, 35, 22 and 22 in his four previous games, respectively. His previous best was a three-game run last season against UCF, Richmond and UAB. The last time a USF player had scored 22 or more points in four straight games was more than 10 years ago when B.B. Waldon did it during the 1998-99 season.
SEASON HIGH 10 REBOUNDS FOR JONES VS. DEPAUL
The 10 boards vs. DePaul is a season high for Jones and the second most of his career, bested only by the 14 he had last year at Richmond (12/5/07).
FIRST POINTS-REBOUNDS DOUBLE-DOUBLES OF THE YEAR VS. DEPAUL
The pair of double-doubles by Jones and Gilchrist were just the second and third by USF this season, and the first two as points and rebounds. Chris Howard had a 12 point and 10 assist outing at DePaul on 1/10/09.
JONES POURS IN 35 AT WVU, HIS HIGH FOR A BIG EAST GAME AND ONE SHY OF HIS CAREER HIGH
Dominique Jones poured in a game-high 35 points at WVU, one shy of his career high of 36 set earlier this season vs. Iona (12/27/09). It was his career high for a BIG EAST game, besting the 31 he had vs. Seton Hall last year (2/26/08).
GILCHRIST GOES FOR CAREER HIGH 22 AT PITT
The 22 points for Gilchrist at Pitt were a career high, besting his previous high of 16 set 1/10 at DePaul. He also played a career high 32 minutes and added two blocked shots.
BEST OVERALL SHOOTING DAY OF SEASON AT DEPAUL
Despite snowy, blustery weather outside at DePaul, the Bulls were on fire inside Allstate Arena and had their best overall shooting day of the season. USF shot 86.7 from the free-throw line, going 13-15. It was the highest free throw percentage of the year for USF and the highest in two seasons under Stan Heath.
USF also shot 51.7 percent from the field, its second highest of the year and just the second time shooting better than 50 percent in a game this season.
The Bulls also shot 41.2 percent from the 3-point line, only the fourth time this season shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range.
JUST SECOND BIG EAST ROAD WIN FOR USF
The win at DePaul was just the second BIG EAST road win in USF history. The Bulls defeated Rutgers 54-52 on March 1, 2008 after starting BIG EAST play 0-23 on the road all-time. They sit at 2-24 all-time.
VERDEJO PULLS DOWN CAREER HIGH NINE BOARDS VS. LOUISVILLE
Senior Jesus Verdejo notched a career high nine rebounds vs. Louisville, smashing his previous high of six done twice previously (3/8/08 vs. Notre Dame last time). He also had eight points, just missing a double-double.
SYRACUSE SECOND LARGEST SUN DOME CROWD SINCE ENTERING BIG EAST
The crowd of 8,350 against Syracuse was larger than any home game at the Sun Dome last season. It is the second largest Sun Dome crowd since USF joined the BIG EAST. The only crowd larger was on March 1, 2006 vs. UConn with a crowd of 9,636.
CRATER TRANSFERS FROM OHIO STATE, IS ENROLLED IN CLASSES
Stan Heath announced Jan. 5 that freshman guard Anthony Crater has signed a Grant-In-Aid with USF, is enrolled in classes and practicing with the team.
Crater was granted a release from Ohio State after playing 10 games with the Buckeyes this season. The 6-foot-1 guard will sit out the rest of this year and have two-and-a-half years of eligibility remaining and become eligible as a sophomore at the end of the first semester on December 12, 2009.
The Flint, Mich., averaged 13.1 minutes a game at OSU and averaged 1.2 points and had 19 assists to just nine turnovers.
Crater was highly touted coming out of high school. He was a two-time All-Michigan performer and was voted Class B Player of the Year by the Associated Press following his junior year. He averaged 16.2 points and more than eight assists as a junior and was named an all-league and all-city selection each of his three years at Flint (Mich.) Southwestern Academy.
Crater led SWA to three city titles and two Michigan Class B final four appearances as a sophomore and junior, helping the Knights finish with identical 24-3 records in 2006 and 2007. After three years at SWA, Crater transferred to Brewster (N.H.) Academy to complete his high school eligibility at the prep school. While at Brewster, the team captured its first New England Class A title and advanced to the national final four with a school-record 31 victories (31-4). He averaged 16 points and 8.0 assists at Brewster.
He was rated the 21st best point guard in the country by Scout.com after his senior year. Crater is the son of Lisa Jimerson and Anthony Crater Sr. He has a brother, Treyvon, and a sister, Kyla.
JONES EXPLODES FOR CAREER-HIGH 36 VS. IONA
Sophomore Dominique Jones exploded for a career high 36 points vs. Iona, shooting an efficient 12-16 from the field, 7-9 from 3-point range and 5-6 from the free throw line. The 36 points bested his previous high of 31 done twice previously (12/6/08 at UCF and 2/26/08 vs. Seton Hall). He also finished with five assists, accounting for at least 46 of USF's 68 points. He began the assualt with a 17-point first half, hitting 6-8 field goals, 3-4 3-pointers and 2-2 from the free throw line.
It was his fifth career game with 30 or more points, which is second all-time at USF. Only Charley Bradley, with 24, has more games with 30 or more points scored.
JONES' 36 TIED FOR FIFTH ON USF SINGLE-GAME SCORING LIST
Dominique Jones' 36 point outburst vs. Iona is tied for fifth on the all-time USF single-game scoring list. He is tied with five other players for fifth. The record is 42 by Charlie Bradley vs. Florida State on 12/10/82.
JONES HITS CAREER HIGH SEVEN 3-POINTERS VS. IONA
Jones' seven 3-point field goals was also a career high, surpassing his previous high of five, done twice.
VERDEJO NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM IN PUERTO RICO
Jesus Verdejo was the only Bull named to the All-Tournament team in Puerto Rico after averaging 17.7 points in the three games. He matched his career high with 26 against Wright State, had nine vs. Murray State and 18 vs. Oral Roberts.
VERDEJO MATCHES CAREER HIGH VS. WRIGHT STATE
Jesus Verdejo tallied 26 points vs. Wright State, matching his career high from earlier this season on Dec. 3 at UAB. It was his fourth game this season scoring 20 or more points, after going for 20 or more just twice the two previous seasons.
EMORY DOES NOT RETURN
Freshman walk-on Mitch Emory has decided not to return to the team for the second semester. Emory is focusing on his acedemics at USF.
JONES GOES FOR 30 OR MORE FOR SECOND TIME VS. UCF
Dominique Jones matched his then career high with 31 points at UCF, going 11-17 from the field and 2-5 from 3-point range. His previous 31-point outing was last season vs. Seton Hall (2/26/08). Jones also had 30 points in a USF win over UCF last season.
VERDEJO FIRES AWAY FOR CAREER HIGH 26 AT UAB
Senior guard Jesus Verdejo led USF with a game and career-high 26 points at UAB, besting the 22 he had at Virginia earlier this year (11/19/08). He was 10-20 from the field buried a career high six 3-pointers on 12 attempts. His previous best was four 3-pointers made three times previously.
LEEMOW GOES FOR CAREER HIGH NINE, HITS THREE 3-POINTERS AT UAB
Freshman guard Justin Leemow had a career-high nine points at UAB, going 3-3 from 3-point range, also a career best.
UAB JUST SECOND OT GAME OF THE HEATH TENURE AT USF
The UAB game was just the second overtime game played for Stan Heath while at USF. The other OT game was last season vs. UConn.
37 POINTS ALLOWED VS. NORTHEASTERN SECOND LOWEST IN USF HISTORY
The 37 points that USF held Northeastern to is the second lowest defensive performance in the 38-year history of Bulls basketball and only the fifth time in history holding an opponent to less than 40 points. The record is 34 in a 45-34 win over St. Peters on Dec. 4, 1985. Only one opponent last season, Rutgers 45 in the BIG EAST opener, scored fewer than 46 points scored in a game. This season has seen three teams score 46 or less against the Bulls.
USF HOLDS NORTHEASTERN TO 11 HALFTIME POINTS
The 11 points that Northeastern scored in the first half is the lowest defensive half under Stan Heath. The previous low half was the last half USF played, the second against High Point where they gave up 18.
WILLIAMS MATCHES CAREER HIGH IN TWO STRAIGHT GAMES
Aris Williams matched his career high with 11 points vs. Northeastern, which he set Nov. 25 vs. High Point. He also pulled down seven rebounds.
ANOTHER LOW IN HEATH ERA
USF's 24.1 percent field goal percentage defense vs. NU was the lowest in the Stan Heath era, besting the 27.7 against SMU in the season opener.
ESPINOSA PULLS DOWN CAREER HIGH 10 BOARDS VS. HIGH POINT
Freshman Eladio Espinosa grabbed a game and career high 10 rebounds vs. High Point and added nine points, just missing his first career double double.
BULLS SIGN DUMARS AND NORIEGA
USF men's basketball coach Stan Heath announced on Nov. 12 the signing of guards Jordan Dumars and Shaun Noriega to NCAA Letters of Intent during the November signing period.
Dumars (6-5, 225) and Noriega (6-4, 195) will join USF as freshmen for the 2009-10 season and bring with them sharp-shooting skills and perimeter size. Noriega is already North Port High School's all-time leading scorer in just three seasons with 1,282 points, while Dumars holds perennial high school power Detroit Country Day's single-game mark for 3-point field goals made with nine.
“We felt we needed to address our perimeter shooting and both Shaun and Jordan are very skilled players that can stretch the defense and consistently knock down 3-point shots,” said USF Head Coach Stan Heath. “We also felt both players had very high basketball IQ's and will be players that will make good decisions and be good teammates. Both players come from winning programs and have very strong academic backgrounds."
WALK-ON ADDED TO ROSTER
Junior college transfer Ryan Kardok has been added to the 2008-09 roster as a walk-on. Kardok spent two years playing at Broward Community College. He attended Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where he averaged 17 points and six assists per game as a senior.
